Alabama's Black Belt & Piney Woods Birding Trails

16/02/2023

https://www.birdcount.org/

Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. Join us in February!

14/02/2023

What do you see? Well, we were watching Swallow-tailed Kites. But if you look closely, you'll see much more activity over on the Alabama Birding Trails page. Head on over there and watch for regular updates!

10/12/2021

Great news about Perry Lakes Park!

Perry Lakes Park, a long-standing outdoor space and birding hotspot in Marion, AL, is officially reopened to the public! Originally opened in 1935, it was closed in early 2020 due to widespread weather damage to its trails and facilities. The beloved park is a treasure trove of natural history, ecological study, and outdoor recreation—where else can you visit a pebble beach along the Cahaba River, go canoeing in a swamp, and stand on a 100 ft. birding tower in one trip?

Thank you to the Perry County officials and the many organizations and individuals who came together to make this reopening possible. We're thrilled to have one of our favorite spots available for visitors again.

Visit the new and improved PLP website at perrylakes.org for more info on the park and operation hours, and follow the new PLP page here: http://ow.ly/3abV50H7phO

01/10/2021

Only 30 days left until the end of this year's photo contest! Send your entries to [email protected]!

04/06/2021

is still on through tomorrow! Check out The Black AF in STEM Collective to participate and join the discussion.

Meet the face behind Alabama Audubon's Black Belt Birding Initiative! As a Birmingham native, our Black Belt Coordinator, Meg Ford, has had an incredible time this spring learning all about in Greensboro. Here are some of her tips for anyone birding in the Black Belt for the first time:

* Take time to consider the rich cultural history of the area while you bird.
* Plan your trip ahead--there's an abundance of habitats to explore, as well as local businesses to support in your travels.
* "Cardinals" are sometimes called "red birds" locally; similarly, "felarks" and "meadowlarks" are the same birds, as are "chimney swifts" and "chimney sweeps."
* It's hot here (already), so be sure to bring plenty of water, a big hat, and/or shades!

Mississippi kite mural by Cameron Canevaro, Katie Thompson, and Doug Baulos

08/04/2021

TOMORROW: 👉 Learn about 🐦 Birding in the Blackbelt with Alabama Audubon's Meg Ford during our live stream on April 9th at 3 PM Central! Hang out with us and share your thoughts in the chat!

🔗 : https://buff.ly/3cXtlYO

08/03/2021

SITE of the WEEK: Idle Hour/Moon Lake Park, Russell County
PHOTO: Paul H. Franklin

The park consists of two distinct units: Moon Lake with its surrounding walking path and thin woods and the Idle Hour Natural Area and its 1-mile walking trail through and beneath mature woods on the eastern side of the park. The Moon Lake sector can be good for spotting wintering waterfowl when the park is otherwise relatively quiet. Look for diving ducks (Buffleheads, Ring-necked, Ruddy, and a few Canvasbacks) and for visiting geese to drop in on the resident herd of Canada Geese. The occasional Tundra swan may appear, as well. Rafts of Coots and Pied-billed Grebes are always present from November through February. Look for Belted Kingfishers perched near and flying over the water and for wading birds around the shoreline. Herons and egrets are most common in late summer and fall. Swallows and Purple Martins can be found easily from March through September.

Additional Information: https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/idle-hourmoon-lake-park/

23/02/2021

BIRD of the WEEK: Blue-winged Teal
PHOTO: C. Goss

Pairs and small groups of this tiny dabbling duck inhabit shallow ponds and wetlands across much of North America. Blue-winged Teal are long distance migrants, with some birds heading all the way to South America for the winter. Therefore, they take off early on spring and fall migration, leaving their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada well before other species in the fall.
Additional Information: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-winged_Teal/overview

22/02/2021

SITE of the WEEK: Montgomery Zoo, Montgomery County
PHOTO: Paul H. Franklin

The Montgomery Zoo is one of the major tourist attractions in the capitol city, encompassing a well-maintained 40 acres. Passage through the park is accomplished via a system of broad, paved, level, handicap-accessible walkways. Major points to hit while visiting the zoo: The wet trench that fronts the east and south sides of the park – it is frequently visited by waders, Common Yellowthroats, and wintering wetland sparrows and wrens.
Crystal Lake, which sits along the northern boundary of the park, always has waders around the margins. Also look for American Pipits (winter) and a few shorebirds (migration and winter), as well as an occasionally decent selection of ducks and geese in the colder months.
The dense, planted mid-story around the north, west, and south border of the zoo. This, and the low canopy can be filled with Eastern Bluebirds, Brown Thrashers, Carolina Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Song sparrows, and Hermit Thrushes (fall to spring).

Additional Information: https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/montgomery-zoo/