Outdoor Nova Scotia: "The Best Way to be Informed."

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by Ronnie Scullion                                                                                                                   

January 31st, 2003 Port L'Hebert, Queens County. - The plight of thousands of Canada geese remains in the balance in East Side Port l’Hebert, Nova Scotia. Concerned residents of this small fishing community have rallied together to try to save the weakened birds, dying of starvation.

A harsh winter has blanketed many of the frequented feeding grounds on Nova Scotia’s southwestern shores with ice and snow. Record snowfalls have combined with changing weather temperatures creating an impermeable surface of ice and hard packed snow. Seaside vegetation that migratory birds rely on is covered and inaccessible.

Sheldon Huskins, who fishes out of Port l’Hebert, has not seen a winter like this in thirty-five years. He is concerned for the thousands of migratory Canada geese who stop here to feed. Approximately 4,000 are presently gathered on the shores, their numbers diminishing daily as weakened geese succumb to starvation.

Huskins and other area residents are working to save the flocks. With money raised locally, they have purchased cracked corn and have begun feeding the birds. Part of the feeding plan involves encouraging some of the birds to move to other feeding grounds. Their efforts are paying off, already many geese have moved up shore or across the river. By dispersing the flocks, it is hoped that when the ice and snow recedes the limited vegetation will sustain the numbers of birds in each location.

Much more food is needed if the birds are to recover. When word of their plight came to the attention of Darlene Norman, a councilor of the Region of Queens Municipality, Norman was quick to champion the geese’s plight to agencies like Environment Canada and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). Help in the form of food aid or funds were not forthcoming from these agencies and Norman then took their cause to the media. The response has been great with offers of food and financial aid arriving. A farmer in Shubenacadie has donated truckloads of grain.

The CWS maintains that feeding the birds will only encourage them to stay in Port l’Hebert and not seek out better feeding grounds. While CWS informs that some birds would certainly die off, most would survive, move on to better feeding grounds and be stronger for it.

Canada Geese depend on the eelgrass for winter-feed that once covered these shores through the colder months. But in addition to this year’s harsh winter, the supply of eelgrass has been greatly diminished. Predatory green crabs, the same species that has invaded many Atlantic coastal waters, wreaking havoc on indigenous species, have recently invaded these coastal shores. The crabs disturb the sea floor, pinching off the root systems of the seaweed. The beaches and shorelines of Port l’Hebert once covered with eelgrass are virtually barren.

However, for local residents, the spectacle of starving and dying birds has prompted intervention. With so many variables, only hindsight will determine the value of these efforts. Norman echoes the sentiment of many residents who feel that the birds in a weakened state would not have the strength to fly on and face certain death. Feeding them is seen as the humane option.

More help is needed to sustain the flocks. To make a donation, contact Sheldon Huskins at (902) 683-2313 or Troy Wolfe at (902) 683-2145. Huskins can also be reached by email at huskins@lycos.com.

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