The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is one of Calgary's hidden gems. Tucked away at the edge of Inglewood, just a few minutes drive from the highrises and office towers of downtown, it is a 36 hectare wildlife nature reserve. It is the home of more than 270 different species of birds, 21 species of mammals, 27 species of butterflies, and 347 species of plants (and a lot of mosquitoes on the morning we where there!) Over two kilometers of level walking trails and one kilometer of nature trails, most of which are stroller and wheelchair accessible, wind through the forest, alongside the river, and past a lagoon. The combination of level trails and an abundance of nature so easily accessible in the heart of the city make the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary a wonderful place for a morning of exercise, friendship, learning and fun with a group of moms, kids and friends.
We were blessed with perfect, warm and sunny weather on the morning we set out, and after correcting a slight navigation error that found us at the railroad tracks rather than on the trails, we quickly found ourselves in the heart of the gorgeous forest.
We crossed over bridges:
Made friends with each other as we admired the waterfowl and the sticks:
And stood in awe as we first spotted a deer in the bushes, then noticed its fawn, and then watched them bound right in front of us on the path. It was a moment to leave the cameras in our bags, and simply appreciate what was right before our eyes:
In what is fast becoming a momstown Calgary tradition, we finished the morning with a picnic and storytime, and headed home just in time for all of our naps. I may or may not know of one person who slept very well that afternoon.
what a great outing!!
ReplyDelete