St. Mary's by the Sea in Bridgeport is a municipal park that consists of a bathing beach at the eastern end and a rocky shore at the western side. A beautiful walkway follows the coast and connects the two areas. Save the Sound conducts intertidal explorations at the western area. The rocky area at low tide exposes a variety of animals to the explorer. Shorebirds abound, plucking small crabs and invertebrates from crevices for a morning meal; fisherman stock up on their worm supplies for a day out on the water; and students enjoy rolling rocks to see what will surprise them from beneath. Following the channel landward, St. Mary's opens up into an expansive tidal marsh, rich with grasses and nutrients that will sustain life there from year to year.