Field Trip: Perry Lakes Park

April brings early-spring migrants back through Alabama, and we’ll be there to meet them at one of the best birding locations on the southern coastal plains.

First, we’ll visit the moss-draped cypress trees of Perry Lakes Park, located along a series of oxbow lakes created by the meandering Cahaba River. Breeding Northern Parulas, Purple Martins, and Louisiana Waterthrushes are all likely spots, and we might even manage a Barred Owl or two. For the botanists among us, we’ll also have a chance to see atamasco lilies in the boggy soil below, as well as red buckeye on the forest floor.

Following a picnic at the Perry Lakes Park pavilion—a striking creation of the architects at Auburn’s Rural Studio—we’ll head south to Marion Junction to visit the Spencer Farm, a renowned organic farm working toward healthier and more sustainable food production in Alabama’s Black Belt.

The details: Meetup is at 7 a.m. at the McDonald’s on US 31 in Hoover, located at 1731 Montgomery Highway, just across from the Galleria. From there, we’ll caravan south, with a brief stop around 8 a.m. at the Wendy’s off Highway 5 in Brent. As always, remember to bring plenty of water and snacks, a full tank of gas, insect repellent, rain gear, sunblock, and seasonally appropriate attire.

(Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.)

The birds: You can find the most recent eBird report for Perry Lakes Park here.

Trip leader: Greg Harber leads this trip; his cell is 205-807-8055 (day of field trip only). For more information, or to RSVP, email the Outreach Director.