By Doug Fraser

Buttertubs Marsh Conservation Area is a 55-hectare natural paradise located in the middle of Nanaimo offering easy access for people to quietly observe and enjoy an abundance of plant and animal life. More than 270 different bird species have been sighted at the marsh and it is home to a number of rare and at-risk species including the Western Painted Turtle, Western Purple Martins, the American Bittern. Many unusual and wonderful examples of nature can be found there – bladderworts (aquatic carnivorous plants), large northwestern salamanders, thatching ant mounds and bushtit nests constructed of spider web.

The marsh was first established as a conservation area when the “east marsh” property was purchased by the Nature Trust of BC in 1975. Additional acquisitions by the City and Ducks Unlimited have expanded Buttertubs to include the “west marsh”. Local naturalists have a long history of involvement with Buttertubs – with the former Nanaimo Field Naturalists, the Friends of Buttertubs and current Nature Nanaimo members playing an active role in co-management decisions.

Buttertubs marsh also plays a vital role in water management – capturing and storing storm water during the wet season and acting as a water source during dry periods.

Each year thousands of people visit the marsh to enjoy the wildlife which is always abundant – sometimes catching views of nesting hummingbirds, busy beavers, or turtles basking in the sun. The marsh is easily accessible with a 2 km looping trail, observation platforms and a viewing tower.

When visiting, be sure to pay close attention to the life around you and become aware of how life in the marsh changes with the seasons. There may be swallows, warblers and dragonflies in the air; herons, turtles, ducks and beavers in the water; and colourful flowering plants both on the land and in the water. Nature Nanaimo currently offers free public tours of Buttertubs Marsh from May to August (see naturenanaimo.ca for details).

Buttertubs Marsh is an ideal place to quietly immerse oneself in nature and enjoy observing and learning about the myriad of other organisms that also call Nanaimo their home.