Something for Everyone
Birds on Bikes: Wheeler Wildlife Refuge (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon for a special field trip opportunity in conjunction with Huntsville’s own Sunset Bicycles bike shop. On this field trip, we will explore Wheeler Wildlife Refuge’s many birding hotspots via your bicycles.
Field Trip: Little River Canyon / Ft. Payne AL (Free!)
We should also spot some raptors in their Fall migration, and we should be in for some nice fall foliage, as well. The chance exists for views of some of the area's megafauna, too - deer are abundant here, and DeKalb County hosts a significant and growing population of Black bear.
Nature@Noon: Ruffner Mountain Nature Center with Tamerra Jones (Free!)Event
Join us for our monthly Nature@Noon event with our friends at Ruffner Mountain! Every month, we offer an opportunity to participate in an hour-long, Friday lunchtime walk that explores different locations of the state and its nature each month. The November walk will be led by our Program Coordinator, Andrew Lydeard, Alabama Audubon Ambassador Daniel Redwine, and our Fall Speaker, Tamerra Jones!
Speaker Series // Tamerra Jones (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon and University of Alabama - Birmingham Libraries for a special guest speaker, Tamerra Jones, who is a hobby birder, photographer, and birding advocate based in Orlando, Florida.
Fall Birding with Tamerra Jones & Chris Joe / Marion Fish Hatchery & Perry Lakes Park (Free!)
Come join our Fall Speaker, Tamerra Jones, and our longtime friend and Black Belt Birding Festival partner, Chris Joe, for fall birding you won't forget! Tamerra is one of Florida's rising birders, influencers, and conservation advocates and never fails to make every birding adventure exciting with her energy.
(CANCELLED) Walker County Public Lake Bird Walk (Free!)
The late fall season at Walker County Public Lake offers a wonderful opportunity to experience late migrants and arriving winter birds in a scenic, quiet North-Central Alabama setting.
Birmingham Christmas Bird Count (Free!)
The Christmas Bird Count has been a fixture in National Audubon's annual calendar for well over a century now, and Birmingham has participated in this now-global phenomenon since the 1940's. The way it works is this: we count all the birds -- counting both species and individuals -- within a 15-mile circle, centered at the water works facility on US 280. To conduct this count, we have divided up the circle into 8 individual territories, plus Red Mtn Park, each helmed by a party leader.
Field Trip: Guntersville Waterfront (Free!)
The Guntersville waterfront is an excellent place to see a variety of gulls, ducks, and other waterfowl in winter. It is also one of the premier locations in the state to see nesting Bald Eagles. Occasionally, you can spot rare species of gulls or loons, too. We'll visit several sites to view these and other winter birds.
Field Trip: Coleman Lake/Pinhoti Trailhead Talladega National Forest (Free!)
Today's field trip will take us further afield - to the Coleman Lake/Pinhoti Trailhead area of the Talladega National Forest - where we will spend the first part of our morning gazing skyward, in hopes of finding Golden Eagles soaring overhead. This species is known to winter in the area, and thus we'll plan to walk (on a dirt Forest Service road) to an area where we have encountered them in the past. Bring a folding chair, if you wish, and be prepared to sit a while. Following our Big Sit, we'll drive to the trailhead parking area where we hope to encounter Red Crossbills and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
Bring a lunch and a folding chair, if you wish, as there are no picnic facilities available. Be sure to bring winter/rain apparel to have on hand as well as food and water. Please note there are 2 meeting locations listed below with different meeting times.
Meeting Locations & Times: We will meet at the Buc-ee's in Leeds, AL, and depart from there at 7:00 AM to caravan to our second gathering site, the McDonald's in Heflin, AL, via I-20 East (exit 199). We will depart from McDonald’s at 8:15 AM.
Address Meeting for Buc-ee’s: 6900 Buc-ee's Blvd., Leeds, AL 35094 (First meeting location at 7:00 am).
Address for McDonald's: 1816 Almon St., Heflin, AL 36264. We expect to arrive at the McDonald's by 8:15 am. Bring your lunch and water for the day. (Second mention location at 8:15 am).
Field Trip Leaders: Greg Harber (205) 807-8055 // Co-Leader: TBA
Accessibility: Travel distance will be up to 2 miles on pavement, hard-packed dirt/sand with moderate uphill and downhill. There are no resting places or bathrooms on site.
The Great Backyard Bird Count at the Birmingham Zoo (Free!)
Join us as we celebrate the Great Backyard Bird Count with our friends at The Birmingham Zoo! We''' gather near the Children's Zoo entrance and depart from there for a walk on the Zoo's property. We'll spend most of our time in the wooded areas along the perimeter of the zoo, with a stop at the wetland/retention pond on the west side of the zoo. We'll keep a tally of the birds we see and/or hear and submit our results to the GBBC database.
Alabama Wildlife Federation's Keynote: Dr. Scot Duncan at Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (FREE FESTIVAL)
We’re excited to be part of the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival!
Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 10:30am-12:30pm, when Alabama Audubon Executive Director Dr. Scot Duncan takes the stage as a keynote speaker! Lunch will be provided.
The keynote event is hosted by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and registration is through AWF only.
DEADLINE TO RSVP IS OCTOBER 12
RSVP by emailing awf@alabamawildlife.org
Celebrating Birdability Week // Trussville Greenway (Free!)
Ambassador Greg Harber will lead an outing along the Trussville Greenway in Trussville, AL!
Celebrating Birdability Week// Red Mountain Park(Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon in celebrating Birdability Week this year from October 19 - 25, 2026! This week-long event is dedicated to making birding accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability. This year's Birdability theme is "Bird Where You Are".
Celebrating Birdability Week // Greensboro & Magnolia Grove (Free!)
In celebration of Birdability Week, please join us for morning of birding in Greensboro on the grounds of Magnolia Grove.
Celebrating Birdability Week // Oak Mountain State Park (Birmingham) (Free!)
Ambassador Mason Currier will lead a Big Sit at one of the Birmingham area's best overlooks at Oak Mountain State Park!
Celebrating Birdability Week // Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve (Huntsville) (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon in celebrating Birdability Week this year from October 19 - 25, 2026! We will be at Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve on October 22 for a Big Sit birding event.
Alabama Audubon with Highland Park Neighborhood Association
Join us for a porch crawl through historic Highland Park!
Mosey through participating Highland Park porches and businesses while enjoying live music, light refreshments, an historical scavenger hunt, and neighborly camaraderie!
Celebrating Birdability Week // Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (Pinson, AL) (Free!)
We will travel as a group from the second parking lot, taking our time to work the forest and edges along the road. We may also travel off the road onto dirt and gravel paths to admire the waterfall. As always, birders of all skill levels are welcome to join!
2026 ALABAMA BIRD SEARCH -Awards Ceremony
Join us for the Awards ceremony at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve for snacks and prizes!
Field Trip: Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve (Free!)
The birdwatching at Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve is mythical. This Alabama Birding Trail 740-acre preserve offers a Bird Blind and Habitat and a 10x10 elevated birding platform along the Moonshine Trail that overlooks a spring-fed water feature and diverse forest, attracting numerous species. We hope to see some late migrants as well as some of our winter species.
![[Coastal] Okploverfest! Postponed TBA](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/645950dc9b340533357d66b8/1788893125289-A4IOP278NUM6ACIX0DMW/Okploverfest26webpage.jpg)
[Coastal] Okploverfest! Postponed TBA
Postponed due to weather - TBA
Birds of a feather flock together for the 3rd annual Okploverfest at Braided River Brewing- an afternoon of connecting our community to Alabama’s iconic coastal shorebirds and the people who love them.
(CANCELLED) Great Fall Bird Count / Shoal Creek Park // Montevallo, AL ($)
Join Alabama Audubon at Shoal Creek Park for the Great Fall Bird Count, which invites birders of all skill levels to come out and see how many birds we can add to the park list for the morning.
![[COASTAL] Mobile Birding Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/645950dc9b340533357d66b8/1786983679198-X4M31LRKESPFQMGAKFWH/Screenshot+2026-08-17+at+11.20.35%E2%80%AFAM.png)
[COASTAL] Mobile Birding Week
Due to impending tropical weather, all events scheduled for October 9–10 have been canceled.
Welcome to Mobile Birding Week! Get ready for a week of bird-centered events celebrating the incredible birds that call Mobile home and all the fun, wonder, and joy that comes with birdwatching. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or simply curious to learn more about the birds in your own backyard, we hope join us!
Birding at Ruffner Mountain: Eastern Trailhead (Free!)
The eastern trailhead and wetlands at Ruffner Mountain is one of Birmingham's greatest birding spots, and fall migration will be in full swing!
COASTAL BIRD BANDING AT DAUPHIN ISLAND (Free)
Bird Banding will end on Thursday, October 8 at 10:30 am, so the team can pack up and leave Dauphin Island ahead of the impending tropical weather.
Enjoy unparalleled access to the researchers and their work, with up-close-and-personal views of some amazing birds!
Swift Night Out / Huntsville (Free!)
Join us to enjoy migration and roost of our favorite urban birds, the Chimney Swift! In many cities in the eastern US, empty chimneys are reliable locations for breeding Chimney Swifts.
Birding at Chapman Mountain (Free!)
Before Swift Night Out later in downtown Huntsville, join us for a birding adventure at nearby Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve. Alabama Audubon Ambassadors Tim Gels, Nick Morgan, and Brittney Carnell will be enjoying some pre-game songbirding at Alabama's favorite water feature at Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve. We will hang around the water feature and may take short out-and-backs around the property in search of fall birds.
Speaker Series: Lunch & Learn / Fionah Njeri (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon for our Speaker Series this fall, featuring special guest, Fionah Njeri!
Birds on Bikes: Wheeler Wildlife Refuge (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon for a special field trip opportunity in conjunction with Huntsville’s own Sunset Bicycles bike shop. On this field trip, we will explore Wheeler Wildlife Refuge’s many birding hotspots via your bicycles.
Field Trip / Special Access to Wild Horse Prairie // Geiger, AL (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon for a special access field trip to one of Alabama's most diverse prairies, Wild Horse Prairie, located in Geiger, AL. Wild Horse Prairie is owned and managed by Mitchell and Hazel Bell and is one of the pristine locations where our Conservation Team does winter sparrow banding, grassland bird surveys, and hosts events each year at the annual Black Belt Birding Festival.
Alabama Audubon's Fall Bird Count (our 62nd!)
The Fall Bird Count (our 62nd!) will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026. Our goal is to count as many bird species as possible by mustering as many parties as possible to cover as much of Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair Counties as we can. It's an all-day affair, from before sunup to sundown, or as much time as people are able to devote to the count.
Swift Night Out: Birmingham (Norwood Elementary School) (Free!)
Join us to enjoy migration and roost of our favorite urban birds, the Chimney Swift!
Swift Night Out: Birmingham (Highland Park) (Free!)
Join us to enjoy migration and roost of our favorite urban birds, the Chimney Swift!
Perry Lakes Park, Half-Day Adventure (Free!)
Join us this September for a half-day adventure into Perry County to tally as many species as we can during walks through Perry Lakes Park.
Beginner Birding with Alabama Audubon / Oak Mountain State Park (Free)
Join Program Coordinator, Andrew Lydeard, to one of the Birmingham area's best places to look for migratory songbirds, Oak Mountain State Park!
2026 ALABAMA BIRD SEARCH -YOUTH CHALLENGE
Join us during this state-wide, 24-hour competitive birding event, youth teams ranging from pre-kindergarten through high school will compete against other teams in their age division for most species identified, among other categories, for prizes and recognition. Let’s share our love of birds with the next generation!
Birds on Bikes: Wheeler Wildlife Refuge (Free!)
Join Alabama Audubon for a special field trip opportunity in conjunction with Huntsville’s own Sunset Bicycles bike shop. On this field trip, we will explore Wheeler Wildlife Refuge’s many birding hotspots via your bicycles.
Online Courses: Introduction to Alabama's Shorebirds ($)
Join Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard for an online course that covers the expected sandpipers and plovers found throughout Alabama and how to identify them, just in time for peak shorebird migration!
Russell Bailey Memorial Beginner Bird Walk (Free!)
Join us this Labor Day Monday as we tour the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in search of resident birds and southbound fall migrants! Russ Bailey was a longtime member of Birmingham Audubon Society (now Alabama Audubon) and today's walk is held in his memory, in recognition of his traditional Labor Day Monday walk.
Field Trip - Grassland and Wading Birds / Lauderdale County, AL ($)
Tag along with Program Coordinator, Andrew Lydeard, and local expert Alabama birdguide, Daniel Redwine, as we explore Key Cave National Wildlife refuge, Wilson Dam, and various locations in Lauderdale County as the spectacle of fall migration begins!