Trail Tools
- Spy Scope (instructions)
- Touch Box (instructions).
- Hard-boiled eggs, painted like duck eggs (store in the touch box). A few for everyone.
- Underwater viewer (instructions).
- Binoculars (optional)
- Adventure Journal
This trail is very accessible, having broad flat gravel trails that loop around 2 open ponds that border the Cornwallis river. This wetland was acquired by Ducks Unlimited and constructed from a farmer’s field by the Town of Kentville who maintains the site for public enjoyment. The site has viewing platforms, picnic tables and interpretive signage and is very popular for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts due to the abundance of wildlife that uses the marsh throughout the year. Miner’s Marsh can be accessed from the abandoned rail line trail at the intersection of the trail with Leverett Avenue, and from the parking area behind the County of Kings Municipal building on Cornwallis Street in the Town of Kentville.
Coming from Halifax or the east, take Highway 101 west to the Annapolis Valley. Take Exit 12 and turn right at the bottom of the off-ramp towards Kentville/New Minas. Drive 1.5 km to the lights and turn left onto the Number 1 Hwy (Main St.) towards Kentville. Drive 2.3 km on Main St. and merge left onto the one-way Cornwallis St. in Kentville. Continue 150 m and turn right onto Barklay St. which is the driveway that goes behind the Municipality of Kings County Office and Courthouse building. Park at the far side of the parking lot and start at the Miner’s Marsh sign. The Kings Transit bus from nearby towns stops in downtown Kentville on Station Lane, just across from the Municipal Courthouse Building. The schedule is here.
From the sign at the parking lot, walk 40 m until you are in front of the bridge over the river and a picnic table is on your right. Go to the old, giant willow tree which is just to the right of the picnic table.
Step into a duck’s world as you search for 4 clues to a mystery: the black duck’s secret of survival. Discover the clues throughout the trail and then unscramble the letters in the boxes at the end to figure out the secret word. Along the way you’ll have to care for and protect your own duck eggs. Are there hungry duck predators around?
You’ll have to do some spying too as ducks aren’t about to give away their secrets.
To gain the power you need to solve the mystery, touch the ancient willow tree, which is the Guardian of the Marsh, and say…
“Ancient Willow,
Giant tower
To be a duck and solve the mystery,
Give me power!”
Act and sound like a duck and you’ll blend in better. Do the duck waddle walk as you quack down the trail.
From the trail sign, waddle 20 m up the trail to the bridge over the Cornwallis river.
Take out your duck scope or binoculars. Are there any animals on the river today? Look for:
This river is a tidal river, meaning that the water runs down when the tide is going out and up when the tide is coming in. What is the tide doing right now?
If you see some ducks, quack to call them over.
Waddle to the next stop.
From the bridge, walk 30 m, continuing right at the Y in the trail. When you reach the main trail around the marsh, go right and walk 50 m to where the trail starts to turn to the left.
Is there a rumble coming from your eggs? Quick– you need to build a nest for them.
Show off your nest to everyone and explain why you chose this spot to hatch your eggs.
Before you leave, spread your nest material on the ground for other ducks to use and bring your eggs with you in your carton.
This egg carton/touch box can tell you how long a black duck might live. The number of eggs that this carton can hold is:
This is the possible age of a black duck in the pond.
Waddle along the trail 150 m to a flat grassy spot to the right side of the trail.
What if your egg rolled out of the nest by accident? Could you get it back to the nest? Test your skill at egg rolling:
Look for spots where a predator might hide as you move to the next stop.
Waddle 50 m along the trail, and stop at the second pond, just passed an intersecting trail to the left.
Take out your duck scope or binoculars. Stay low and quiet as you creep closer to the pond. Make some quacking noises to call to the ducks on the pond.
Are there any ducks on the pond? What are they doing? Look for a small blue patch on the duck. The blue colour is located on the duck’s
Waddle to the next stop.
Waddle 200 m along the trail and around the corner passing the viewing stand. Stop at the wooden fence rails to the right.
The black duck has a very good sense of touch using its bill. Its bill comes in handy for finding good stuff to eat and for building nests. Collect touches for the touch box with your bill on the hill above the railing.
Scatter the items from your touch box on the ground for other ducks to find and replace your eggs before you move on.
Waddle 200 m along the trail, passing a trail to the left. Just before the viewing platform, you will see a little clearing to the right with a trail into the woods. Walk 20 m into the woods and find a giant maple tree.
Predators like raccoons are after your eggs. See how well you can hide them:
Place your eggs back in the touch box.
Waddle back out to the main trail. Turn right and walk just 20 m to the next path off the trail going into the woods to the right. Walk 20 m into the woods to a cluster of large trees.
Black ducks enjoy eating insects. Search for them in little holes and crevices and under leaves and sticks:
How many insects did you find? An expert duck can find 5 different kinds.
You can have your own snack now from your backpack if you have one. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Ducks constantly drink water to help the food go down and stay hydrated.
Ducks are always alert for predators. Practice hiding from predators as you sneak back to the main trail. One duck quacks a warning and everyone hides if there are possible predators close by. Two quacks mean all clear and everyone returns to the trail.
Waddle 20 m to the floating platform to the left.
Use your duck scope again to spy on ducks nearby. Have you ever seen a duck stick its head underwater to “dabble” for food? Have you ever wondered what it sees when it does this? Use your underwater viewer to find out.
A duck that tips up to get its food underwater is called a:
Back on the trail, waddle 20 m and turn left onto the path leading to the peninsula sticking out into the pond. Waddle to the end.
Use your duck scope or binoculars to find some duck friends to hang out with at this party. Give a few duck calls. Some might come over, but they may be too shy. What can you figure out by watching them?
What else do you notice about the ducks?
Walk back to the main trail and waddle left back to the bridge. Sit at the picnic table on the other side.
Unscramble the key letters from the secret words to find out the black ducks’ secret to survival.
My Letters:
Congratulations, you have just solved the black duck mystery. Why is _ _ _ _ (secret word) the secret to survival? It is the layer of feathers closest to the duck’s body. Humans use it too for the same reason. We fill blankets, winter jackets and pillows with it. Why is it so important?
Your last challenge is to find the mystery plaque and figure out what creature is on it. Hint: It is on something wooden and made by humans that is nearby! Make a rubbing of the plaque in your Adventure Journal with the side of your pencil.
Upload your favourite picture of the marsh if you choose!
The plaque symbol is: