![Merlin - Photo by Vicki Sensat](/sites/default/files/styles/bird_full_display_small/public/2023-07/merlin_vicki_sensat.jpg.webp?itok=0F8fuWoM)
![Northern Parula - Photo by Rickey Aizen](/sites/default/files/styles/bird_full_display_small/public/2023-07/northern_parula_rickey_aizen.jpg.webp?itok=Oh12evO6)
The St. Helena Parish Multipurpose Center includes a 40-acre recreation park with sports fields, wooded areas, and a small pond, all of which attract diverse species of birds. Around the pond, expect to see species such as Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Belted Kingfisher and Purple Martin. The sports fields, especially in winter or when wet, have yielded species ranging from Northern Harrier and American Pipit to Savannah Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark.
The woodlands along the walking trail host numerous species of raptors, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and songbirds. Some species spotted here include Pileated Woodpecker, Merlin, Great-crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, House Wren, Hermit Thrush, Song, White-throated and Swamp Sparrows, and Eastern Towhee.
St. Helena Parish Multipurpose Center, located between Montpelier and Amite, has a meeting room with a kitchen for groups. Additional amenities include restrooms and a half-mile walking trail with fitness stations and benches.