Quebec - Percé Rock & Bonaventure Island


Another stop along our trip around the Gaspé Peninsula was the village of Percé, a nice village on its own terms but mostly famous for two attractions lying just off the coast: Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. The town actually gets its name from the enormous rock formation (percé means pierced in French, referring to the dramatic hole in the rock). Bonaventure Island is entirely a provincial park and the largest migratory bird refuge in North America. Most famously it is home to the most accessible northern gannet colony in the world. A tour boat takes visitors first around Percé Rock, then all the way around Bonaventure Island before docking. Four different trails lead from the dock to the far side of the island where the gannet colony is located. You know you’re getting close when the cacophony of bird calls and the smells hit you before you even lay eyes on the gannets. The birds are fascinating to watch with their different behaviors related to greeting, feeding, mating, territoriality, and their sometimes awkward landings that can only be described as face plants.


Percé Rock



...from another angle.



The cliffs of Bonaventure Island



The gannets nest both on top of the island and in the cracks in the cliff face



Grey Seals



At the dock on Bonaventure Island



Lots of steps on the trail to the bird colony
(photo by Deborah)


Deborah's video of the gannet colony



Gannets



The colony includes over 100,000 birds



Racing stripes on their feet



Video: lots of "fencing" in the greeting ritual







Feeding time, and the menu is not pleasant.



Diving boat in a cove on Bonaventure Island



Some of the old abandoned houses of fishermen and their families were taken over by the park service and restored. Several are open to visitors hiking along the coastal trail.


Percé








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