Nature & Discovery.
The Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary begins within the Village of Merrickville and extends 5.6 km west and southwest along the canal and river — designated by the Canadian Wildlife Service in 1957 to protect a feeding and resting area for waterfowl. Up to 1,000 Canada geese and 1,000 ducks use the sanctuary at a time during fall migration, with mallard, American black duck, blue-winged teal, and ring-necked duck the most common species.
The brief.
The sanctuary is paddleable from the Merrickville public beach and boat launch — the easiest viewing access. Tundra swan, common goldeneye, bufflehead, common and hooded merganser, green heron, and pied-billed grebe have all been logged in the sanctuary alongside the dabbling-duck core.
South of the village, the Limerick Forest North Tract boardwalk reaches a viewing platform over Hanlan's Marsh / Wolford Bog — 1,500 hectares of bog, swamp, and marsh designated a Provincially Significant Wetland and ANSI. Spring and fall migration are the best windows for the bird sanctuary; the Hanlan's Marsh boardwalk is most accessible spring through fall.
The sanctuary is administered federally by Environment and Climate Change Canada under federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations — hunting and disturbance of birds are prohibited.
3. places.
- 01
Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary
5.6 km of Rideau Canal/River starting in the Village of Merrickville, designated 1957; up to 1,000 Canada geese and 1,000 ducks during fall migration.
Map ↗ - 02
Hanlan's Marsh (Wolford Bog) viewing platform
1,500 ha provincially significant wetland and ANSI; access via the boardwalk in the Limerick Forest North Tract off Scotch Line.
Map ↗ - 03
Limerick Forest North Tract
Cedar and mixed-forest tract south of the village on the Merrickville-Wolford / North Grenville boundary.
Map ↗
Today's read.
Outside the typical season window.
By the book.
- 01The Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary is administered under federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations; hunting and disturbance of birds are prohibited.Source ↗
- 02Limerick Forest is a multi-use working forest with shared trail use; respect signed wetland and viewing-platform boundaries on the Hanlan's Marsh boardwalk.Source ↗
