Roland Robichaud says with heartfelt expression, " I am a born naturalist!”
"Growing up on a farm in Pokemouche," says the bird expert and chief guide of the Ecological Park of the Acadian Peninsula in Lamèque, "is where I first learned about animals and birds. One thing that I liked was climbing up to bird's nests to examine the contents. The crow has always been my favorite bird. The crow is a good communicator and understands people very well."
With just over 400 bird species in New Brunswick, Robichaud has identified 302 in the Acadian peninsula alone. "The heron in the park’s logo is a Black-crowned Night Heron," he explains. "When a very significant colony was spotted in the nearby community of Inkerman, which was right around the time the park opened, we decided to honor this very important discovery by making the bird part of our logo."
As president of the popular Naturalists Club of the Acadian Peninsula since 1988, Robichaud, his wife and three daughters are all active, outgoing members, who love primitive camping and hiking trips as well as every other nature activity you could imagine. "We are all naturalists," he says. "Every year for the past 13 years, we've trekked the mountains in Mount Carleton Park."
Robichaud walks along the half-a-kilometer footbridge spanning the eco-park estuary, as happy as a warbler on a misty, cool day. Stopping to observe a magnificent osprey soaring overhead, he declares, "We have five families of osprey in the park. Two nests are visible from the boardwalk."
The two-kilometer (1-mi.) boardwalk trail winding through the Acadian forest is abundant with flora and fauna. "Bracken fern, Labrador tea, bunch berry, yellow clintonia and cotton grass are some indigenous plants you will see here," Robichaud says. Kneeling beside a cluster of wintergreen berries, gently separating them from the lush green moss, he says, "These berries are edible!"
Within the boreal forest there are many dead, standing, black-spruce trees. "In spite of first impressions" says Robichaud, explaining the role of deadwood within the forest's complex eco-system, "the trees are very much alive. The Northern Three-toed Woodpecker and the Black Backed Woodpecker eat the insects under the bark of the deadwood," he explains, " If there were no insects, the woodpeckers wouldn't be here."
Sharing his passion for nature, Robichaud loves talking with visitors in the park. "I really enjoy meeting new people," he says. "Everyone who comes here is interested in learning about nature."
Back at the interpretative center, the interactive touch-screen panels help to explain the park's unique, diverse eco-system, and the observation tower offers a spectacular view. Robichaud is a dedicated naturalist, committed to the preservation, education and protection of our natural habitat. He monitors nature's activities from a bird's-eye view, where he most likes to be.
Ecological Park of the Acadian Peninsula
65 Du Ruisseau St.
Lamèque, NB
506 344-3223
www.eco-parc.com