Visitation to the historic site at the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland has shown a remarkable increase over the beginning of the 2008 season. Visitation numbers are up by over 30 percent and include visitors from most Canadian provinces, Texas, California and many other states as well as England, Ireland, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Bolivia.

Perhaps the most unusual visitor, however, was a large bearded seal, native to the far north and seldom seen in southern Newfoundland waters. According to Eric Baggs, Memorial University Department of Biology, the sighting "may have claim to the most southern documentation for the species in southern NFLD. They have been reported for the Gulf and there is a record for Gloucester, Mass. I have seen them up north and they do occur around St. Anthony and surrounding areas. They are mostly a northern species. Your animal most likely came down with the ice and swam inshore for rest and recreation."

Although bearded seals are not known as heritage buffs, this one spent two days at the colony, lounging and dozing on a slipway when not observing the many onlookers who made him the most photographed attraction at the Colony thus far in 2009.