Machicomoco State Park, Hayes, opened its new trail to the public on Monday.
The Songbird Trail was made in partnership with the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists and is located at the Interpretive Area (Shelter 1) of the park. It also connects to the park’s Forestry Trail and the Loop Trail.
“This is the first trail we are opening since we opened the park in 2021,” said Chief Ranger Josh Mazzatenta.
The trail is a half-mile long and contains six boxes for birds to make nests and raise their young. The bird boxes are six feet above ground and also have snake guards on their posts to protect the nests inside the bird boxes.
Although this trail and the bird boxes are not exclusive to one particular species, the boxes were placed along the trail in an effort to help preserve the bluebird population.
It’s great that the trail is open, said Doug Dwoyer, a volunteer with the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists. “Not only is it [the trail] completed, but we’ve got a season’s worth of data o...