Last week our class took a little trip to an area called the Northeast Swale.  Most of us had never even heard of this place before, but after spending a couple of hours exploring with our guide Kenton, we sure can tell you a lot!

The Northeast Swale is a large piece of prairie that contains wetland and grasslands located right here in Saskatoon!  As soon as we arrived, Kenton taught us how to use binoculars and we set out to discover what this area was all about.  We learned about many animal and bird species that make their home in the swale.  We saw geese, mallard ducks and avocets.  We watched the ducks tip their heads underwater to find food as the avocets swam around them in the pond.

Did you know many animals live in the swale?  As we followed a cut trail we were lucky enough to spot a couple of Richardson ground squirrels.  They were funny to watch as they kept popping their heads up out of their hole in the ground.  Speaking of holes, we had to walk really carefully so we didn’t trip on any of the holes those squirrels made!  Deer also live around the swale, but unfortunately we didn’t see any.

During our hike through the Northeast Swale, Kenton taught us a lot about the grasses and plants.  He showed us how to recognize sage, a spicy smelling plant, and lichen.  Some of the lichen growing in this area is 9500 years old!  We also learned about Kentucky Blu e Grass, which actually never used to live in the swale, but started growing there as homes and neighbourhoods grew closer to the area and people began planting their own yard grasses and plants.  This is one example of how humans can affect natural habitats.

As our city grows and gets even closer to the swale area, it has become even more important to protect this land and the plant life, animals, birds and creatures that make their home there.  One way we can help, is to teach others about the swale so that they understand what makes it such an important piece of nature.