Meadow Song Trail

The Meadow Song Trail at Platte River State Park loops through a beautifully restored tallgrass prairie that represents a significant ecological restoration achievement in a region where the original native grassland has been almost entirely converted to row-crop agriculture. The park's prairie restoration project has re-established native warm-season grasses including big bluestem, Indian grass, and switch grass on former agricultural fields, along with the diverse forb community that characterizes intact tallgrass prairie. By mid-July the restored prairie is waist-high in swaying grass and punctuated by the gold and purple of compass plant, purple coneflower, and prairie blazing star.

One of the most distinctive features of the Meadow Song Trail is the network of eastern bluebird nest box trails that the park maintains along the route, with dozens of wooden boxes mounted on metal poles spaced through the prairie restoration. Bluebird monitors check and record nesting activity throughout the breeding season from April through August, and hikers frequently observe the vivid blue-and-russet adults delivering insects to nestlings in the boxes directly adjacent to the trail. Bobolinks nest in the taller grass sections in June, their bubbling, mechanical song ringing across the meadow. Tree swallows compete with bluebirds for nest box occupancy, and their aerial insect-catching displays are entertaining throughout the summer. The gentle terrain and wildlife-rich environment make this an excellent choice for families and casual nature walkers.