First visit 25 March

This really isn't my first visit to the wetlands and forest, but it's the first time I'm blogging this uniquely beautiful spot.

I plan to visit once a week, and track seasonal changes to flora and fauna. 

The path itself to the marsh is considered to be within a "mature biodiverse forest."  There will come a day, hopefully, that the forest will graduate to become  "old growth forest."  Unless it's logged, which, alas, remains a risk. 

The forest abounds in a variety of plant and animal life.  At this time of year, most of the vegetation remains bare, although new signs of life are emerging.  

The salmonberries are leafing out

and  sword fern rests beneath the leaves of the big-leaf maple.

As we approach the marsh, an exuberant chorus of frogs heralds the change of season.*  https://soundcloud.com/ebredberg33/nanaimo-5  

Nest boxes await their residents' arrivals.

A pair of eagles soared above the marsh, silhouetted against the snowy mountain slope,

and then settled in a fir tree at the far side of the marsh.

Most of the morning was overcast, but the clouds parted briefly to reveal the Arrowsmith massif.

As winter still has its hold on the marsh, the reeds remain golden, the bushes and deciduous trees mostly bare.

On the far bank, a stand of red alder shows the blush of early change.

Throughout the forest, stands of evergreen salal and fern abound.

Opportunistic salal will grow on the tree stumps that mark early logging.

This introductory walk has struck me with the endless variety of this forest and wetlands.   As the seasons pass, ever more diversity and change will reveal themselves.

To be continued...

*(I'm just starting to figure out how to add audio.  There has to be a better way.  Bear with me, please.  I'll get us there. --L)