Shared by Bob Flippen, Education Specialist High Bridge Trail State Park, as Guest Blogger.

Join us at High Bridge Trail State Park for a special nighttime insect identification and owl prowl event on Thursday, July 19, 2012.

Special guest interpreter, Carley York, from Twin Lakes State Park, will lead the walk to High Bridge to hear the Barred Owls that occupy the river bottom and share facts about owls...such as did you know a baby owl is called an owlet or that owls congregate in groups known as parliaments?

Special guest interpreter, Carley York, from Twin Lakes State Park, will lead the walk to High Bridge to hear the Barred Owls that occupy the river bottom and share facts about owls.

High Bridge Trail Chief Ranger, Craig Guthrie, will also share some knowledge on insects. We will attract and attempt to identify local forest insects of the night along the trail toward High Bridge. Portable ultra-violet and florescent light stations will be placed along the trail to lure the bugs.

Participants are asked to arrive at the River Road access lot by 8:30 p.m. and be prepared to stay out after dark. Bring a flashlight and drinking water. For more information, click here or contact the park at (434) 315-0457 or by email.

On the evening of May 12, High Bridge Trail hosted an evening walk to the bridge in an attempt to spot or at least listen to the Barred Owls in the river bottom below. Approximately 25 people gathered at the River Road access lot for the evening fun led by Carley. After a brief discussion on owls and their special traits and habitat by Carley, we all set off down the trail at dusk. The weather was perfect with some cloudiness making good contrast for owl watching.

Approximately 25 people gathered for the Barred Owl program in May led by Carley York.

Once on the bridge, we quietly advanced to the first overlook where Carley used an electronic amplifier with the recorded sound of an Eastern Screech Owl to lure a response. We weren't there three minutes when a hootenanny broke out! It sounded like the trees were full of excited monkeys as the owls all responded to the strange sound as if inquiring "who are you?!"

When the excitement abated, a glimpse over the railing revealed the sight of quickly flying light colored streaks moving from tree to tree. A little while later the same audible outburst occurred again on the other side of the bridge as they all erupted into another frenzy of that "WHO COOKS, WHO COOKS FOR YOU?" call that is so distinctive among Barred Owls.

We were on the bridge for a total of 30-40 minutes before returning to the parking lot for closing comments and reminders to be safe on the return trip home. It was an enjoyable evening of exercise and learning about a wonder of nature. So come out and join us on July 19!

See you on the bridge and on the trail!

Entrances- Parking availability:

• Rice's Depot Road, 1/4-mile off U.S. 460 at Rice, near trail milepost 142
• River Road, three miles off N. Main St. in Farmville, near trail milepost 146
• Osborne Road, 1/4-mile off N. Main St. in Farmville, near trail milepost 149
• Municipal lots in Farmville where the trail intersects with Main St. near trail milepost 150
• Tuggle Road, off U.S. 460 and near U.S. 15 North, near trail milepost 156
• Prospect Road, off U.S. 460 at Prospect, near trail milepost 161
• Elam, off U.S. 460 at Sulpher Spring Rd., near trail milepost 164
• Heights School Rd., of U.S. Business 460 near Pamplin, near trail milepost 168