Shorebirds are back in Dorchester — and they need peace, conservancy says

If you walk along the Bay of Fundy at Johnson's Mills in the next few weeks, you won't be alone.

Thousands of shorebirds have arrived at the mudflats, eight kilometres from the village of Dorchester, and spectators are flocking there to take in the magnificent sight.

But Kerry Lee Morris-Cormier, manager of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Shorebird Interpretive Centre at Johnson's Mills, says people need to be wary of getting too up close and personal with the birds.

"Things are quite healthy in the Bay of Fundy, but the shorebirds need our help," she said, adding that staying off the beach during high tide, when the birds are resting, is essential.

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The shorebirds, including sandpipers, come down each year from the Canadian Arctic on their way to South America.

"As they begin to arrive, the mudflats come to life, because when the tide is low, the birds just cover the mudflats, moving constantly, feeding off invertebrates from the mud," Morris-Cormier told CBC's Information Morning Moncton.

During their three-week visit, the birds use the upper Bay of Fundy area to fuel up for the rest of their migration.

Morris-Cormier said the birds, which are typically only the size of a big strawberry, double their body weight to about 40 grams — to the weight of two big strawberries.

They feed on "mud-dwelling invertebrates," she said, such as mud shrimp and mud worms. They also love what she calls "mud juice," or biofilm, groups of micro-organisms that stick to each other and often to the surface of the water.

These three weeks are a vulnerable time for the birds. They cannot swim, so the purpose of their stay in to conserve energy to make the flight south, which is over water.

"It's critical that the birds are not disturbed at high tide because they'll fly to get away and burn all the energy they've saved up," Morris-Cormier said.

"If they don't get the calories they need, they won't make it."

Morris-Cormier said the public has been co-operative in leaving the birds to rest, but staff from the interpretive centre continue to patrol the beaches to ensure no conflicts arise.

It's for the birds

Even if they can't hang out among the birds, enthusiasts can look forward to a jam-packed weekend of events at Dorchester's Annual Sandpiper Festival, Morris-Cormier said.

"It is time to celebrate," she said. "The birds are here, the village is getting ready."

The celebration is about a week later than usual this year, because new studies indicate the peak time for shorebird migrations has shifted.

Morris-Cormier said the celebration this year is even more special because of the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.

"This year, Dorchester was one of four towns in New Brunswick chosen to celebrate the regional New Brunswick Day as part of Canada 150," she said.

The festival, which runs July 28 to 30, will feature photo and art exhibits, a pancake breakfast, live entertainment, a children's carnival and other activities.

Morris-Cormier said the Village of Dorchester will provide a free bus to transport visitors to see the birds at the interpretive centre.