Take Memories

by Anita Benedict

Last week winners were announced for the People’s Choice Awards, a fun initiative through the High Tides Bulletin. I hope many people took the time to think about their own favourites, those that had been nominated and the other businesses/parks/food/people etc. in the area.  We live in a fantastic area of the province.

I was the recipient of Best Tour Guide. In reality, there were only two of us nominated and the other person is pretty awesome as a guide.

I am part of the Visitor Experience Team at Burntcoat Head Park where we offer Ocean Floor tours when the tide is right. We go out about a half an hour before low tide and show curious visitors what life can be found on the ocean floor. Many are amazed there is so much life in what often looks like a barren lunar landscape. 

I grew up here, and the beach was often a playground. Someone asked what is the difference between beach and ocean floor. I always say a beach has sand and not a lot of rocks, the ocean floor has a lot of rocks, tide pools, usually less sand but more plant life and creatures. 

My first education was exploring the tide pools near where my father and a friend had a fishing weir. Funny flat fish, crabs, lots of periwinkles, hermit crabs and different varieties of fish. It was also my first education in listening to dad when he said not to go out further than the weir. Respect for the swift flowing tides in a channel and dad was the result when my nephews and I thought we should explore out in the bay further. 

When working as a reporter, I wanted to do an article on fishing weirs and that is when I met Darren Porter. The weir shape changed a bit each year but was always an amazing experience. Like seeing my first seal in the wild, or being very close to herons and eagles or watching them safely remove the massive sturgeon from the weir to be placed in a safe pool. 

Then along came an opportunity to be taught by Andrew Hebda and Gwyneth Jones, two of the smartest people I know. It was hard to take it all in but a whole new world opened before my eyes as we learned about squid eggs, how periwinkles came to live here and the difference between mud snails, periwinkles and whelks. We also learned that the Minas Basin/Cobequid Bay is home to a protected species called the Atlantic Mud Piddock. A small elongated clam that burrows into the soft mud stone habitat.  Many of us have become self-proclaimed Piddock Protectors and should you want to learn more, just visit us at the park or look up the Piddock online.

What all of this has taught me is a greater respect for the ocean floor and the creatures that live there. It is not a dead place when the tide recedes, and the rocks are often alive with tiny creatures if you choose to look carefully. We have even found tiny crabs inside pieces of driftwood. One of the greatest comments I received was a mom telling me her son had listened to what was being said and remembered my words about watching where we step whenever he visited a beach or marine area. 

If you have ever held a baby skate in the palm of your hand, or sang to a periwinkle till he came out of his shell, you will have known the magic of the ocean floor. Walk softly, look carefully, and take nothing but wonderful memories.