Eco Cache - The Macoun Marsh Project
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A virtual multi cache with an educational and ecological twist. A very easy walk with unique biodiversity to engage the eco cacher in all of us.
Congratulations to 3 Bearss, Model12, Bluelamb and Sakidoo for the FTF! Looking forward to seeing the Nature Journals and Bioblitz data!
Cardinals, Salamanders, Snakes, Turtles and Frogs...Dragon Flies and Cat Tails; Welcome to the Macoun Marsh. Based on the opening line, you may be thinking Algonquin Park or some other remote piece of Canadian Wilderness, but these are just some of the over 1000 documented species of life in this urban nature oasis. Today's marsh is the last 10% of a once great wetland system that extended well beyond the boundaries of today’s study area.
The Macoun Marsh is an urban wetland that is home to many species of birds, mammals, insects, and other species of life. This publicly accessible piece of nature has been visited by teachers, students, neighbours and interested birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from both Ottawa and from around the world for years. Students from nearby schools have been documenting their finds at this hidden gem of nature for many years as well.
Since the inception of the Macoun Marsh Project a few years back, notable moments have included the participation in the Volvo Adventure in Sweden, where project members earned second prize and funds to help erect the beautiful outdoor classroom you now see at the site; the construction of the classroom; recognition from Toyota Canada as Champion of the Environment (Teacher); and most recently the project played host to students from around the world at the Second International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity. But basically, it all comes back to celebrating nature and getting students and Geocachers out into it to learn about our natural world.
Make your way to the posted coordinates and begin your Eco Cache Adventure. This is also a great place to park the car if you have arrived by that means. You are on the east edge of the Macoun Marsh study area and about to head west. To log an Eco Cache find for this adventure, you will simply have to complete the walk and determine the co-ordinates of the log location. You will need to visit the outdoor classroom as a minimum to get the information you need to find the final logbook location. Optionally, you may wish to accomplish what hundreds of students already have at this amazing place; Nature Journaling and/or a mini Bioblitz as you make your way through the waypoints, and please keep the principals of Leave no Trace as you make your way. Upon completion of your assignment, please take a picture of your work (optional) and post it to the site to record your find. Additionally, and optionally, it is always great to see pictures of the wildlife itself, so if you get any cool pictures, please feel free to post them as well.
Nature Journaling is a way to record your thoughts and feelings about a place in nature. Your entries can be written text in prose or poetry or in any other conceivable written form of communication. Most Nature Journals contain art work, either coloured or black and white. The artwork can be as varied as the artist but should relate to the sights and sounds of the area visited. A simple example of a Nature Journal entry at the Macoun marsh could be a drawing of the outdoor classroom and the surrounding vegetation and perhaps a listing of some wildlife see. Perhaps even a poem or a song as well.
A Bioblitz is a listing of all the life found at a specific area during a specific time period. Usually a Bioblitz is advertised and has identification experts on hand to help with the identifications. For the purposes of this Earth Cache ‘Bioblitz’ you need to try and identify as many species of life as you can over the time period it takes you to visit the waypoints listed. Don’t worry, you are not getting marked for this! Typically, a grade 7 student manages to list about 3 trees, 2 mammals, 5 birds, 5 insects and usually a few other goodies like Salamanders, Hawks or Turtles and Frogs. Are you a better Bioblitzer than a 7th grader?
By now you should be eager to get started. Please keep the requirements of the Eco Cache in mind as you navigate the trail via the various virtual sign post stops.
Virtual Sign Post #1 - I’m Lichen this! N45 26.750, W075 39.073
Head to the coordinates listed. At this location you will notice an abundance of dry flaky material of various colours dotting and covering to various degrees the rocks, and bark of the living and dead trees. The interesting flaky like material you see in this area are called lichens. Lichens exist in some of most extreme conditions on our planet. Lichens are poikilohydric which means that they are capeable of surviving extremely low levels of water content. Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a fungus symbiotically partnering with a with a photosynthetic partner like an green alga or cyanobacterium. Lichens can help scientists determine air pollutant levels and they have also been used in many traditional medicines. If you are lichen this, make note in your own style in your nature journal!
Virtual Sign Post #2 – An Endangered Species! N45 26.745, W075 39.087
At this location, you will clearly witness the big multi trunked tree. This is Juglans cinerea, commonly known as Butternut or White Walnut, and this is a native tree species of the area. Unfortunately, The most serious disease of Juglans cinerea is butternut decline or butternut canker. You can see an unfortunate example of this in one of the nearby saplings, although, unexplainably the big fella is still in good canker free shape. Butternut is listed as a Nationally Endangered Species by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Here in Ontario it is designated as an Endangered Species under the Provincial Endangered Species Act. Take some time to look around at the big tree and the little ones too!
Virtual Sign Post #3 – A very very big biomass! N45 26.750, W075 39.102
Some of you may already be aware of this interesting fact....the many trees you see at this location are not individual trees, but rather a large collection of individual trunks of Aspens. Quaking Aspens (close your eyes and listen to the amazing sounds) are a very interesting species. The root systems of the Aspens are all connected. Aspen groves make up some of the largest and oldest life collections on the planet. One such colony in Utah, given the nickname of "Pando", is claimed to be 80,000 years old, making it possibly the oldest living colony of aspens. Some aspen colonies become very large with time, spreading about a metre per year, eventually covering many hectares. They are able to survive forest fires, since the roots are below the heat of the fire, with new sprouts growing after the fire burns out. Hopefully the Marsh will not have to worry about forest fires, and we can continue to enjoy the Quaking Aspens, Butternuts and all the other species of trees in the area. Aspen colonies make for great Nature Journaling sketches!
Virtual Sign Post #4 – A place to learn! N45 26.752, W075 39.121
Completed a few years back, the Macoun Marsh Outdoor Classroom is a wonderful place to learn. A combined effort from students, teachers, schools, school boards, parents, neighbours, landowners, and sponsors and donors of all kinds helped make this physical building a reality. We do not need such a fancy edifice to learn in nature, but it does help when the rain is pounding down and you want to do some sketching. Take some time to learn about some of the more common inhabitants of the marsh as they are displayed on the information panels included in the classroom. You can see some beautiful colored artwork of common species of birds, insects as well as microscopic life and more, as created primarily by Mr. Leveille, the project founder and artiste supreme. Mr. Leveille continues to bring students to the marsh to learn hands on science. The structure provides for great wildlife viewing and is a perfect spot to tidy up nature journals and bioblitz assignments!
Virtual Sign Post #5 – A long time ago! N45 26.778, W075 39.146
This final Virtual Sign Post, takes you down the trail and around the waters edge to the west side of the marsh. From here, there is a beautiful look back at the classroom and a chance to do some fossil hunting. In urban nature environments there is always a challenge to protect nature and minimize human impact while still allowing for educational and leisurely pursuits. The landowners and partners have managed to create this here. The limestone blocks to delineate the marsh area in this location also serve an educational purpose in that to the keen eye you can see evidence of fossils. A great opportunity to ponder life from not only the present and the future, but also of the past.
We hoped you enjoyed our virtual sign post tour of the Macoun Marsh. We look forward to your bioblitz and nature journal efforts and also to seeing your pictures from this amazing place.
To find the logbook, go back to the classroom and look out over the marsh. You will see from left to right the beautiful collection of painted birds. The final logbook location is at:
45 26.8 (Blue Jay) (Cardinal)
75 39.0 (Blue Heron) (Cardinal)
To learn more about what we do, you can easily find us online.
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