Northwest Park Pond Trail Offers Look Into Marsh Life

Raka Sunderland and I took a walk on the Pond Trail at Northwest Park this past weekend.  Sunderland is a Chemistry teacher at Sports and Medical Sciences Academy in Hartford during the school year, but the for past three summers, she has been employed by Northwest Park in the role of environmental educator. 

On this particular Saturday morning, Sunderland and I were waiting to see how many other nature-lovers would arrive to walk the Pond Trail with us, but no one else arrived — the unfortunate result of a heat wave, Sunderland supposes. However, I was able to get a personal tour through one of the most lively and active parts of Northwest Park.

As birds called, Sunderland said, "That's an Indigo Bunting.  They repeat their calls."  And sure enough, the bird replicated it's call one time after another.  As we entered the woods more deeply, and the bugs increased their voracious attacks, she reflected that the wet Spring was likely the reason for the increase in bug acitivity.  The trail is hidden well behind the Nature Center just beyond a field of wildflowers. 

"These are vernal pools," remarked Sunderland, pointing at large bodies of water that were adjacent to the edge of the socalled Beaver Pond.  They occur naturally, she said.  In fact, Beaver Pond was entirely created by the beavers that live in Windsor.  "Beavers created it by felling all the trees in this area," she said drawing a comparison to how humans might do the same.  She is clearly impressed by their hardworking demeanor.

"See how that tree has been fallen in the direction of the pond?" asked Sunderland.  "The beavers do that.  It's their instinct."

Far off on the other side of the pond, Sunderland then points out the beavers winter lodge.  A cone shaped pile of branches and trees erupting out of the water. 

As we reach the man-made look-out and stop, the bug activity lightens up and we can see clearly out into the pond. To the untrained eye it looks more like a marsh.  Green algae thickly layers the top of the water and trees stick up out of it, barren and stripped, unaccustomed to sitting in water for so long.  Sunderland describes herrons, turtles and all sorts of other kinds of wildlife that call this home.

All of a sudden we hear a high pitched call of a red tail hawk and we spot him, perched high out in the top of one of the scant trees.  I quickly snap several pictures of him, closer and closer until I obtained the expression on his face.  He was alone and no bird seemed to respond. 

"They will be even more active if we're quiet," said Sunderland, encouraging me to listen and not ask many questions.  But I did want to know more:

Why do the Beavers build their homes the way they do?  What other types of birds live around this body of water? Do other visitors to Northwest Park visit this trail often?

As we listen closely, we hear the sounds of the landfill nearby.  Someone is either sawing wood or moving things around.  It brings us back to reality.  That although we are standing here in his beautiful and pristine land inhabited by hundreds of different kinds of creatures, civilization is close by, ever encroaching.  But for now, it's just us and the red winged blackbird that just arrived. Solitude is temporary, but captured on camera.

Have you ever walked the Pond Trail?  What have you seen there?  For more information go to www.northwestpark.org.