Fall for migration season in Winnipeg
The city's skies come alive with fabulous fowl while fall foliage flatters at locations across the city.
The city's skies come alive with fabulous fowl while fall foliage flatters at locations across the city.
Before Winnipeg’s summer inhabitants head south, they put on a heck of show at dusk.
No, we’re not talking about snowbirds dancing before takeoff. We’re talking about real birds that descend in the thousands on the city’s two largest wetlands—Oak Hammock Marsh and FortWhyte Alive.
At both locations your senses will be treated to the sights and sounds of thousands of ducks and geese (the flutter and flapping of wings and that delicate splash on the water are such an audio feast) as the birds land on the water for the night. Look west into the sunset and the birds seemingly never cease to stop arriving after spending the day foraging in the surrounding fields. It’s an awesome spectacle; one that proves that birdwatching is so much better than binge-watching.
FortWhyte Alive, which is located right within Winnipeg, celebrates this phenomenon with events like Goose Flight Feasts, pairing the scenes out on its lakes with a multi-course meal served in the Buffalo Stone Café. Most of the tables in the farm-to-table restaurant overlook Lake Devonian, while a large patio provides ample opportunities to see it all go down. Arrive early to take in the changing leaves amongst its aspen forested trails or take to its lakes in a canoe (rentals available onsite) to enjoy a tranquil paddle before the noisy birds take over the lakes at night.
Oak Hammock Marsh is located just north of the city and is one of North America’s most important wetlands for countless migratory bird species. Its Interpretive Centre overlooks the whole 36 sq km marsh, which is home to countless year-round species and a dandy assortment of fowl who flock to its waters come early evening. Oak Hammock offers plenty of thematic events centred around such winged escapades, all starting with Birds and Beer Flights on September 2. The event features 15 Manitoba breweries and one kombuchery (a name we’ve just given to all booch companies), known as Prism from the excellent market St-Léon Jardin.
Find yourself in that fall foliage
Winnipeg itself turns an alluring auburn come autumn as its elm canopy dries. In neighbourhoods like Wolseley, West Broadway and River Heights, it makes for quite the tranquil scene for a stroll set underneath a natural archway of autumn-hued foliage.
For public parks, Kildonan Park is always charming with its quaint little foot bridges and abundance of oak, aspen, elm and ash trees. While there, be sure to check out the duck pond, which features these amazing light sculptures called Bokeh by Takashi Iwasaki and Nadi Design. You can get a great view of them, along with the park’s fall colours, from the patio at Prairie’s Edge.
Assiniboine Park too provides perfect pairings when it comes to leaves and leisure. Around the Riley Family Duck Pond, you can experience the colours of the season while having drinks from Cargo Bar and food from the Park Café.
New and of note for Assiniboine Park will be the first fall at the Gardens at The Leaf. Its six gardens: The Indigenous Garden Peoples Garden, Kitchen Garden, Seasonal Garden, Sensory Garden, Performance Garden and The Grove all contain a unique mixture of flora, artfully presented over 30 acres surrounding the gorgeous Leaf building, which you can watch being built. Within the Performance Garden, you’ll encounter these cool mounds which are serviced by alabaster stairs. When you climb up them, enjoy great views of the surrounding trees, making a perfect spot to snap some pics for the ‘gram.