Whale watching at its best awaits those willing to venture to the tip of Digby Neck, a long finger of land that extends like a tail from south-western Nova Scotia.

Several outfitters operate boats from the town of Digby, at the head of the peninsula, and from Westport, which occupies Brier Island itself. Among them is Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises whose resident scientists are so familiar with the returning humpback and right whales that they can identify each by name.

More and more visitors seek out Brier Island for its birds. Spring is the best season for migrating seabirds and nesting pelagics, summer for breeding terns. Migrating hawks make a spectacular autumn display.