Geology & Landscape | Soils | Plants | Animals Cultural Environment | Sites of Interest | Topics & Habitats

Geology and Landscape Development
Digby Neck is formed from two thick lava flows with an intervening erodable layer. The flows dip to the northwest, forming twin ridges with a central valley along the spine. The elevation of the Digby Neck decreases westwards, reaching sea level at Brier Island and continuing as rock ledges beyond.

Brier Island, Digby County Click to enlarge

Digby Neck is cut by four parallel faults. Two of these have been eroded to below sea level and form the passages at the northern ends of Long Island and Brier Island. The other two have not been flooded and are manifest as coves and valleys crossing Digby Neck at Mink Cove and Gulliver Cove. Sandy Cove is a wind gap probably cut by an ancient predecessor of the Sissiboo River that flowed northwards before being "captured" by a river that flowed westwards in what is now St. Marys Bay.

Soils
The soils of Digby Neck are similar to those on the rest of North Mountain (District 720). Rossway, a well-drained sandy loam, covers much of the area. Its imperfectly drained associate, Roxville, occurs in the central depression. Poorly drained Tiddville soils develop where organic material accumulates. Brier Island has large areas of peat. In the coves, coarse Medway soils have developed from stratified quartzite or schist gravel.

Plants

Big Cove - headlands, Brier Island, Digby County Click to enlarge

Digby Neck is more exposed to marine influences, particularly storms moving in from the south and east, than is the Fundy Coast (Region 700). Therefore its coastal spruce-fir forest (H6.2) is dominant, and hardwoods are not found in pure stands. A series of bogs are found along the central depression. The sedge and sphagnum bogs on Brier Island contain rare and unusual plants such as Eastern Mountain Avens, Dwarf Birch, and Curly-grass Fern. The Brier Island orchid flora is diverse.

The rocky shores and low silt content of coastal waters provide a good substrate for seaweed, including well-developed Laminaria beds, and the economically important seaweeds dulse and Irish Moss.

Animals
The fauna of this District is of great interest for two reasons: (1) Brier Island is the final westward staging point for migratory birds, insects,

Humpback Whale in Bay of Fundy Click to enlarge

and bats, and (2) an area of upwelling and high productivity occurs just off the coast. In the summer and fall, large flocks of phalaropes gather off Brier Island prior to migration. In spring, Brant and Black Duck are frequently seen. In summer a wide variety of shorebirds collect, but by the fall their numbers will have diminished somewhat. Over the winter, Common Goldeneye and sea ducks will be present but not abundant. Purple Sandpipers winter along the rocky shores of the entire coast. Common and Arctic terns breed on Peter Island between Brier Island and Long Island, and this area also shelters moderate numbers of Black Duck and Common Eider in winter. Small numbers of breeding Turkey Vultures have recently become established on Long Island.

The upwelling off the coast makes Brier Island an important area for observing migratory whales.

Rocky shores show good zonation and have large tidepools, providing diverse fauna. Common Periwinkle grows to the largest size in Nova Scotia here. Subtidal molluscs may be found on the shore as a result of the emptying of lobster traps. Weir-fishing is carried out largely for herring.

Cultural Environment
Various fisheries are important to this area, including shellfish, herring, lobster, and Digby scallops. Seaweeds are also commercially harvested. Brier Island, with its unique flora and bird populations, attracts outdoor enthusiasts for bird-watching and whale-watching trips.

Sites of Special Interest

• Brier Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 59) - two bogs with relict, rare plants, and orchid flora, stopover area for migrating birds, and wintering area for Common Eider
• Central Bog (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 60) - sphagnum bog with a nearly neutral humus layer; contains disjunct plants, especially skunk cabbage, and is a possible refugia for coastal-plain flora
• Lake Midway - relict aquatic fauna
• Sandy Cove - glacial gravels, kettle holes, and wind gap
• Brier Island - columnar basalt on south side, raised beach 45 m above high tide
• East Ferry - columnar basalt south of ferry landings
• Isle Haute - further up the Bay of Fundy from the main part of Unit 810 but included because of its geology, coastal climate, and vegetation; fauna poorly known but includes nesting Common Eider (see also Unit 710)
• Long Island - balancing rock - unique geological phenomenon

• Central Grove
• Lake Midway

Scenic Viewpoints

• Central Grove Provincial Park
• Sandy Cove
• Gullivers Cove

Associated Topics T2.6 The Triassic Basalts and Continental Rifting T10.9 Rare and Endangered Plants T11.1 Factors Influencing Birds.

Associated Habitats H1 Offshore H2 Coastal H4.1 Bog H6.3 Mixedwood Forest (White Spruce, Fir-Maple, Birch Association) Associated Offshore Region 912 Outer Fundy