834 Bay of Islands
| Geology & Landscape
| Freshwater & Wetlands | Soils | Plants Animals | Cultural Environment | Sites of Interest Topics & Habitats |
Geology and Landscape Development
This Unit extends from the headlands of Little Harbour (southwest of Ship Harbour) to Liscomb Harbour and north to the head of major
inlets. The axes of folds within the greywacke bedrock are parallel to the coastline, forming a ridge-and-valley topography. This orientation is reflected in
the shape and alignment of the offshore islands, which formed as the low, eroded headlands were drowned during recent coastal submergence. The
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| Taylor Head Click to enlarge |
Sedimentary structures that illustrate how the Meguma bedrock has been built up from the accumulation of gravity slide deposits are found at Taylors Head.
Freshwater Environments and Coastal Wetlands
Surface-water coverage is relatively low, with small scattered lakes and streams, and small wetlands associated with the streams.
Most freshwater wetlands are concentrated east of Sheet Harbour. Levels of pH in the lakes average 6.1. Tidal marshes are small and scattered.
Soils
On the flatter areas close to the coast around Ecum Secum, Moose Hill, Quoddy, and Sheet Harbour, imperfectly drained Danesville
sandy loams have developed from the underlying quartzite. Drainage is impeded by bedrock and topography. Elsewhere the soils are mostly rapidly
drained Halifax sandy loams with poorly drained Aspotogan and peat areas. Some Wolfville drumlins (sandy clay loam) are found around Quoddy,
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| Beach and dunes, Taylor Head Click to enlarge |
Plants
The coastal White Spruce, Balsam Fir forest predominates, with some maple and birch mixed in on less exposed sites. On the wetter soils,
Black Spruce, larch, and Balsam Fir are found.
Barrens cover many of the headlands, and krummholz vegetation is conspicuous. The parallel quartzite ridge topography gives rise to a fairly regular pattern of White Spruce on the ridge top, and Black Spruce and small bog areas in the depressions. Many of the islands have been deforested by the combined effects of exposure and cormorant guano and may not regain a tree cover.
Animals
Coastal habitats in this Unit are mostly low-lying rocky shores with some small beach and salt-marsh areas. The firm substrate and low
sediment supply results in excellent seaweed growth, especially along the rocky quartzite shoals that stretch into the water. Of major interest are the islands,
which provide important breeding habitats for many kinds of waterfowl and seabirds. Together with Unit 842, this Unit provides a major portion of
the Common Eider breeding habitat for Nova Scotia. Other breeding birds include cormorants, gulls, Arctic and Common terns, Black Guillemot,
and Leach's Storm-petrel. Considerable numbers of waterfowl migrate through in spring and fall, including scoters, Black Duck, Oldsquaw, and
Canada Goose. Some Oldsquaw, Black Duck, and Common Goldeneye remain during the winter. Seals are common on the islands and rocky
shoals. Anadromous fishes include Gaspereau and Banded Killifish, and White Sucker is a typical freshwater species.
Cultural Environment
Fishing provides an economic base for many communities on this part of the Eastern Shore. The forest hinterland is heavily exploited, and
the community of Sheet Harbour, with its deep, well-protected harbour, has become a centre for the processing of forest products and the shipment
of pulpwood. Distinctive recreational use of the land includes kayaking, with enterprises operating out of Tangier. In the 1860s, when a gold-mining
frenzy swept across Nova Scotia, gold was discovered at Tangier, resulting in the development of numerous mining operations, which were exploited until
the 1940s.
- Eastern Shore Islands Wildlife Management Area - extends from Ecum Secum (Little White Island) to Sheet Harbour Passage (Round Island)
- Little White Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 30) - dense nesting colonies of cormorant and Common Eider
- Brokenback Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 32) - one of the few breeding sites for the Fox Sparrow in Nova Scotia; Osprey nests
- Long Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 33) - eider and cormorant nesting site and locality for rare Beach Senecio
- Pumpkin Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 34) - important nesting site for Leach's Storm-petrel and Black Guillemot
- Horse Island (IBP Proposed Ecological Site 35) - one of the few islands in the local area not deforested by cormorant nesting
- Taylors Head - sand volcanoes and slump structures
Provincial Parks and Park Reserves
- Taylors Head
- Popes Harbour
- Spry Bay
- Ecum Secum
- Marie Joseph
Proposed Parks and Protected Areas System includes Natural Landscape 37.
Scenic Viewpoints
- Taylors Head trail
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