Photo: Northern Gannet Colony Avalon Peninsula Newfoundland

Bird Rock at Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland is where the Northern Gannet Colony meet up to nest.

From a distance, this rock looks like it is covered in large white spots with massive flakes swirling in the sky beyond the rock. In reality, the white spots on Bird Rock are the Northern Gannet Colony nesting at Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. The large flakes are the Northern Gannets soaring above the sea in search of food for their young.

As the Northern Gannet Colony gathers together in one large mass, they build their nests in preparation for the new generation of gannets. During this breeding season you can see over twenty four thousand birds that find Bird Rock the perfect coastline location for all that they require during this time of year.

Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland is one of the best places to view this colony as there are areas that take you within ten meters of these seabirds. Many other ... continue below the picture...

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... types of sea birds like to breed around Bird Rock such as Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Murres, Thick-billed Murres, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Cormorants and Northern Fulmars.

The noise level continues to grow as you near Bird Rock as the thousands of birds in the Northern Gannet Colony squeak and squawk amongst themselves. You can not miss this three hundred foot rock that rises out of the sea where Gannets take flight and dive to the depths to capture their next meal.

While visiting the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, be sure to take time out to stroll to the Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve to watch the Northern Gannet Colony in their natural environment.

Northern Gannets, Morus bassanus, nesting on Bird Rock at the Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve, Cape St Mary's, also known as The Cape, Highway 100, The Cape Shore, Placentia Bay, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland Labrador, Canada.