Exploring Belle Isle: A Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas Adventure


When I heard that the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas needed surveys completed in remote areas and was willing to share the costs, my first thought was Belle Isle—a now uninhabited island at the northern end of the Strait of Belle Isle, between Labrador and Newfoundland. (Note: Belle Isle should not be confused with Bell Island, located in Conception Bay, near St. John’s.)


Belle Isle has a storied past, often tragic, especially for the lighthouse keepers and their families, many of whom hailed from my hometown (Forteau, Labrador).


Belle Isle lies about 24 km off the coast of Labrador and 32 km north of Newfoundland. It is 17 km long and 6 km wide, with rugged terrain and steep cliffs forming nearly its entire coastline. Access is notoriously difficult, with the only port located at the northeast tip—passable only in calm seas. The island features a coastal barren landscape, crisscrossed by ridges, wetlands, and snowmelt-fed ponds and streams. Remarkably, Belle Isle boasts 524 ponds within its 52 square kilometers!



Getting to Belle Isle is an adventure in itself, requiring a chartered boat or aircraft. Thanks to Birds Canada, I partnered with the NunatuKavut Community Council, who was conducting vegetation surveys on the island, to arrange a floatplane. On the morning of June 19th, three others and I landed on Batteau Pond, ready for four days of exploration, with plans to be picked up on June 22nd.


Surveying Belle Isle for the Atlas:


From the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas perspective, Belle Isle spans five atlas squares, with most of the island falling into the priority square 21UXT15. Unfortunately, the only accessible landing spot was a pond located about a 30-minute walk outside this square. Without transportation, we decided to space our point counts at least 300 meters apart and target the various vegetation types as best we could.




Day 1: Exploring the Island


After landing at Batteau Pond just before noon, we used the first day for exploring. Our main objective was a 5 km trek to the northeast lighthouse. It was remarkable to see paths once used by the island’s residents still faintly visible after 50 years.


Young Arctic Fox

As we walked to the lighthouse and back, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of vegetation diversity, which likely contributed to the limited bird species. Despite the many ponds, most were empty, with only Red-breasted Mergansers and Greater Scaup seen during the hike. The songbirds we encountered were primarily Savannah Sparrows, American Pipits, and Horned Larks. At the lighthouse, seabird activity was minimal, with only Black Guillemots, Common Eiders, Herring Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gulls observed.

Savannah Sparrows are abundant

Day 2: Priority Square Exploration


Day two was dedicated to thoroughly surveying the priority square, 21UXT15, with a focus on finding breeding evidence. Our eight-hour hike revealed multiple pairs of Horned Larks, Savannah Sparrows, and American Pipits, many displaying agitated behavior suggestive of breeding activity. Toward the end of the day, we were rewarded with our one and only Yellow Warbler sighting—a delightful surprise!

American Pipit


Day 3: Point Counts

We started the third day early, which was devoted to point counts, with the help of Sara, a more than capable birder. We spaced ourselves about 400 meters apart and moved in the same direction, communicating via two-way radios. By day’s end, we completed 22 point counts, exceeding the minimum requirement and providing what we hoped was a comprehensive picture of this under-birded island. The standout of the day was White-winged Crossbills, which seemed to be everywhere.

White-crowned Sparrow - a species with a breeding range in Newfoundland that is restricted to the Northern Peninsula and Belle Isle. In total we saw eight of these over the four-day trip.


Day 4: Final Surveys:


On our final day, we focused on completing point counts in the square where we had landed. While no major surprises arose during the surveys, an Eastern Kingbird flying overhead as we returned to camp was a memorable moment to end the trip.

Redpoll - another species with a restricted range on the island


A Gratifying Experience:

Surveying Belle Isle for the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas was an incredible experience. I’m grateful to have been part of this effort to collect valuable bird data on such a remote and unique island. The rugged beauty of Belle Isle and its ecological significance left a lasting impression, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this important conservation project. 


You can check out the eBird trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/254802



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