• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2001 baseline)
Cape Searle is located on the northeastern tip of Qaqaluit, a small island off the eastern coast of Baffin Island. The Cape is comprised of two huge outcrops that rise to over 430 m above the sea. The cliffs are rugged with numerous jagged pinnacles and crevices; flatter sections are covered with tundra vegetation. Harp seals and walruses frequent the area and Polar Bears are occasionally present. The bears probably use the seaward tips of the peninsulas for maternity dens.

Key biodiversity
The two rock towers of Cape Searle support the largest Northern Fulmar colony in Canada. First found in the 1940's, this colony was last visited in 1981. The cliffs at the cape support approximately 100,000 pairs of nesting fulmars. This represents about 1% of the global population and 33% of the Canadian population of Northern Fulmar. Glaucous Gulls and Black Guillemots are also reported to nest in the area in small numbers.

Fulmars arrive at the colonies by mid-April and leave by early October. While at the colonies they forage within an 80 km radius of the site. The birds nest at all heights on the cliffs, with the greatest density occurring near the top. Nests are also located on grassy flat areas of the summit.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cape Searle (Canada). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cape-searle-iba-canada on 27/12/2024.