Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
witless-bay · The Irish Loop
A quarter-million puffins nesting on four islands half an hour from the city.
The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve protects the four islands of Witless Bay - Gull, Green, Great, and Pee Pee - across 31 square kilometres, almost entirely marine. It holds North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony, with more than 260,000 breeding pairs, and the world's second-largest Leach's storm-petrel colony at over 620,000 pairs. The islands lie between Bay Bulls and Bauline East, about 30 minutes from St. John's via Route 10. Landing is prohibited; viewing is by licensed boat operators including Gatherall's, Great Island Boat Tours, Molly Bawn, and O'Brien's. The area was first protected in 1964 and became an ecological reserve in 1983.
How to get there
Boat tours leave from Bay Bulls and Bauline East, about 30 minutes from St. John's via Route 10; landing on the islands is prohibited — the birds come to the boat.
When
Puffins May-September; whales and icebergs early summer
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