❄️ Snowshoes, Surprises, and Soaring Eagles: Winter Adventures with the South Shore Footpath Project Team

The SSFP Path Building Team has enjoyed a series of snowshoe adventures at the Monarch Point Conservation Reserve over the winter including Point Petre, Gull Pond and Simpson Road. Some days have been colder than others, but they have all afforded wonderful opportunities for further team building, sightseeing and wildlife observations.

Feathered Friends & Footprints in the Snow

Birdlife has been the real showstopper this season. The team has spotted ducks, geese, swans, chickadees, ravens—and the undeniable star of the winter—a large bald eagle circling over Gull Pond.
Animal sightings have been a little more elusive. Aside from one majestic deer, most of the wildlife has preferred to leave only their tracks! The snow has been scribbled with animal tracks from deer, coyotes, rabbits, mice, squirrels, otters, and even a fisher—proof that the reserve is buzzing with life, even when it looks still and silent.

Winter’s Hidden Stories

There’s something magical about exploring the land when the leaves are down. Winter reveals what summer hides. This year, the team stumbled upon a piece of abandoned military infrastructure—an unexpected reminder of the layered history beneath our boots.
With the landscape wide open, familiar trails feel new again. Every outing has offered a fresh perspective on this ever‑changing place we’re working so hard to protect.

As the season shifts and the snowpack softens, we’re hoping to squeeze in one final winter walk this weekend—one more chance to enjoy the crunch of snowshoes before we trade them for rubber boots and muddy paths.