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Of the approximately 205 bird
species, the barred owl, about 20 species of
woodland warblers, six species of woodpecker,
including the huge pileated woodpecker and the
very rare black-backed woodpecker, all frequent
the vast interior wilderness. Salt marshes and
tidal mud flats provide nutrient-rich feeding
grounds for the scarlet tanager, the great crested
flycatcher and the wood thrush, all southern
species uncommon to Nova Scotia, along with
the equally unexpected northerly species: chickadee,
red-breasted nuthatch, spruce grouse and gray
jay. The indented coastline provides a bountiful
habitat for black ducks, common mergansers,
cormorants, terns, guillemots and other shorebirds.
About ten pair of piping plovers, considered
endangered since 1985, nest within the park
adjunct, where the nesting area is closed to
public access and the nests themselves are fenced
off against the raccoons, foxes and other predators
that steal their exposed eggs. These precautions
have met with some success.
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Kejimkujik is by far the most
important national park for reptiles in Atlantic
Canada. Five snake, three turtle, five salamander,
one toad and seven frog species inhabit the
slow-moving rivers, streams, shallow lakes,
bogs and marshes of the park. Warm summers and
moderate winters account for the abundance and
diversity of these species. The Blanding’s
turtle was not discovered here until 1953 and
by 1993 it was declared a threatened species
in Nova Scotia with over 95% of their population
established in the park. Research on hatchling
survival, radio monitoring of their movements
and efforts to protect nesting and mating sites
from disturbance and predators are part of the
park’s program to safeguard rare species
which were once more widespread in eastern Canada,
but are now restricted to this area.
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