Sackville Waterfowl Park #3

During our walk around the Sackville Waterfowl Park,

we were in a cathedral of nature. 

We breathed fragrances of morning marsh air,

new leaves, sun-warmed wooden walkways

and wildflowers near the paths.

We enjoyed the textures of the cattails, the rough railings on the walkways, the bark of birches, the stiff grasses and rushes,

the weightless sensation of leaves, as we brushed by.

The views off the pathways were filled

with aging and growth...

nature happening everywhere.  We stayed on the paths,

and touched and took nothing.

The Park is clear that nothing is to be disturbed. 

It was enough to look, to breathe in and to walk.

 

There were brooks and meadows, swathes of cattails,

bowers of birch and everywhere,

sky and leaves reflected at water's edge.

There was beauty in the cattails and at every turn on the path. 

We had to stop

again and again to gaze and wonder. 

As we stared, we saw a hidden nest here, a wildflower there. 

We heard a warble or a trill or a squawk

or leaves rustling and a whir of wings.

And all the while, we strolled in sun's warmth

or in the kiss of dappled shade. 

It was sacred space.

We enjoyed the day

 and this place of sanctity in nature.

And felt better for the time spent.

As we left the Sackville Waterfowl Park, 

we breathed more gently on our way.

Note:

All photos are mine.

The phrases describing the Sackville Waterfowl Park

as a cathedral of nature and

as a sacred space were first suggested by friends,

so are not original to me.

Sackville Waterfowl Park #2

The Sackville Waterfowl Park was established in 1988 as a joint venture of the Town of Sackville and Ducks Unlimited Canada.  The cooperation of Mount Allison University, the province of New Brunswick, the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, together with corporate and individual supporters
made this park possible. 

Have you been there yet?  Admission is free.

Though we could have chosen a guided tour, we did not. 

 Instead, we began our walk at the Anglican Church

on Main Street, Sackville and guided ourselves.

A map of the Sackville Waterfowl Park is available

showing the pathways

 and each of the entrances to the park. 

To see the map, click here.

In addition to ducks, we saw Red-Winged Blackbirds

and this Tree Swallow who sat for a photo.

Most of the time, the Tree Swallows swooped over our heads,

flitting to and from their nest boxes.

This pair of Canada Geese took time to rest with their 5 goslings,

on a board floating in the water.

When the babies were ready to go again,

they swam off in a protected line.

We noticed a muskrat lodge hidden in the cattails and grasses.

 

And later saw the muskrat.

More about the Sackville Waterfowl Park tomorrow...

Words in red will take you to another site with additional information, if you click on them.

All photos are mine.

Sackville Waterfowl Park

Have you walked through the Sackville Waterfowl Park yet? 

For the price of the gas to travel to Sackville, New Brunswick,
the park is yours to enjoy. 

Admission is free.

The Sackville Waterfowl Park is 55 acres in the heart of Sackville. It is managed by the Town of Sackville

with the help of a voluntary

Waterfowl Park Advisory Committee.

The park has 3.5 kilometers of trails

and boardwalks that pass through shallow fresh water wetlands

and low uplands.

We stepped onto the path

and before we had walked two minutes,

I was taking photos.

 

I couldn't resist the beauty, the birds, muskrats,

wild flowers, alders and birches,

so much to enjoy at each curve in the path.

I took many pictures, so many that I will spread

them out over several blogs.

The walk was amazing.  You'll see.

And more photos to come...