T he waves crash gently against the sandy coastline of Thomas Island, in Murray Harbour, as John Nyren and his wife, Karen, drift gently to shore in their kayaks. Once strangers to the area, it is one they now call home.
Five years ago, the couple made their first paddle to Murray Harbour as part of a three-day vacation to Prince Edward Island.
“By the third and final day of capturing images at a rapid pace, I found myself taking more time here to absorb the natural beauty of the area,” says John.
Once they had returned to Texas, relaxing and recharging after the whirlwind trip, John proposed making Murray Harbour a more permanent fixture in the couple’s lives. He suggested purchasing a cottage on the harbour. After a copious amount of research, Karen agreed.
“We both felt immediately at home in Murray Harbour,” he recalls. “Shortly after settling in to our cottage here in 2013, we began to explore the natural area along the nearby shoreline.”
Seeing blue
Thomas Island, one of the five islands in Murray Harbour, provides habitat for colonial nesting birds and helps maintain PEI’s breeding population of great blue heron.
The property contains mature white spruce forest, red maple, yellow birch, balsam fir and black spruce trees. Nesting only where mature spruce trees grow undisturbed, this island makes for perfect great blue heron breeding conditions.
“Karen and I feel rejuvenated whenever we take time to enjoy the beauty of nature and wildlife, especially in Murray Harbour,” says John.
While taking in the sights and sounds of the area, the couple often find themselves in good company.
Harbour seals are known to frequent the area around Thomas Island, lounging on the sand and curiously following kayakers paddling along the harbour.
“We love to explore the shoreline of Thomas Island. It’s only about a 12-minute paddle across the channel from the closest launching point on the mainland,” says John.
Did you know?
Murray Harbour contains an archipelago of five islands:
– Cherry
– Thomas
– Gordon
– Herring
– Reynolds
Thanks to efforts by NCC and other conservation organizations, these islands are now all conserved. It is the second project in the area by NCC, who secured Reynolds Island in 2012, and later transferred it to the provincial government.
A portion of this project was donated to NCC under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land.
“Karen and I feel rejuvenated whenever we take time to enjoy the beauty of nature and wildlife, especially in Murray Harbour.”
Species to Spot
– American black duck
– bald eagle
– common tern
– great blue heron
– grey seal
– harbour seal
– northern gannet
– saltwater cordgrass
– Scotch lovage
– seaside goldenrod
“Murray Harbour is a great place for Canadians to explore nature,” says John. “There are countless possibilities for paddling excursions, which include multiple rivers, beaches and scenic stretches of coastline. Every trip is unique.”
Conserving for tomorrow
Each time John sets out in his kayak, he takes time to soak in the beauty and serenity of Murray Harbour and its islands. It’s a reminder of how areas such as these need to be protected for all Canadians to enjoy, now and in the future.
“Like many others, we realize the need to protect nature in order to promote healthy biodiversity for the planet,” he says. “We are thankful for the conservation efforts of the Nature Conservancy of Canada in protecting this wonderful natural area.”
Almost as settled into their new home as neighbouring harbour seals, it’s safe to say that John and Karen are enjoying the view.
“Murray Harbour is a great place for Canadians to explore nature,” says John. “There are countless possibilities for paddling excursions, which include multiple rivers, beaches and scenic stretches of coastline. Every trip is unique.”
Photo Credits (Top to bottom): Sean Landsman; Sean Landsman; Sean Landsman; iStock; NCC.
