Taking a guided canoe tour of Scarborough Marsh provides a lesson on its diverse ecology and the opportunity to spot a rare bird or two. It also gives visitors a fun experience on one of the most unique and tranquil areas in Scarborough. This tranquility is best exemplified during the full moon canoe tours of the marsh, one of many programs offered by the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center.

“Every tour I have been on people have been awed by the moon and how nice and quiet it is,” said John Jorgenson, assistant director of the center. “It’s a unique experience; it’s one that people can’t get anywhere else.”

Linda Woodard has been the director of the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center for 18 years and, along with other center workers, guides every full moon tour. She said it is one of the most popular tours the center offers.

Some people come to see the nighttime ecology of the marsh, but most come for the ambiance of canoeing down the marsh with the sun setting and returning by the light of the full moon.

“A lot of people have never been out at (the marsh) at night,” Woodard said. “To go out canoeing during a full moon is a fun way to see nature.”

During Thursday’s trip, travelers were not disappointed. With a clear, cool evening a group of about 15 canoeists and kayakers paddled up the marsh during the final moments of sun set hearing the call of sandpipers while a great blue heron, least sandpipers, bats and several other bird species flew overhead.

While the bats may have frightened some, they proved harmless. In fact bats serve an important role at the marsh by eating bugs. But the bugs have not been bad during the full moon canoe tours so far this year, especially if there is a soft breeze coming across the water, Woodard said.

At the foot bridge the tour briefly stopped and Woodard spoke about the marsh and its environment, including some of the edible plants growing there. On the return the moon began rising and illuminated the marsh with a golden glow that provided travelers with light during their return trip to the center.

The tour and other programs offered by the center are used to educate people about the 3,100-acre marsh, which is the largest in the state. Organizers hope by educating people about the marsh they will be more inclined to participate in other positive environmental actions. But having fun and enjoying the uniqueness of the marsh also plays an important role in all of the programs.

“We just don’t want to bombard them with facts, it’s also the enjoyment factor,” Woodard said.

While the marsh is known among bird enthusiasts as a place to see some unique and notable birds, those who have no knowledge about birds also enjoy it for its natural beauty.

“Different people come, some just want to canoe, some want to see birds, it’s a variety of reasons why they come,” Woodard said.

Woodard and Jorgenson are the only paid employees at the center. Everyone else who works at the center volunteers their time. Some have been volunteering for years. Others have been volunteering for less than a month and are helping during their vacations. Olivia Rhodes, of Arizona, is visiting her family at Ocean Park and has been helping out at the center.

“I like the marsh and wanted something fun to do,” she said.

This year the center is offering a wide variety of tours, including daily canoe tours, early morning canoe tours, sunset canoe tours along with various children related programming. They also offer walking tours on the marshland located across the street from the center. In addition, the center rents canoes to those who want to tour the marsh themselves and many people bring their own and is the center’s boat ramp.

The full moon tours will again be held on Aug. 17, 18 and 19, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., and Sept. 16 and 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For Audubon members, it costs $11 per adult and $9 for children 12 and under. For non-members, add $1. For more information on the center’s programming call 883-5100.

Sunset at Scarborough Marsh