Ducky Day in the marsh - 2003 National Communications award

At times I have to wonder how I end up in predicaments like this. I was attempting to photograph some slumbering geese at the edge of a snowy marsh. Through my binoculars I saw a fog hovering over the few open areas of spring fed water. The air was a frigid minus 17 degrees Celsius, the water was almost balmy. I had shuffled my way through the snow drifted trail along the wooded west side of Taquanyahmarsh in Decewsville. A Red Tailed Hawk scrutinized me as it glided silently away from its perch atop a snow covered Oak limb. I began a stealthy approach downwind of the geese. Two hundred yards closer up the winding trail a loud squawk followed by the wing beats of a large male pheasant had me wishing my camera had been turned on. Actually my first thought was “Is pheasant season still open?”

The snow hadn’t turned into that crunch, crunch, crunch sound yet. It still squeaked at times, and I could see the occasional black and white heads of geese gaze my way. A hen and drake Mallard that had been hidden off to my left without warning erupted skyward. Thinking to myself, do I sprint in with moon boots tromping and camera clicking or hunker down and wait.

Ok, ok, I hunkered down, have you every tried to sprint wearing moon boots? Kneeling there, I thought why didn’t these bird go south like most normal Canucks? I knew a visit with the local representative for Ducks Unlimited might help explain what retains these birds here.

 Phone calls much later that afternoon to Jeff Krete, set up a meeting. His office is located in Grand River Conservation complex at 400 Clyde Road in Cambridge. We spent an afternoon discussing local projects around the Dunnville area. Jeff informed me of the numerous locations where waterfowl benefited. Private landowners in partnership with Ducks Unlimited and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Wetland Habitat Fund, have restored several acres of wetland habitat north of Dunnville on agricultural properties.Other public locations such as Taquanyah Nature Centre, which is a Grand River Conservation Authority facility located a few kilometers west of Cayuga, near Decewsville. It has been an important educational facility for local school children on field outings, and a wonderful local resource for wildlife and people. Other sites like Thompson Creek project involved the creation of several acres of restored wetland habitat and extensive native grass nesting cover for waterfowl and other birds.  This site has become a popular local walking area, where you can see many ducks, songbirds, and occasional migrating swans in the spring and fall.

If you would like information to become a DU member to assist locally or attend a DU Dinner Banquet for conservation contact Jeff at 519-621-2763 ext 297 or email J_krete@ducks.ca. Last years dinner in Cayuga I had a great meal and won a comfy leather chair as a bonus.

     As to my predicament, the geese had now decided the far side of the marsh was a better proposition than this side. I attempted to jog that last twenty-five yards through foot deep snow drifts over mushy bulrushes. Attempting to focus on rapidly departing subjects in the blink of an eye is never a wise plan with a 300mm lens. Oh well, so much for photos of geese on a frozen marsh. Plan B, pictures of a frozen marsh shrouded in mist.

     I trudged back to my vehicle taking a short cut directly across the marsh, being careful to avoid those legendary bottomless bog holes. After removing snow laden clothes and soggy moon boots I reached for my cell phone. I searched my nap sack then the inside of my vehicle. Hmmmmm, I pondered to myself, no pictures, no cell phone; looks like just another ducky day in the marsh.

Remember to keep a tight line. Peter F. Wood is a local writer enjoying life along the Grand River. Please feel free to pass along any information you would like shared with other readers concerning the Grand River to ripplejournalism@gofishin.ca