Bonaventure Island
has a fascinating history. Discovered in 1534 by Jacques Cartier, the island played an important role in the cod-fishing industry and in the region’s development. In 1971 the Quebec government took over the island and it is now a Provincial Park. It is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence - just off the shore from Perce. When you arrive at the main dock fees are collected and off you go hiking to explore the island.
There are 4 main trails that provide 15 Kms. of moderate hiking. Hikes are designed to provide an excellent opportunity to experience all the interesting features of Bonaventure Island.
The Park has done a good job of restoring some of the original homesteads.
Shortly after your hike through the meadows of the homesteads you begin a short climb to witness the beauty of Bonaventure’s coastal scenery.
The Gannet is not the only bird species you will find on the island as there has been 218 different species of birds recorded as visiting, migrating to, or living on Bonaventure Island.
The Northern Gannet
is one of the largest seabirds of the North Atlantic. It is known for its spectacular plunges into the sea (often over 100ft above the ocean) in pursuit of fish. Bonaventure Island is where you will find the largest nesting colony in the world of this particular species. There is an observation tower that allows you to closely view a large part of the colony.
The Gannets mate (sometimes for life) and raise one chick each season. They share feeding duties and the chick will start to fly after 3 months of care. To see (and hear) the thousands of mating pairs caring for their young in very close proximity to each other was amazing.
More amazing is how each mating pair can find each other as they fly back from gathering food. These birds look very much alike.
Parents take turns between guarding their chick and fishing to provide food for the newest family member. They transfer partially digested fish to the young bird and it grows rapidly for 75 days before it fledges. A new born Gannet can not be left unattended by it’s parents. It can be attacked by neighbouring Gannets and should a young bird move off the nest it will surely be destroyed. This is one reason, the first year mortality rate of Gannets is over 60%.
Gannets are beautiful in flight and their large wing span and thin wings make them excellent gliders.
It is amazing to observe how these birds interact as they raise their young. Sometimes confrontational, sometimes kind, sometimes deadly - they go about this part of their life cycle without seeming to care that others are watching.
The beautiful flowers along Bonaventure’s hiking trails highlight the reason for making this a must see stop while visiting Quebec’s Gaspe Region.
