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Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are created in Canada under theMigratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. They are administered by theCanadian Wildlife Service ofEnvironment and Climate Change Canada. As of July 2025[update] there are ninety-two Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in Canada and the first sanctuary in North America,Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, was created by federal order-in-council in 1887.[1][2]
As of July 2025[update] there are four Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inAlberta.[3]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Inglewood | 1929 | 111 | 270 |
| Red Deer | 1924 | 129 | 320 |
| Richardson Lake | 1949 | 10,798 | 26,680 |
| Saskatoon Lake | 1948 | 1,150 | 2,800 |
As of July 2025[update] there are seven Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inBritish Columbia.[4]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Christie Islet | 1962 | 1 | 2.5 |
| Esquimalt Lagoon | 1939 | 134 | 330 |
| George C. Reifel | 1967 | 376 | 930 |
| Nechako River | 1944 | 183 | 450 |
| Shoal Harbour | 1931 | 146 | 360 |
| Vaseux Lake | 1923 | 559 | 1,380 |
| Victoria Harbour | 1923 | 1,891 | 4,670 |
Currently there are no Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the province ofManitoba.[1]
As of July 2025[update] there are three Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inNew Brunswick.[5]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Grand Manan | 1931 | 433 | 1,070 |
| Inkerman | 1998 | 16 | 40 |
| Machias Seal Island | 1944 | 1,046 | 2,580 |
As of July 2025[update] there are three Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inNewfoundland and Labrador.[6]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Ile aux Canes | 1991 | 162 | 400 |
| Shepherd Island | 1991 | 18 | 44 |
| Terra Nova | 1967 | 1,178 | 2,910 |
As of July 2025[update] there are eight Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inNova Scotia.[7]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Amherst Point | 1947 | 433 | 1,070 |
| Big Glace Bay Lake | 1939 | 393 | 970 |
| Haley Lake | 1980 | 95 | 230 |
| Kentville | 1939 | 506 | 1,250 |
| Port Joli | 1941 | 397 | 980 |
| Port Hebert | 1941 | 346 | 850 |
| Sable Island | 1977 | 3,100 | 7,700 |
| Sable River | 1941 | 313 | 770 |
As of July 2025[update] there are nine Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inOntario.[8]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Beckett Creek | 1969 | 184 | 450 |
| Chantry Island | 1957 | 19 | 47 |
| Eleanor Island | 1971 | 1 | 2.5 |
| Hannah Bay | 1939 | 25,231 | 62,350 |
| Mississippi Lake | 1959 | 300 | 740 |
| Moose River | 1958 | 2,690 | 6,600 |
| Rideau River | 1957 | 752 | 1,860 |
| St. Joseph's Island | 1951 | 986 | 2,440 |
| Upper Canada | 1961 | 2,604 | 6,430 |
As of July 2025[update] there is one Migratory Bird Sanctuaries onPrince Edward Island.[9]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Black Pond | 1936 | 130 | 320 |
As of July 2025[update] there are twenty-eight Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inQuebec.[10]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Baie de Brador [fr] | 1925 | 567 | 1,400 |
| Baie des Loups [fr] | 1925 | 3,610 | 8,900 |
| Betchouane [fr] | 1925 | 492 | 1,220 |
| Bird Rocks | 1919 | 648 | 1,600 |
| Boatswain Bay | 1941 | 15,465 | 38,210 |
| Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock | 1919 | 1,361 | 3,360 |
| Cap-Saint-Ignace [fr] | 1986 | 131 | 320 |
| Carillon Island | 1931 | 455 | 1,120 |
| Gros-Mécatina | 1996 | 2,168 | 5,360 |
| Île à la Brume [fr] | 1925 | 3,789 | 9,360 |
| Île aux Basques [fr] | 1927 | 840 | 2,100 |
| Île aux Hérons [fr] | 1937 | 631 | 1,560 |
| Île du Corossol [fr] | 1937 | 364 | 900 |
| Îles de la Couvée [fr] | 1986 | 15 | 37 |
| Îles de la Paix [fr] | 1972 | 1,092 | 2,700 |
| L'Isle-Verte [fr] | 1986 | 376 | 930 |
| L'Islet [fr] | 1986 | 59 | 150 |
| Mont Saint-Hilaire | 1960 | 985 | 2,430 |
| Montmagny [fr] | 1986 | 122 | 300 |
| Nicolet | 1982 | 2,937 | 7,260 |
| Philipsburg [fr] | 1955 | 527 | 1,300 |
| Saint-Augustin [fr] | 1925 | 5,369 | 13,270 |
| Saint-Omer [fr] | 1986 | 56 | 140 |
| Saint-Vallier [fr] | 1986 | 356 | 880 |
| Sainte-Marie Islands [fr] | 1925 | 3,980 | 9,800 |
| Senneville [fr] | 1936 | 555 | 1,370 |
| Trois-Saumons [fr] | 1986 | 157 | 390 |
| Watshishou | 1925 | 10,673 | 26,370 |
As of July 2025[update] there are fifteen Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inSaskatchewan.[11]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Basin and Middle Lakes | 1925 | 4,991 | 12,330 |
| Duncairn Reservoir | 1948 | 1,615 | 3,990 |
| Indian Head | 1924 | 32 | 79 |
| Last Mountain Lake | 1921 | 4,843 | 11,970 |
| Lenore Lake | 1925 | 10,331 | 25,530 |
| Murray Lake | 1948 | 1,589 | 3,930 |
| Neely Lake | 1952 | 502 | 1,240 |
| Old Wives Lake | 1925 | 32,391 | 80,040 |
| Opuntia Lake | 1952 | 1,391 | 3,440 |
| Redberry Lake | 1925 | 5,271 | 13,020 |
| Scent Grass Lake | 1948 | 647 | 1,600 |
| Sutherland | 1924 | 130 | 320 |
| Upper Rousay Lake | 1948 | 573 | 1,420 |
| Val Marie Reservoir | 1948 | 431 | 1,070 |
| Wascana Lake | 1956 | 117 | 290 |
As of July 2025[update] there are five Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in theNorthwest Territories.[12]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Anderson River Delta | 1961 | 118,402 | 292,580 |
| Banks Island No. 1 | 1961 | 2,019,997 | 4,991,520 |
| Banks Island No. 2 | 1961 | 14,302 | 35,340 |
| Cape Parry | 1961 | 227 | 560 |
| Kendall Island | 1961 | 61,241 | 151,330 |
As of August 2025[update] there are nine Migratory Bird Sanctuaries inNunavut.[13]
| Name | Year established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ha | acre | ||
| Ahiak (Queen Maud Gulf) | 1961 | 6,292,818 | 15,549,890 |
| Akimiski Island | 1941 | 353,421 | 873,320 |
| Akpaqarvik (Prince Leopold Island) | 1992 | 30,399 | 75,120 |
| Bylot Island | 1965 | 1,282,731 | 3,169,700 |
| Ikkattuaq (Harry Gibbons) | 1959 | 143,811 | 355,360 |
| Isulijarniq (Dewey Soper) | 1957 | 816,599 | 2,017,860 |
| Kuugaarjuk (McConnell River) | 1960 | 36,803 | 90,940 |
| Naujavaat (Seymour Island) | 1975 | 5,302 | 13,100 |
| Qaqsauqtuuq (East Bay) | 1959 | 112,826 | 278,800 |
There are no Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in theYukon Territory.[1]