The Roger Tory Peterson Institute recently added a new bluebird trail. Arthur Pearson, Roger Tory Peterson Institute CEO is encouraging people in the community to experience the natural beauty of the bluebirds nesting outside the museum and nature center. Pictured are baby bluebirds at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Submitted photo

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is providing visitors with a new bluebird trail experience, allowing guests to observe and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Arthur Pearson, Roger Tory Peterson Institute CEO, told The Post-Journal that the museum and nature center recently added a new bluebird trail for visitors to enjoy.

Last fall, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, with the help of a local scout troop and Elaine Crossley from the New York State Bluebird Society, installed six new nesting boxes fixed on posts with protective critter guards. Pearson said the new nesting boxes will provide a better habitat for local bluebirds.

“Bluebirds, their populations had tanked because of changes in the environment, but by putting up nesting boxes, it has been another critical tool for lots of people, including us, to be able to provide the nesting habitat that these incredibly beautiful creatures and our state bird need for their eventual survival,” he said.

While the new bluebird nesting boxes and bluebird nature trail were installed last fall, Pearson said this is the first nesting season since the installation. He said the Roger Tory Peterson has regular monitors on the trail, giving the nature center regular reports on the birds.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “We have them, and they should be coming out in the next week or so.”

Asked if the new bluebird nature trail has been popular with guests of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Pearson said, the new trail has been popular with visitors, especially since it is located in the front yard of the nature center and museum. With a nature trail that takes visitors right along the bluebird nesting boxes, Pearson said people can have the opportunity to watch mother birds feeding the younger birds, providing a “human connection.”

Pearson is encouraging people in the local community to attend a weekly bird walk at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute to learn more about bluebirds and experience the natural beauty of the bluebirds.

“The state bird is the eastern bluebird,” he said. “If you look on the conservation license plates, Roger’s painting of a bluebird is on New York State conservation plates. If there’s anywhere in the world that you should come to see blueberries, it needs to be the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. We have bluebirds nesting up there, so this is the place you can just see it on the license plate and come see the real thing.”