Manchac Community Park is a good destination for an afternoon getaway of outdoor recreation, especially for birders who like to get out on the water. The park is one of the few locations that provide canoe and kayak launch access into Bayou Manchac.
Two hiking trails traverse bottomland hardwood and small stream forests and provide scenic overlooks of the bayou. Because the understory in most areas is thick with shrubs and vines, lots of skulkers hang out here, including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Gray Catbird.
As the trail nears Bayou Manchac, look for an assortment of wading birds and other waterbirds such as Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, and Belted Kingfisher. Some of the more interesting migrants recorded thus far at this site include Philadelphia Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Hooded Warbler, and American Redstart.
Nesting species include Mississippi Kite, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, Summer Tanager, and Northern Cardinal.
Besides birding, other recreational opportunities include paddling, hiking, and nature photography. The partially handicapped-accessible park also hosts a native wetland planting area, ample parking, a picnic pavilion, and restrooms. Kiosks at the trailheads provide site maps and other information.
