Salt Marsh

Salt marshes are among Nova Scotia’s most productive and biologically rich coastal ecosystems. Found along sheltered shorelines that are regularly influenced by the tides, these wetlands form a transition between land and sea. Salt-tolerant grasses and other plants create a mosaic of tidal channels, shallow pools, mudflats, and grassy marshes that provide habitat for an extraordinary variety of wildlife.

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Cumberland County is home to significant salt marsh ecosystems, including the John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area (NWA), the largest continuous salt marsh in the Bay of Fundy. This area accounts for nearly 10% of the Bay’s total salt marsh coverage. The Cumberland marshes are among the province’s most important habitats for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.

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The scene illustrates ducks using sheltered channels and pools for feeding and resting, while Canada Geese are a familiar sight moving between marshes and surrounding fields. Exposed mudflats and shallow waters provide rich feeding areas for Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willets, Plovers, and several species of sandpipers. These birds probe the mud and shoreline for worms, small crustaceans, molluscs, and other invertebrates. During spring and fall migration, Nova Scotia’s coastal wetlands become especially important as places where migrating shorebirds and waterfowl can rest and replenish their energy reserves.

 

Salt marshes are also valuable far beyond birds. Their tidal waters support fish, crabs, and other aquatic organisms, while dense vegetation provides shelter and nursery habitat. Marshes capture sediment and nutrients, store carbon, and help protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges, making them important both ecologically and for coastal communities.

 

The panorama also brings together several of Nova Scotia’s birds of prey, although these species are not restricted to salt marshes. Bald Eagles and Ospreys are conspicuous around coasts, lakes, and rivers, where fish provide an important food source. Northern Harriers are especially characteristic of open marshes, flying low over the vegetation while searching for small mammals and birds. Several falcons may also be encountered in coastal habitats. Merlins are widespread and agile hunters of smaller birds, while Peregrine Falcons can pursue shorebirds and waterfowl with remarkable speed.

 

Together, the waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors shown here demonstrate how a salt marsh connects marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and aerial food webs. Protecting these wetlands safeguards not just a single habitat, but an interconnected ecosystem that supports wildlife throughout the year.