Elliston
SAM Member Since: September 2019
Area Protected: 1114 acres
Elliston is a municipality of 308 people, located on the eastern side of the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula (north of Trinity Bay) in Newfoundland. The first settlers arrived around 1806 to what was then known as Bird Island Cove. In 1902 the name was changed to Elliston. While much of Elliston's history is based around the fishery, today many residents are employed in Bonavista, in the tourism sector, or businesses.
Conservation Area
Almost the entirety of the Town of Elliston is within the Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens ecoregion. Very few other municipalities (only ten) have land within this ecoregion, and it is one of the smallest ecoregions in the whole province. It therefore represents a special conservation opportunity in Elliston. The Elliston Conservation Areas provide habitat for 100+ species of birds especially waterfowl (such as Common Eider), shorebirds (such as Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderling), seabirds (especially Common Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Black-legged Kittiwake and various species of gulls), and songbirds (including American Pipit, various species of sparrows, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and others.)
Conservation News
"Provincial Government and Town of Elliston Sign a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement" News release, September 26, 2019
“I applaud Elliston and all like-minded communities that take the initiative to become better stewards of sensitive wildlife habitat within their municipal boundaries. The efforts of Elliston will enhance the town’s environmental sustainability and help protect valuable wetlands and coastal areas such as puffin breeding habitat.”
Elvis Loveless
Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Land Resources
“We are pleased to partner with the Provincial Government in this special initiative that highlights our town’s focus on environmental stewardship and the importance we place on increasing environmental sustainability in municipal planning.”
Derek Martin
Mayor, Town of Elliston