Area: 18.24 km2
Latitude: 51.005 N
Longitude: 96.890 W
Riverton Sandy Bar IBA is located on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, just east of the town of Riverton and south of Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park. This small IBA consists of two sandbars jutting out into the channel between the lake shore and Hecla Island. These sandbars are often overrun with grasses and willows. In certain years only one (the “Riverton Sandbar”) may be accessible on foot, while the other (“Hecla Sandbar”) may require a boat to access.
Globally significant congregatory species and concentrations of waterbirds and seabirds gather at Riverton Sandy Bar IBA. Gulls, terns, American White Pelicans, and Double-crested Cormorants are present in the IBA in impressive numbers. Historical sightings (last in 2000) of Piping Plovers, an endangered species, were recorded here. The IBA is also used by migratory shorebirds including Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden Plover, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the spring and fall. Additional species seen here include Lapland Longspur, Smith’s Longspur, Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, and American Pipit. The current trigger species for this IBA is the Rusty Blackbird which is present in globally significant numbers during fall.
This IBA is seldom disturbed due to its relative isolation, but the Manitoba IBA Program holds an annual weed pull to remove invasive plants from the sandbar and restore shorebird nesting habitat.
See below for maps on where to find birds, stories relating to Riverton Sandy Bar IBA, and priorities for monitoring.
Where to bird:
- Park at the Sandy Bar Beach and walk north to the sandbar to see shorebirds, pelicans, and more
- The marsh adjacent to Road 329 leading to Sandy Bar Beach to see waterfowl
- It can be viewed by car or on foot. If the season is a wet one, like it is this year, the sand spits may be hard or impossible to access.
Birding is possible anywhere where you can walk in this small IBA and the sandbars provide good views of either side of the Riverton Harbour. The sandbars move slightly year to year and parts may be inaccessible on foot. Good shoes are essential for a successful birding day at Riverton Sandy Bar.
The nearby Riverton Motor Inn and the nearby town of Gimli offer accommodations. Stick around and spend some time at the Sandy Bar Beach for a complete day.
When to bird:
- Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) for migratory species
- Summer (June–August) for nesting shorebirds, gulls, and colonial waterbirds
