Marthaville Habitat is one of our local parks that we enjoy taking the dog for a walk in. Almost every season, except for the middle of the summer (too many black flies), offers something new to see and lots of birds to listen to. The Conservation Area doesn’t have any facilities, just trails that loop around the ponds and through meadows and small forests. It is a popular place for dog owners, and unfortunately many act as if it is an off-leash park, which it isn’t. So, be aware that you may be approached by dogs off-leash and that many owners are not respectful of the park and do not pick up after their pets. Please don’t become one of them.
There are several bird boxes throughout the park, all in varying degrees of condition and use. This doesn’t mean you won’t see birds building their own nests in trees. We have seen many nests with a variety of birds living in them – robins, warblers, vireos – not to mention birds that use tree cavities. Keep your eyes open!
The ponds are a great place to let your dog swim in the late spring. Once summer comes the plant life makes the water mucky and smelly. You can often spot waterfowl on the ponds, although I’ve never seen a large number of them. Canada Geese often nest near the pond but are often disturbed by the ever-increasing number of dogs that are allowed off-leash and harass and sometimes kill wildlife. Blue Heron are seen on the more secluded pond and I once saw a Hooded Merganser that was on the one pond for quite a few weeks. The ponds are filled with fish, locals seem to be adding koi, catfish and some other fish to the ponds.
In the early spring everything seems so delicate and sparse as trees and shrubs begin to grow back their summer ‘plummage’. Leaves were budding and grasses were growing throughout the park.
Fields of Yellow Trout Lily leaves were taking over the forest floor, preparing to creating a blanket of drooping flowers.
The pine forest was welcoming its spring Red Trilliums as the spring sun made it’s way above the horizon to help with their growth.
A man and his dog enjoy the warm spring day. Can you tell whether that dog is leashed? Probably not. Sigh.
