Less than two months after miniature fairy houses were removed from Tinker Nature Park in Henrietta due to vandalism, the pixies have a new home.

More than two dozen tiny houses now line the popular Birdsong Trail in Mendon Ponds Park.

Although a wooden sign is already posted at the trail head, the fairy house trail is not yet finished, according to Monroe County Parks Director Larry Staub. The Birdsong Fairy Trail is set to officially open on June 15, he said. (There will be a opening ceremony at the park's nature center that day at 10:30 a.m.)

But park visitors can already see the creative talents of Betsy and Chris Marshall of Rush, the couple who also created the detailed fairy houses once located in Tinker Nature Park.

Colorful doors adorn trees along the Birdsong Trail. Several houses also have bridges and rope ladders, knockers and door handles and posted signs. There's also a tiny fairy playground, with swings, along the path.

The new fairy houses are tailored to the new location, rather than retrofitted from Tinker Nature Park. Although work on the houses is ongoing, some were installed several months ago.

Staub said some of the components were re-used, but most of the new houses are just that, since they are built into the trees.

"It's really been a labor of love," he said. "The Marshalls have done most of the work. We're so appreciative of their generosity."

The couple built and installed the fairy houses, and will maintain them since "they have a better in with the fairies."

Parks crews will continue with traditional trail maintenance. Once completed, the fairy trail will have more houses than were in the Tinker Nature Park, Staub said.

The two-mile Birdsong Trail is located near the park's nature center and home of Wild Wings. It's also the spot in the park where chickadees (in the winter months) will eat sunflowers from the palm of your hand.

The fairy house trail is marked with a wooden sign near the nature center, where many hikers shorten the route to a 3/4-mile trek on "the square," an easy walk over gently rolling terrain.

This area is a stroller-friendly path that's walkable for most young children and seniors.

"This is awesome," Staub said. "It encourages fantasy and children's imagination and also gets them outdoors with their families. Hopefully this will also expose even more people to the chickadees."

Staub said he was approached by Henrietta Town Councilman Scott Adair a few months ago regarding creating the fairy trail.

Tinker Nature Park eliminated its fairy trail in March and Adair wanted to see it continue locally, Staub said. The plan was approved by Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and was embraced by parks' staff.

Property damage was an ongoing issue at the 68-acre Tinker Nature Park. Although signs were posted, visitors left glitter and other garbage behind or walked off the path, trampling wildflowers and other plants in the process.

"Knock on wood — or in this case, fairy houses — we've never experienced much vandalism in this part of the park," Staub said. "Hopefully people will continue to respect the park and trail and the new addition."

If people do leave trash and other items behind, Staub said parks staff will remove it.

Mendon Ponds Park is Monroe County's largest park at 2,500 acres and is home to a 550-acre nature preserve and about 30 miles of multi-use trails.

Mendon Ponds spans Pittsford and Mendon, and is on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks thanks to its unique glacial features including eskers, kames and kettle holes like Devil's Bathtub.

VFREILE@Gannett.com