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The Bird Islands (Hertford and Ciboux Islands) are located 2.5 km off Cape Dauphin, Victoria County, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The islands are important nesting sites for a variety of seabirds. Among the common nesting species are the Leach's Storm-Petrel, Great Cormorant, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, and Atlantic Puffin. Populations of birds breeding on the 154 acre island are now protected as this area is owned by the Nova Scotia Bird Society. In the past, both islands were impacted negatively by the activity of humans. Sheep were placed on the island and this limited available nesting sites for breeding birds. Fishers also used both eggs and birds as sources of food. During this time, seabird populations decreased because of human activities. Now the only human activity near these islands is tour boats carrying visitors to observe the breeding birds from a safe distance.
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