The Town of Clarenville is recognized as a Canada Goose Sanctuary. The Canada goose can be seen in great numbers in this area each year during the spring and fall. There are many places along our shoreline to stop a take a look at these birds. Located on Cormack Drive is a Lookout with interpretation signs about the Canada goose and other birds.

This is a very important migratory stop for birds all year. A large growing population, just 50 meters from shore. Provincial hunting regulations protects this haven. Species include Canada geese, pie ducks, mallards, ruddy turnstones, spooked sandpipers, twillicks, mergansers, plomers, a variety of gulls and the highest concentration of black ducks in eastern Canada. Also to be seen are ptarmigans, cormorants, osprey and bald eagles. Endangered species are also occasionally spotted.

While visiting Elliston, take advantage of the opportunity to view the Atlantic puffin. The Atlantic Puffin Site is probably one of the most accessible places in Newfoundland to view this bird. The site is located in Elliston, and is just a five-minute walk to the end of the trailhead, and the nesting site itself is a stone’s throw from the mainland. The site has more than 400 breeding pairs of puffins each summer. The annual Bird Island festival is held each summer in honor of these small, parrot-like seabirds. Drop by the Elliston Visitor Information center for more details.

Island Cove, is a tiny cove situated on Cormack Drive. The site is a place of Natural beauty, which is a sanctuary for seagulls, robins, sparrows, Canada geese, and greater yellow leg sea birds abound. Benches and picnic tables are placed in selected areas along the trail way to provide an unobstructed view of the ocean, the rock walls, the beaches, and the meadow of natural grasses.