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Field Trip: Hoover—Flemming Park on the Cahaba
October 8, 2022 , 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Pre-registration is required by 12 p.m. CDT on Friday, October 7th.
Registration is now closed. Check out our upcoming events here.
Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
Flemming Park on the Cahaba is a new park at Trace Crossing in Hoover with about five miles of hiking and biking trails, two restrooms, and a pavilion. The trails meander along and from a ridge to the banks of the Cahaba River and back again. There is a wide variety of habitats—power trails with low scrub underneath, early to mid-succession stage habitat (sumacs and tall shrubs), and mature mixed pine-oak-hickory woodlands. Sight lines are good to decent through much of the area. The footing along the grassy trail is quite good—without too many rocks or roots—but there is a lot of elevation change as you proceed.
In early October, we would expect to find a good variety of resident songbirds, as well as a good sample of migrants—warblers, vireos, tanagers, and thrushes. The canopy is largely open along the trail, so soaring hawks and vultures should be easy to spot.
The details: Meetup is at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of the Publix at Trace Crossing (2543 John Hawkins Pkwy, Hoover, AL 35244). From there, we will caravan down Stadium Trace Parkway to reconvene at the park.
As always, remember to bring your binoculars, plenty of water and snacks, insect repellent, rain gear, sunblock, and seasonally appropriate attire.
In the case of inclement weather, the event may be cancelled. You may contact the trip leader the morning of the event if the weather is questionable.
Registration: To register, click on the button above. If you’re new to our online system and don’t yet have a username and password, simply click the “X” on the pop up and fill out the basic form. If you do have a login, please use it as this helps us tremendously on our end! You should receive an automated email upon registering.
Accessibility: This outing will require moderate hiking. The trails are unpaved and potentially uneven. The parking area is gravel. There are moderate elevation changes throughout. This outing is not considered accessible but is open to all levels of birders.
Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.
The food: We should be finished by lunch, but there are many restaurants in the area.
The birds: Resident songbirds, as well as a good sample of migrants—warblers, vireos, tanagers, and thrushes are all possible. Hawks and vultures are also possible.
Trip leaders: Paul Franklin (205-542-7647) and Todd Devore (205-873-5482) will lead this trip. Please contact on the day of the trip only.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Through more than seventy-five years of conservation work in one of our nation’s most ecologically rich states, Alabama Audubon has seen firsthand how diversity strengthens natural communities. We believe that the same principle applies to human communities, which is why our organization is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all Alabamians to learn about and enjoy wild birds, their habitats, and the natural world. One of the best ways to support that belief is by valuing and actively seeking to strengthen diversity among our staff, our board, and our membership. To that end, Alabama Audubon welcomes the whole of our community to our work, and strives to make our programs, classes, and events open and accessible to all.
