Look out, the birds are coming! No it's not a horror flick, it's Migration Week at Oak Hammock Marsh.
As you might have guessed, most of our birds don't spend the winter here.
A shame since they're missing out on a lot of winter playtime fun, but I get that a nest probably isn't the warmest place to live.
What you might not have guessed is that Winnipeg is home to one of the most important migration staging areas in North America.
Each year, Oak Hammock Marsh explodes with hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese taking a break or preparing for their journey as they head south for the winter.
It is truly a sight to behold. The sky is covered in sleek black shapes streaking across the sky and the marshes teem with activity at ground level.
Take a stroll on the boardwalks or the gravelled pathways as you bask in this completely immersive natural experience.
It's a great place to take the kids and a must for any nature enthusiast.
Binoculars and a camera with a long lens are a must.
To celebrate, Oak Hammock pulls out all the stops including hosting Migration Weekend, coming up this Saturday and Sunday.
They've got:
- Songbird Banding daily from 8 a.m. to noon (weather permitting), where you can get up close to these little birds with guidance from Oak Hammock's resident naturalist.
- Two organizations dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured birds will be offering up an opportunity to interact with the birds that come to Oak Hammock from 12:30-4pm both days
- Horse-drawn wagon rides are offered from 1:30-5pm for a cost of $5. The ride is about 30-45 minutes long and takes you into some of the less traveled parts of the marsh.
- And you can't miss the roof top fly-in which happens on the roof (obviously) at dusk where you can get just a little closer to the magnificent spectacle of the ducks and geese coming in for the night.
Only in The Peg Chronicles the adventures of the peg family–Missus, Mister and Lil’ Peg as they discover everything there is to see and do in Winnipeg. Follow them at @tourismwpg on Twitter or visit them on Facebook. For even more info on Winnipeg, visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com.
