North Augusta Greeneway Earns Designation as Official South Carolina Bluebird Habitat

The North Augusta Greeneway received official status as a South Carolina Bluebird Society bluebird habitat. The trail's 41 bluebird boxes have been watched and cared for with dedication.

The site checked all the boxes for certification. At least 35 boxes had to be tracked for two years straight, and the Greeneway passed that test.

Two signs went up at separate spots along the Greeneway to show off this new status. One stands at the entrance on Riverside Boulevard near the tunnel, while the second marker sits at Riverview Park Activities Center.

Janis Krauss spearheaded the push to install bluebird boxes on the trail. A member of both the Carolina Hills Garden Club and the South Carolina Garden Club, Krauss moved to North Augusta from Augusta in the early 2010s and brought her passion with her.

"The South Carolina Bluebird Society is recognizing places that have at least 35 boxes and have been monitored for the last two years as a bluebird habitat," said Krauss to the Post and Courier North Augusta.

The bluebird box project kicked off in 2015. The South Carolina Bluebird Society teamed up with Friends of the North Augusta Greeneway to make it happen. Back then, the trail started with just 10 boxes. Now volunteers pitch in to help Krauss manage all 41 boxes across the trail.

The South Carolina Bluebird Society launched in 2010. Since then, it's helped more than 50,000 bluebirds take flight, according to Krauss.

Jake Stephens coordinates the Greeneway for North Augusta Parks and Recreation. His team plans to meet with Krauss soon to shift and rotate some boxes into better spots.