By Ian Davidson

I’m delighted to invite Nature Canada supporters to join Graeme Gibson and Margaret Atwood, Honorary Co-Chairs of the BLI Rare Bird Club, aboard an early summer expedition cruise to Newfoundland and Labrador with Adventure Canada next July 2014. A donation will be made to Nature Canada for every supporter who books this cruise. Having acted as an expert guide on an expedition cruise with Adventure Canada myself, I can tell you this is a remarkable opportunity and a wonderful way to support Nature Canada’s goals.

Some of my favourite memories of the area include: visiting the wilds of Torngat National Park, so stark, magnificent and awe inspiring; spotting caribou, bears, seals and icebergs along the way.  The music and culture inspired me, the rough beauty of the shoreline was breathtaking and the warmth, wit and hospitality of the local people – a pure delight.

As my fellow birders may recall, remote Newfoundland and Labrador was once the land of two recently extinct species – the colorful Labrador Duck made famous in the movie “Rare Duck” and the Eskimo Curlew of Fred Bosworth fame.

Today, Canada’s easternmost province provides refuge for some of the greatest concentrations of Northern Gannet in the north Atlantic, and other seabirds like Common Eider, Puffins and Murres, (or edible turrs as they are known on ‘The Rock’).

Adventure Canada’s cruise will help raise the profile of the region’s wildlife and Nature Canada’s efforts to conserve globally important areas for birds. Travelling in comfort in this remote and spectacular region, passengers will enjoy exceptional birding, a chance to rub elbows with fellow naturalists, and the satisfaction of helping Nature Canada/ BirdLife International meet its conservation goals.  We welcome your participation on this special adventure to explore and enjoy the culture and natural history of this unique province.

Should you be interested in travelling with Graeme and Margaret on the Newfoundland and Wild Labrador sailing, please contact Adventure Canada (toll free: 1-800-363-7566; email: info@adventurecanada.com) and mention you are a Nature Canada supporter.