Malpeque Bay, located on Prince Edward Island, is a coastal lagoon consisting of different types of wetlands such as shallow open waters, intertidal flats and islands. The intertidal flats are dominated by eelgrass (Zostera marina) that supports a diverse community of marine invertebrates and serves as a food source for a considerable variety of waterbirds including the piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and the green-winged teal (Anas crecca carolinensis). It is an important nursery area for shellfish, such as the internationally renowned Malpeque Bay oysters (Crassostrea virginica). The islands of the lagoon are also colonial nesting sites for a large number of seabirds. Within the bay, the largest colony in the Province of great blue heron (Ardea herodias) and more than 1% of the North American population of double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritus) are found in autumn. During spring and autumn, between 14,000 and 20,000 individuals of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) are also found.