L’Anse aux Meadows has been long known for the rare birds that frequent the area. Recently sighted in this village over the past few years are the angelic Ivory Gulls who come here to feed on scrapes of seal meat left by local seal hunter during the winter. Canada's breeding population of Ivory Gulls is estimated at 2,500 birds and believed to be stable. The birds nest on granite, limestone, or gravel. Their main requirement for breeding is an opening in the ice where they can feed. Ivory Gulls can live from 11 to 15 years.
Ivory Gulls are protected in North America under the Migratory Bird Convention Act of 1917. COSEWIC designated the Ivory Gull as Vulnerable in 1996 because of the lack of breeding colonies and potential threats from human disturbances. Ivory Gulls are protected from hunting in Canada.
The Eskimo Curlew has also have been sighted on the beaches of L’Anse aux Meadows in recent years even though it is said that they no longer exists. Once highly abundant in North America, this curlew was hunted ruthlessly in the course of the 19th century, with as many as two million birds being taken each fall. The last specimen taken in Québec was captured in 1906 and the last worldwide in 1963, in Barbados. The Eskimo Curlew used to be found in Québec on fall migration.
Pagophila eburnean
Note: While at the restaurant you may borrow our binoculars, which are located on the windowsill to watch from our window for birds, whales or icebergs.
