Sable Island Birds:

Selected Sightings

Systematic and comprehensive bird counts were not conducted. These notes are comprised of observations collected by ZL, as time permitted, while engaged in other programs. They are included here to provide a general impression of species and seasonal occurrence. 

• Autumn 2009

• Summer 2009

• Spring 2009 

• Winter 2009

• Autumn 2008

• Summer 2008

• Spring 2008

• Winter 2008

• Fall 2007

• Summer 2007

• Spring 2007

• December 2006 to March 2007

• September-November 2006

• June, July, and August 2006

• March to May, 2006

• December 1, 2005 to February 2, 2006

• August 1 to November 15, 2005

• April 1 to May 13, and May 30 to July 31, 2005

• December 17, 2004 to January 19, 2005, and March 3-31, 2005

• August 01 to September 22, October 21 to November 08, 2004

• April 29 to July 31, 2004

• December 20, 2003 to March 30, 2004

• August 1 to November 1, 2003

• April 4 to July 31, 2003

• December 23 2002 to March 15 2003

• August 1 to November 5, 2002

Wood Warblers (subfamily Parulinae) are a New World family of birds comprised of about 115 species, of which over 50 occur regularly in North America. More than 30 warbler species have been seen on Sable Island, but none breed on the island. All North American warblers are migratory, and most winter in the tropics. Warblers turn up on Sable Island during their northward migration in the spring and southward migration in autumn. Ian McLaren (1981) suggested that warblers nesting in Newfoundland may routinely pass near the island on their way to and from the mainland. The four species shown below all nest in Atlantic Canada, including Newfoundland.

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