Bird, Frog Song 'Identiflyer' New to Preserve's Summer Night Hike

Interactive recordings of the sounds of nocturnal birds and frogs highlight 's Summer Evening Hike, set for Saturday, Aug. 18. from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Preserve’s environmental educator will present the Sounds of Summer using 'Identiflyers,' which allow participants to select specific bird or frog calls to hear along the trail or at the Learning Shed.

“Last year’s summer hike was very successful,” Executive Director Marina Robertson said in a release. “This year’s program on Sounds of Summer will be a fun time to try out our new 'Identiflyer' bird and frog song devices.”

The 'Identiflyers' were funded with a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia.

Pettit Preserve will be open to the public for the hike and the trails will be open for self-led hikes. Ice-cold lemonade will be provided as a refreshing end to the free event.

The Preserve was created to provide environmental education and promote ecological preservation. The 70-acre property hosts hundreds of school children, home-schoolers and Scouts for field trips, hiking and Scout badge activities every year.

It has trails that feature a swinging bridge, a Learning Shed, two aquatic stations and three amphitheaters for teaching, all nestled around a 9-acre lake. Since 2006, the Preserve has hosted more than 4,700 students on field trips.

Since the mission of the Preserve is educational, not recreational, it is not open to the public daily for hiking. However, the trails were professionally designed by Switchback Trails, which has built trails all over the country, including the Appalachian Trail. The Preserve's Summer Hike is an ideal time to experience its trails.

Pettit Preserve is located off Highway 61, four miles south of the Cartersville . Turn left on Douthit Bridge Road and continue to fork; right fork is Vineyard Road, which leads to the Preserve.