An important natural area near Shelburne has been secured by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It's almost 300 acres of natural habitat at Johnstons Pond, near Shelburne along Nova Scotia’s south shore. The coastal habitat is one of 10 Gifts to Canadians announced this week in celebration of Canada Day.
Situated between the Sable River and the Port L’Hebert Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Johnstons Pond is an undisturbed estuary separated from the Atlantic Ocean by an extensive barrier beach. The sandy barrier beach provides viable breeding habitat for the endangered Piping Plover as well as the Spotted Sandpiper and a small Common Tern colony. The salt marshes, ponds and mudflats found at Johnstons Pond are also important habitat for migratory birds such as Canada Geese and the Semi-palmated Sandpiper. The property also contains a mature coastal forest consisting of spruce, Red Maple and American Larch.