The pictures and links on this page take the visitor round a recommended route in the Morgan Arboretum that will maximise your chances of seeing, not only some interesting birds but also the many stages of a forest's growth cycle. Where the trail includes the old EcoTrail (which is most of its length) you will find a number of educational panels pointing out features of interest in the trees around you - don't forget to stop and read them.
This trail should take you between an hour and an hour and a half depending on the flowers, squirrels and birds you stop to enjoy.
The route of the trail is marked in red on the satellite image below - when taking the pictures for the virtual trail we walked it in an anti-clockwise direction, starting and finishing at the Conservation Centre car park.
You can read your way through the trail BELOW and/or you can follow the trail by the following the AUTOMATED picture gallery
This not the most distinct trail to follow on the ground at certain seasons, but it is well marked with the signs below so nobody can get lost ... if you navigate back like a pigeon does using instinct ...
This trail has some real gems for the birder ... for example, this is where the owls live.
Barred Owl keeping an eye on people walking this trail - October 2008
A taste of things to come, with luck.
This trail is essentially, with minor diversions, the "Ecology Trail" that was originally laid out in the arboretum back around 1980 but has been improved in the last couple of years and now has some handy and interesting information boards at points along the route.
Start at the Conservation centre and proceed along the Orange Trail (Centre Road) in a westerly direction.
You will shortly enter the forest ...
After a couple of hundred meters, look for a not terribly distinct trail entering the forest on the left. If you reach a distinct bend on the main trail towards the left you have gone too far and need to backtrack (the additional loop on the map at the top of this page was where we gaily walked past the trail-head but the GPS kept recording!!
If you have a GPS to help you the trail entry point is at N45 25.875 W 73 56.779
The first of several information panels
The worst of the boggy bits have been covered with duck-boards ... though they do need some renovation so in spring in particular do wear boots.
At a couple of points along the trail you will cross other trails such as the yellow and red trails - don't get diverted.
Not just a fallen tree, but an ecosystem based on decay. Check for insects, fungi, mosses and creatures that feed off them.
Some of the signs at trail crosses might be hidden in the leaves - keep your eyes open
It's not all narrow and leafy - some parts are wide and open where you might be, as we were when we did this, be "buzzed" by a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers zooming from one side to the other.
Not far from the southern end of the trail before it starts to bear east there is an old field pond to the right that is worth a short detour ... really, there is a lot of water under those fallen leaves.
This sign board is very instructive for people getting into birding ... but don't get too excited about the suggestion it makes concerning the possibility of a Ruffed Grouse! They are around, and we have recorded them every now and again but the text this sign board quotes was written for the original EcoTrail guide book in 1980 and things have changed a lot since then. If you do see or more likely hear one please let the arboretum know ... please.
Another break in the trail after a short sharing of the way with the red trail it branches off again to the south for a short spell.
Then in less than 50 meters look for a not very obvious trail to the left off the main route you have been walking
Gorgeous colours
... and beautiful bark
Near this fallen tree the trail is a little indistinct - go the right, pass around it and move ahead 20 meters - you should then see a sign away to your left hidden behind some conifers
The sandy banks in this section are used for den building by foxes and other creatures - some of those other creatures are small packed lunches for the Hawks and Owls that also patrol this area
The trail intersects with the head of the red trail just west of the dog-walker's car park. You could come out here but the trail actually continues on the other side - do not be diverted.
This last part of the trail heads north with an open field to the left - eventually it turns sharp right and you will see the field ahead of you
This is the end of the trail - the Conservation Centre is beyond the hedge in front of you
Take a breather, check your notes and enjoy the colours (at any season).
