In 1833, renowned naturalist John James Audubon explored the coastline collecting and sketching the wide variety of birds of the region. Ever since Audubon’s time, the Lower North Shore has been a prime destination for serious birders around the world.

The rich marine environment attracts fourteen species of seabirds to the region to breed and raise their young.  Fish such as capelin, lance, and small herring make up an important part of the diet of puffins, murres, and razorbills.  Eiders and other sea ducks, as well as shorebirds, feed on mussels and clams.  In 1925, six Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuaries were established along the Lower North Shore to protect nationally-significant bird colonies.

The Brador Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary is home to Quebec’s largest puffin colony – over 20,000 birds.