Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Grand Colombier Island is located 500 meters north of the island of St. Pierre in the French archipelago St. Pierre and Miquelon. The island is treeless with steep sides, rocky outcrops and a gently rolling top. Grasses and ferns are the dominant vegetation type on the steep slopes, whereas the top of the island is dominated by crowberry.
Large numbers of Leachs Storm-Petrels nest on Grand Colombier Island. In 1989 when the stormpetrels were last surveyed, there were 100,000 breeding pairs, making the island a globally significant site for Leachs Storm-Petrels.
A minimum of 800 pairs of Atlantic Puffin bred on the island in 2000. In June of that year, about 3,000 puffins were estimated to be flying around the island. Other species nesting on the island include Black-legged Kittiwake (200 pairs in 1989), Herring Gull (113 pairs), Great Cormorant (22 pairs), and Great Black-backed Gull (5 pairs). In 2000 these four species were still nesting in similar numbers. Breeding Razorbills were first recorded on the island in 1990, and by the year 2000 about 30 or 40 pairs were present. Manx Shearwaters have been found in burrows on the island at night, but breeding has not been confirmed. Also, Northern Fulmars have been seen prospecting around the island, but have not nested.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Oil pollution is a potential threat because Grand Colombier Island is close to regular oil tanker traffic heading to nearby Come By Chance oil refinery. During the summer, people pick berries on the island, but this is likely only a minor source of disturbance.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Grand Colombier Island (St Pierre and Miquelon (to France)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/grand-colombier-island-iba-st-pierre-and-miquelon-(to-france) on 22/12/2024.
