News release

Birding Tourism Grows on Cape Sable Island

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

TOURISM, CULTURE AND HERITAGE--Birding Tourism Grows on Cape Sable Island


Bird watchers are going to have even more reason to flock to Cape Sable Island. A birding site is being developed and enhanced at The Hawk, a coastal community and rest stop for thousands of migrating birds each year.

The province is investing $100,000 to further develop the site. The announcement was made at a birding festival on the island today, March 19, by MLA Cecil O'Donnell, on behalf of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Rodney MacDonald.

"This project will help Nova Scotia be more competitive in the growing birding tourism market," said Mr. O'Donnell. "It will attract more visitors to Cape Sable Island and extend the tourism season for many local businesses."

The one-time grant will be used to help with the development of walking trails, interpretive signs, viewing platforms and other public, year-round facilities for bird watchers. The project will be led by the Cape Sable Island Important Bird Area Committee.

"This is a real milestone for the Cape Sable Important Bird Area Committee," said Patricia Hudson, project co-ordinator. "This funding will help make our plans for site enhancement at The Hawk a reality both for our local area and for the tourism industry."

Nova Scotia's 2005 Tourism Plan identified birding as a key strategic priority with excellent potential to attract visitors on a year-round basis. A recently completed report on birding opportunities in Nova Scotia, conducted by the South Shore Tourism Association, recommended Cape Sable Island as an excellent location for developing a birding tourism product.

Today's investment is part of $15 million in funding announced by Mr. MacDonald in December 2004. That funding is designed to help boost Nova Scotia's tourism industry in the areas of marketing, product development, and regional tourism initiatives.