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Field Trip: Perry Lakes Park and Marion Fish Hatchery
April 6, 2019, 7:00 am–5:00 pm
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. For the botanists among us, we’ll have a chance to see atamasco lilies in the boggy soil below, as well as red buckeye on the forest floor. One special feature at the park is a 100-foot birding canopy tower, and you can learn more about this site on the Alabama Birding Trail here.
Following a picnic lunch at the Perry Lakes Park pavilion—a striking creation of the architects at Auburn’s Rural Studio—we’ll head to the Marion Fish Hatchery, which is on the adjacent property and boasts 100 ponds that total 63.4 acres.
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. In the event of inclement weather, you may contact the trip leader the morning of the event to see if it has been cancelled.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; easy hike
(Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.)
The birds: Breeding Northern Parulas, Purple Martins, and Louisiana Waterthrushes are all likely spots, and we might even manage to see Barred Owls and Prothonotary Warblers. You can find the most recent eBird report for Perry Lakes Park here.
The food: Please bring your own picnic lunch.
Trip leader: Greg Harber and Anne Miller lead this trip; his cell is 205-807-8055, and her cell is 205-902-1389 (day of field trip only). For more information, email the Outreach & Communications Director.
