Committed to the conservation, enhancement and stewardship of habitat across Newfoundland and Labrador

Gambo has a variety of wetlands which waterfowl use, including bogs, brooks, ponds and shallow areas in the bay. They provide important nesting and staging areas on which waterfowl depend. Significant numbers of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) stop to feed on the rich beds of eel grass during the spring and some nest on Gambo Bog. Brant Geese (Branta bernicla) use Gambo Bog as a stopover feeding site during their migration to arctic breeding grounds, and are considered a rare species for the island of Newfoundland. The Town is also home to many other avian species including Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), various gull species and Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum). In fact, the Double-crested Cormorant colony within Gambo is considered the largest in the province.

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Gambo has identified five Conservation Areas (CAs) within their municipal planning boundaries, encompassing 2,097 acres of conserved wildlife habitat: Gambo Bog, Gambo Brook Estuary, Middle-Brook Estuary/Marsh Point, Traverse Brook Estuary, and Black Duck Pond.

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The Gambo Bog CA (1024 acres), located in the southern region of the municipal planning area following the shoreline along Gambo Brook, into the mouth of the Gambo Brook Estuary, provides important open and undisturbed nesting habitat for breeding Canada Geese. The Bog is also used by Brant Geese during their migration to arctic breeding grounds, as it provides safe and productive wetlands for feeding. Without this stopover feeding area, many populations of Brant geese would likely be unable to complete their migration and would not have enough energy stores to begin breeding once they reach the frozen tundra. The Gambo Brook CA (214 acres) extends from the shore on the northern tip of the Gambo Bog and includes the valuable foreshore flats. The Middle-Brook Estuary/Marsh Point CA (661 acres) are rich in eel grass, an important energy supply needed by many bird species before nesting, including a mixed colony of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis). The Traverse Brook Estuary CA (94 acres) includes the waters and marshes of Traverse Brook, between second Traverse Pond and Freshwater Bay and provides nesting habitat for numerous American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) pairs. The Black Duck Pond CA (90 acres) is located in the north western region of the planning boundaries and is frequented by nesting Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris).