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Field trip: Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve & Siddique Nature Park and Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
February 1, 2020 , 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pre-registration is requested by 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 29th, for this trip for planning purposes.
UPDATE: Registration is now closed.
Join us for this popular field trip to Lee County! Our first stop will be the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve & Siddique Nature Park, a 73-acre nutrient-rich intentional wetland owned by the city of Opelika, with an additional seven acres of land, including an old home-site. The park has become home to a significant population of birds, including a large population of wood ducks. From here, we will make a short drive to Country’s BBQ in Opelika for lunch.
After lunch, we will visit the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center—an outreach program of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (KPNC) is a 120-acre tract, comprising seven natural habitats, including special points of interest such as the Longleaf Pine Demonstration Forest and the Wildflower Trail. The preserve is rich with pine, oak/hickory, bottomland hardwood, and mixed pine/hardwood habitats.
The details: Meetup is at 7 a.m. at the Lee Branch Publix at Greystone (410 Doug Baker Blvd.), located just off US 280. From here, we’ll carpool and caravan to the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve & Siddique Nature Park (3600 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika). We should arrive there around 8:45–9 a.m. for those who wish to meet us there. We anticipate lunch at Country’s BBQ will be from 12–1:30 p.m., then we’ll finish the day at Kreher Preserve & Nature Center (2222 N. College Street, Auburn, AL 36830) arriving around 1:30. Pre-registration is requested by 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 29th, for this trip for planning purposes.
As always, remember to bring plenty of water and snacks, a full tank of gas, insect repellent, rain gear, sunblock, and seasonally appropriate attire.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; easy to moderate hiking with some uneven terrain.
(Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.)
The birds: At our first stop, we’ll look for wintering ducks and woodpeckers. At our second stop, we’ll search for wintering and resident songbirds. Share your eBird list with us (ALAudubon) and contribute to community science data!
The food: We’ll stop for lunch at Country’s BBQ in Opelika (1021 Opelika Road, Auburn, AL).
Trip leader: Greg Harber and Matt Hunter lead this trip. Their cell numbers are 205-807-8055 and 205-915-8186, respectively (day of field trip only, please). In the event of inclement weather, you may contact the trip leaders that morning. Feel free to email us with questions.
