The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve contains four islands: Gull, Green, Great, and Pee Pee.  They teem with bird life during the seabird breeding season. 

The islands lie just a few kilometres off the east coast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, between the communities of Bay Bulls and Bauline East, half an hour south of St. John’s.  The view from the house overlooks the Great Island and Pee Pee Island.   Regulations govern the operation of boats inside the reserve during the sensitive nesting season (April 1-September 1).

Seabirds generally spend most of the year at sea and only return to land from May to August to breed and raise their young.  For the most part, public observation of their activities must be done from boats as landing on the islands themselves requires a scientific research or special access permit.

Several licenced tour-boat companies operate out of the communities near the islands.  Running spring through fall, these boat tours also provide opportunities to spot icebergs, whales, and other wildlife.

Whales

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most spectacular whale watching places on Earth.  The world's largest population of humpback whales returns each year between late May/early June to late August/early September, and you can see them feed, frolic, and even breach near our shores and in the bay out front of the house.  Catching a single glimpse of these majestic mammals is a memorable experience, whether it's from the front deck of the house or the deck of a tour boat, the side of your sea kayak, or a seaside trail. 

Birds

Our provincial bird is none other than the colourful Atlantic puffin.  And the four islands encompassed by the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve boasts the largest colony in North America with 260,000 pairs.  Dubbed the "parrots of the sea" or "the flying potato," the sight of them running and skipping along the top of the water while trying to get their pudgy bodies airborne never gets old. 

Icebergs

When it comes to viewing icebergs, this is one of the best places in the world.  During spring and summer, these 10,000-year-old glacial giants are visible from many points along the northern and eastern coasts.  They come in every shape and size, with colours from snow-white to the deepest aquamarine.