I have chosen to observe one of my favourite regional parks to visit. Colony Farms Regional Park covers 260 hectares, primarily consisting of grassland, wetlands, and rivers. It is a popular bird-watching destination noted to be home to over 200 bird species. In spite of it being a popular hiking and cycling destination, it is also home to countless wildlife. The trails are raised like a typical dyke system, the main paths being gravel and sand approximately 6-7 ft wide, there is a maintained/mowed section of flora directly beside the path typically 2-5ft wide, followed by much more lush grasses and foliage (tall grasses, cattails, blackberry bushes etc.) along the bank down to the wetlands and rivers. This is a regular destination for myself and my dog. We are familiar with the murder of crows that roost on a particular tree, often spotting coyotes and herons on earlier morning trips and enjoying a healthy and lush ecosystem. We also have been able to witness weekly mowing and path maintenance all summer long. My typical route is entering through the Mundy Creek Trail, south on the Home Farm Dyke Trail, across the Millennium Bridge, north on Wilson Farm Dyke Trail, and then east down the Pumphouse Trail at the end of which I double back and do the reverse route. It is a little over 6km route. Typical visits are on weekday mornings (usually for about an hour between 9 and 11 am) all year round regardless of the weather.
- What impact does the regular mowing at the edge of the trail have on the flora that grows there in comparison to the rest of the park?
- Do the crows stop grazing the path and return to their roosting trees for all types of trail traffic (bikes, runners, walkers, and dogs)
- Will more wildlife be visible from the trail on higher traffic mornings (weekends or stat holidays)?
MetroVancouver. Colony Farm Regional Park. www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/parks-greenways-reserves/colony-farm-regional-park. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.
