Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Akimiski Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary covers most of the island and extends into James Bay waters. The habitat includes coastal marshes, mudflats, and eelgrass beds where migrating birds stop to rest and feed.

The Canadian government created this protected area in 1941 to preserve critical habitats for waterfowl in the James Bay region. This early conservation effort recognized the vital role these coastal areas play for migrating birds.

Local Inuit and First Nations communities have long hunted geese and other birds here following ancestral ways. These practices remain woven into the seasonal rhythm of life in the region today.

You will need a permit to visit and should check access rules in advance before planning your trip. The best time to see large numbers of birds is during spring and autumn migrations when populations peak.

In late summer, tens of thousands of male black scoters gather here to molt their flight feathers, a biological event that draws bird watchers. This seasonal concentration is rarely visible at such scale in other locations.

Location: Qikiqtaaluk Region

Inception: 1941

Website: https://canada.ca/fr/environnement-changement-climatique/services/refuges-oiseaux-migrateurs/ensemble/ile-akimiski.html

GPS coordinates: 52.95890,-81.10940

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:26