A straightforward hide in a lovely park at a bend in the Bow River.
This is a new deployment for the waterproof match container that was the final for GC1BE83 Pearce Estate Park Wetland Interpretive Trails, a multicache we maintained for 10 years. It was made obsolete by extensive upgrading of the wetland interpretive trails - including new signs and viewing platforms.
NOTE: This area can be busy at times, especially when school groups are doing wetland studies. Stealth may be required. You never know who might be watching!
Located along the Bow River Pathway, Pearce Estate Park is a short bike ride from downtown Calgary. The wetlands at Pearce Estate Park have been transformed several times over the past 150 years. Originally part of a riverine forest complex, after the land was acquired by William Pearce, they were partly converted to agricultural use. In 1929, Pearce donated the land for the purpose of establishing a new city park. More recently, the wetlands have been re-naturalized to something approaching their original condition. A significant re-naturalization was completed in 2004 and another redevelopment is in progress (spring 2018).
The plants typical of a Balsam Poplar riverine forest (such as willows, Water Birch and Red-Osier Dogwood) thrive in the area. The wetlands include emergent vegetation (such as cattails and bulrushes), submergent vegetation (such as Sago Pondweed) and floating vegetation (such as Common Duckweed).
Birds and other animals that prefer this type of forest (such as the White-breasted Nuthatch and Gray Catbird) are very common. Some of the Balsam Poplars are old and have cavities, which attract cavity-nesting birds (such as Tree Swallows, Northern Flickers and Common Goldeneye). A range of waterbirds can be seen on the ponds and Red-Winged Blackbirds sing from the rushes.
If you have time, we encourage you to explore the park's trails, learn about the reconstructed wetlands, do a bit of birdwatching and maybe check out the public art installation Bow Passage Overlook, which is along the Bow River Pathway just upstream of Harvie Passage.