Nesting Species 2:  Ducks, Shorebirds and Landbirds 

Ducks

Black Duck, Northern Pintail and Red-breasted Merganser are the most common of the nesting ducks. In July and August, Red-breasted Merganser broods can be seen on the freshwater ponds and on saltwater Lake Wallace.  While the other duck species eat plant materials and small invertebrates, mergansers are primarily fish-eaters. In the ponds they would find small fish such as ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) and mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus).  Later in summer and autumn, mergansers are frequently on the water just offshore, and if they are feeding they would probably be eating sandlance (Ammodytes spp.).

Shorebirds

Of the three shorebird species nesting on the island - Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover - the Least Sandpiper is the most numerous, and on Sable Island is near the southern limit of its range.  Nevertheless, this species is relatively successful on the island, producing fledged young from 37% of eggs laid (Miller 1977).   The number of Semipalmated Plovers and Spotted Sandpipers now nesting on the island is probably fewer than 10 pairs for each species.

Sparrows

The Ipswich Sparrow - a large and pale subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow - is of special interest because it is the only bird known to nest exclusively in Canada - and only on Sable Island.  The Ipswich is remarkably productive.  Between 1200 and 3300 Ipswich Sparrows return to the island each spring.  In a good year the sparrow produces three or four broods during the nesting season, usually rearing 4 to 6 young successfully each time.  It is estimated that in the fall, following a very good season, there may be as many as 14,000 Ipswich sparrows on Sable.

In spite of their high productivity, Ipswich sparrows are - because of their restricted breeding habitat and small population size - considered vulnerable.  Their fate will be determined more by what is happening in their wintering habitat, than on Sable Island.  Their overwintering areas on the primary dunes (outermost dunes) along the east coast of the USA are being rapidly lost to development of private homes, public recreation areas and hotel resorts.