The sewer stroll is a tour of sewage outlet sites around Halifax, organized by the Halifax Field Naturalists and the Nova
Scotia Bird Society. Though it may sound like somewhat of an unusual activity, 18-year-old high school student Angela Thibodeau explains why this winter tour of Halifax Harbour is great for bird enthusiasts. |
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| Halifax Harbour |
Why is this a good activity?
You can visit a lot of good birding sites in a single morning. You can go on a guided group tour with expert birders and look through their spotting scopes. During the winter there aren't a whole lot of warm places to go. But with a sewer stroll, you get to spend most of your time in a warm car with friends!
What time of year is the best time to go?
The sewer strolls are usually held during the winter months, between December and February.
What can you expect to see?
A lot of seabirds come down from the Arctic to winter along our coast. There are many species of gulls, alcids and ducks that aren't around during other times of the year. Most winters, a few Dovekies, King Eiders or Harlequin Ducks show up. You can also choose to swing up into the city and look around for out of season sparrows or finches.
How does one get there?
The route runs from Dartmouth to Halifax so there are several locations that you can start from. Normally it starts from Hartlen Point Golf Club in Dartmouth, runs along the coast line of Bedford Basin and Purcell's Cove and winds up in Herring Cove.
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Tribune Head
Drawing by Angela Thibodeau |
Where can we get more information?
Both the Nova Scotia Bird Society and the Halifax Field Naturalists organize sewer strolls anually.
Any anecdotes, legends, unusual sightings?
This past fall a Brown Shrike from Siberia was first discovered along the Bedford Basin portion of the stroll.
One area in Herring Cove was named Tribune Head after a heroic 18th-century rescue:
The Legend of Joe Cracker
In 1797, a British frigate ship was attempting to enter Halifax
Harbour. The confident captain of La Tribune refused a pilot vessel and
ended up crashing against a shoal. As as winds brewed up, La Tribune began
to slowly sink. The only person brave enough to row out into the swell to
save the passengers was a 14-year-old orphan from Herring Cove named Joe
Cracker. He brought two men to shore. Some of the older fishermen grew
ashamed of not being as brave as Cracker, so they also went out and rescued
another ten souls. Two hundred and thirty eight other passengers perished. When later asked by the
Duke what he wanted as a reward, Joe replied, "A pair of corduroy
breeches."
