Alan Harris had his binoculars out, and he and fellow marine life enthusiasts on April 16 were peering at seals that were bobbing their heads in and out of the water by Brainard Marsh.
This treat was one of many for wildlife lovers of all ages last Sunday morning. The Sippican Lands Trust started a new tradition this February when people gathered at the same marsh during a low tide to study the changes in wildlife throughout the year.
The weather was rainy at first but it faded quickly, allowing around a dozen people to observe snails, oysters, worms, shells, crabs, barnacles, and even some jellyfish. An osprey landed in a nest while seals were observed in the distance by some rocks jutting out of the Weweantic River – adding some surprise visitors to the mix.
“It’s all kinds of good stuff,” said Carolyn Tepolt, a marine biologist and a director for the SLT. “The nicest way to get into nature is to get out into nature.”
Young kids and their families were roaming around with buckets, and Tepolt was giving nature lovers of all ages a lesson on how many of these critters are resilient. Some travel as many as 100 miles, venturing out to sea when they are ready to mate.
Harris, a past president and board director, mentioned that one crab is an invasive species, and local scientists are keeping an eye on how they are impacting the ecosystem.
Ben Fisk and his wife Jen came with their neighbors. Their three-year-old son Sawyer had a bucket full of critters.
The Fisks were just a few families enjoying this outdoor and educational activity. Some noted the area’s kayak potential for later on in the year.
Many carried around a note card with critters that they might encounter, including a species of periwinkle that is often hard to find, according to Tepolt. In fact, she was sending pics of one litter critter to her colleagues, hoping they identified the correct one. Many were interested in the seals and the osprey sweeping back and forth into a nest.
Harris said the property and the pole, which the osprey nest, was donated to the town more than three decades ago. Since then it has become a “conservation success story,” according to Harris.
The SLT plans on hosting another tide pool exploration event in either July or August. Harris said the SLT often hosts “asynchronous” learning opportunities for the public.
Along with helping people identify marine life, Harris and others were also educating people, warning some kids that not all marine life found is edible.
Later on this year, the group also plans to host a story walk around Gallison Woods Trail. There, young kids will be asked to build fairy houses but can only use natural material and may not kill any critters along the way.
By Jeffrey D. Wagner