Tabusintac Estuary

Arctic tern, Tabusintac, NB (Photo by NCC)

A Northern New Brunswick sanctuary

The Tabusintac Estuary is a spectacular natural landscape of wild and pristine beauty. Sheltered from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by 15 kilometres of sandy barrier beach, the estuary is home to some of northeast New Brunswick's most fragile residents.

Tabusintac is a critical safe haven for the wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds who use the area for a rich food supply and to rest, including the nationally endangered piping plover.

Tabusintac Lagoon and Estuary at a glance

• Located on the Acadian Peninsula, 50 kilometres north of Miramichi.
• 15-kilometre sand dune and beach provides critical breeding habitat for endangered piping plovers.
• In addition to a thriving bird population, it boasts a variety of flourishing habitats, including upland forest, barrier beach, salt marsh and bog.
• An Important Bird Area and one of only two Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in New Brunswick, Tabusintac is a critical site in the migration of a variety of birds, particularly waterfowl.
• The prosperity of the natural life in the region makes it ideal for NCC's conservation efforts.

Conservation values

• Home to the second largest tern colony in Atlantic Canada.
• Vast beds of eel-grass provide an important food source for migratory waterfowl, including American back duck, scoter, common eider, brant, Canada goose and long-tailed duck.
• The beach barrier minimizes the effects of the harsh storms, waves and winds off the Gulf of St. Lawrence; it also maximizes the ecological richness of the site.
• The barrier beach is one of the most important in the province and provides habitat for the internationally endangered piping plover.

Our vision for the Tabusintac Estuary

To date, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) owns 452 hectares (1,117 acres) of sensitive ecological land and wishes to obtain additional properties that will help continue our success in maintaining the diversity and ecological richness of Tabusintac. Since 1993, we have secured 16 properties in here and continue to work diligently on creating a stewardship endowment fund to manage our conservation areas in perpetuity.