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Field Trip: Springville—Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve
April 15 , 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Pre-registration is required by 12 p.m. CDT on Friday, April 14th.
Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
Organized by special arrangement with the City of Springville and the Big Canoe Creek Preserve Partners, our destination for this mid-April field trip, will be Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve—a Forever Wild property that is not yet open to the public. We think you will appreciate this special preview!
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve is located in Springville, a short distance from Homestead Hollow. Purchased in 2018, development of this Forever Wild tract was a joint effort between Forever Wild, the State Lands Division, and the City of Springville. During our visit to this site, we’ll have the opportunity to explore 422 acres of ridge and valley lands containing a mix of upland hardwood/mixed pine forest situated along the Big Canoe Creek drainage. The terrain is uneven and the trails are uneven, but this site offers a splendid opportunity to “take a walk in the woods.” Spring wildflowers will be an added bonus.
We plan to stop for lunch at China Stix in Springville. Following lunch, we will visit a private residence several miles north of Springville, in the scenic Washington Valley area. This property borders Big Canoe Creek—having open fields, wooded areas, and second growth forest. Our likely sightings include Summer Tanagers, Prairie Warblers, Pine Warblers, and various migrants, along with our more common birds like Eastern Towhees, wrens, and raptors.
The details: Meetup is at 7:30 a.m. at the Jack’s Restaurant in Springville (444 Marietta Rd, Springville, AL 35146), at exit #154 off I-59. We will caravan from there to our first stop at the nearby Homestead Hollow, where we can leave our cars while visiting Big Canoe Creek.
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, the trip may be cancelled. You may contact the trip leaders the morning of the event.
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 site is not wheelchair accessible, but we expect to have access to a Mule ATV for those who require assistance. However, the trails are unimproved and the terrain is hilly and uneven.
Questions about accessibility? Email us for more information about how we can meet your needs.
The food: We will have lunch at a local restaurant, TBD.
The birds: We expect to see a variety of spring migrants, including Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler and perhaps an early Acadian Flycatcher. Red-eyed Vireos and Summer Tanagers ought to be singing from their perches in the spring foliage, while Great Blue Heron may be working the shallow waters of the creek.
Trip leaders: Greg Harber (205-807-8055), Hans Paul (205-807-7357), and Todd Devore (205-873-5482) will lead this trip. Please contact them on the day of the field 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. This same principle applies to human communities, which is why our organization is committed to providing equitable and inclusive 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 everyone to participate in our work, and strives to make our programs, classes, and events welcome, inclusive, and accessible to all.
