(BIVN) – Participants in the Hawaii Island Festival of Birds took field trips along the newly created Hawai‘i Island Birding Trail this weekend. Its said to the be the first such birding trail in the entire state.

The 90-mile Hawai‘i Island Birding Trail is a cross-island link from Kona to Hilo “that connects diverse habitats from ocean to mountain top, rainforest to lava plains,” organizers say.

The self-guided Hawai‘i Island Birding Trail is modeled after similar North American trails, and follows a network of sites so users can take in all or any part of the route along the way.

“Locating and observing birds is, of course, the main event on the Trail, but discovering Hawai‘i Island’s unique plants and trees, geology, history and scenic viewpoints are also emphasized,” read a festival media release.

A new website was also launched to provide information on the Hawai‘i Island Birding Trail. The website features an interactive birding trail map, native bird species and their sounds, and even a section on “birding ethics”.

Big Island Video News will have more from the 2017 Hawaii Island Festival of Birds.