This weekend’s venue for the Fall Marsh Conference was the beautiful salt marsh in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The location was ideal, as northern delegates such as the Canada geese were able to stop over to attend the events during their migration south.
This year’s conference theme was The Tides of Change which gave all attendees opportunities to discuss strategies for the future while sharing lessons learned. A panel presentation facilitated by Dr. Bob Cat, entitled The Coyote Bounty: What it Means for the Rest of Us drew standing room only crowds, especially from the rodent delegation.
Four workshops were also well attended: Innovative Uses for Discarded Tim Horton’s Coffee Cups, Coping with Off-leash Dogs, Managing Expectations for Migration Destinations after the Gulf Oil Spill and Winter Storm Survival Techniques. Once again this year, the sessions were coordinated by the great blue herons.
A gala evening on Saturday featured music by the Sandpipers. Though the main vegetarian course was delectable, many of the attendees chose to find alternate fare off-site at the Roadkill Café on Bissett Road.
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. B. Eagle who provided some keen insights into life at the top of the food chain. It should be noted that conference organizers greatly appreciated his willingness to refrain from eating any of the delegates until after closing ceremonies.
Thanks to all who worked diligently behind the scenes to make the conference a success! We hope to see all delegates again next year.
Amy Lynn, I was just thinking about you and your blogs this morning…and here you are! This blog is a Winner. It should be on the front page of Freshly Pressed. That way the whole world could attend this marsh conference. (As long as they properly dispose of their Tim Horton coffee cups!)
Thanks Kathy. I’ve been so bogged down with work lately that I haven’t been able to post or visit other blogs as usual. However, I was thankful to be able to find time on the weekend to attend the conference 😉
Humorously lovely, Amy!! A great read to start my week. Hope the delegates had good weather for their return flights. 😉
They may have been fogged in but I think they all made it out ok eventually. Some were going to stay a bit longer and take in some of the local sites before heading out.
Thank you for a wonderfully insightful and delightful piece. On a very serious note, I am considering what will happen when all the birds migrate to and through the Gulf area. I wonder if there is any way to literally warn the birds of the toxic mess. Detour! Think about it–they fly, they rest, they drink/eat, they carry the toxins away with them–inside and outside. Does anyone know of anyone contemplating this impending consequence?
47whitebuffalo, it is a BIG concern to many.
See a report from the Audubon Society:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130543282
and news about a study being done by Virginia Tech:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/virginia-tech-studies-impact-of-gulf-oil-spill-on-plovers
Stellar, Miss Amy. I heard bits of the Michigan conference–the session held in a cornfield on Farrell Road the other evening–but was so occupied with moon-gazing that I didn’t pay close attention. I wish I’d listened harder. Story of my life.
Gerry, I’d be distracted by moon-gazing too. Maybe some of the conference attendees in the cornfield were too.
And thanks are also due to the press, represented so ably by Amy-Lyn and her nothing-misses-me camera.
(It was half way through the post that I realized what Fall Marsh Conference really is .. 😀 Guess I too am too tired.)
swaps, unfortunately, my camera does miss a lot but I don’t usually write about that 😉
Happens… pobody is nerfect 🙂
It’s so good to “see” you again, Amy-Lynn. I’d have liked to attend this conference with you, and my husband is going to be crazy over that top photograph (as am I). I also like the geese in W-formation.
Pamela, nice to have you back for a visit. I recall you mentioning that your husband was a landscape painter. I find the colors in the marsh saltscape especially nice at this time of year.
I love this post Amy-Lynn! What a marvelous sense of humour you have to go along with your wonderful imagination, beautiful photography, excellent writing and inspiring love of nature. Five stars! 🙂
missusk76, thanks for the stars 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Amy-Lynn,
What a fun, wonderful post. The pictures are lovely and just increase my homesickness !
Sorry I missed the conference.
Hugs, Sybil
Sybil,
The crows were overheard at the Roadkill Cafe asking whether or not the new driver in your family would be traveling along Bissett Road after dark 😉
Looking forward to seeing you soon 🙂
Yup….what everyone else said! Wondermous pictures – wondermous story! 🙂
I was missing you and this post just hit the spot!
Lovely and thanks.
I enjoyed this tongue in cheek rendition of all-too-cheerful corporate report – how clever your use of the salt marsh photos for inspiration and a fun poke at us humans.
Nice work!
Amy-Lynn,
We want a new post !
We want a new post !
(chanted on behalf of devoted Flandrum Hill followers)
Hugs, Sybil
Adding my voice to the chant….we miss you, Miss Amy-Lynn! Hope all is well…love ya!
Sybil, we have to talk 🙂
Dawn and brokenpenwriter, thank you for your kind comments.
Cindy Lou, all is well. I’ve just been away from my computer a lot more than usual this past month. The ‘real’ world seems to be beckoning more and more. But I did get some new eagle photos on a recent morning walk…