Listen for ‘Voices in the Dark’

Published 10:26 pm Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Suffolk residents can sign up now for a fun, after-dark stroll in Suffolk woods this Saturday.

Suffolk Parks and Recreation will hold “Voices in the Dark” on Saturday at Lone Star Lakes Park, located at 401 Kings Highway. The event will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Participants will be let in at the main gate by Outdoor Recreation Program Specialist Christian Prohaska, who will lead the winter evening walk.

Prohaska said that Lone Star Lakes Park is ideal for evening nature walks, because it has very little light pollution and a great system of trails.

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“It’s the combination of good trails (with) that really large open space away from neighborhoods and stuff like that,” he said. “It just makes it a really good location for owls.”

He’ll bring his own, stuffed great horned owl to kick off the hour with an in-depth discussion of the owl’s anatomy and interesting traits. He will also talk about the other three owls that can be found in the area: the barred owl, the barn owl and the screech owl.

Prohaska will then lead his group on a hike through the woods to listen for owls, bobcats, coyotes and all of the other interesting sounds that echo in the woods of Suffolk. He said the scenery makes for a nice change of pace.

“It gets people outside, enjoying the brisk cold weather and seeing some wildlife in their natural habitat,” he said.

Pre-registration is required and costs $5. Ages 5 and older are welcome, and participants ages 5 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There were still 15 or more spots left for registration as of Monday.

Comfortable footwear and warm clothes are recommended. Headlamps be provided, but participants can bring their own as long as they have red light capabilities, which won’t scare away the animals.

For registration and other information call Prohaska at 514-7281, go online at https://registerpkr.suffolk-va.net/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/SPLASH.html or visit the Parks and Recreation Administration Office at 134 S. Sixth St.