WASHINGTON聽— Travel one trail at Black Hill Regional Park in Montgomery County, 聽and you鈥檒l see everything from bald eagles to blue herons.
But your feet will never touch the ground.
That鈥檚 because the trail, which takes you along the 17 miles of coastline of Little Seneca Lake, is the newly reconfigured Water Trail.
Use a canoe or kayak and you鈥檒l be able to get within feet鈥攅ven inches鈥攐f wildlife you might never otherwise notice.
Lynette Lenz , a park naturalist, said聽the guide is available at聽the park website, You can download the map and take it with you when you rent a kayak or canoe near Black Hill’s聽visitor鈥檚 center.
The self-guided tour highlights聽areas along the coastline that include areas聽where the resident bald eagles like to rest. Lenz said聽that was one of her favorite features. A聽pair of bald eagles have raised families there for years. 鈥淚鈥檝e been following them since I came on board back in 2006,鈥澛燣enz said.
Lenz said聽the male bald eagle is with his third mate and has produced 17 eaglets. He鈥檚 become a familiar presence. But does he have a name?
鈥淛okingly we kind of call him 鈥楾he Man.鈥� Lenz said, laughing.
This year, The Man聽and his mate fledged three eaglets. 聽鈥淭hey鈥檒l probably continue to hang around until the end of this month learning how to be an eagle from mom and dad, and then they鈥檒l really start to explore the area,鈥澛犅燣enz said.
The water trail map includes information about the formation of the lake, the history of the region, and a reminder that park users can make a real difference in preserving the area鈥攁nd keeping wildlife safe–by picking up trash when they see it.
鈥淚 hardly ever get in my boat without taking a bag with me so I can pick up trash along the way,鈥� said聽Lenz.
Among the most damaging and dangerous things people leave behind: fishing line. Raptors such as聽ospreys and the bald eagles can get tangled in it, and so can small mammals. 鈥淚f everybody picks up just one piece, it鈥檚 really going to help us out,鈥� Lenz said.
You can plan your trip along the Black Hill Regional Park Water Trail.聽A map of the trail is available .
海角精品黑料’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report
