Join Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard for a birding adventure at Monte Sano State Park— one of North Alabama’s most iconic songbird hotspots! The park offers a variety of ecosystems that are perfect for both breeding and migratory songbirds and is a great location to begin your journey as a birder, or join other experienced birders in search of early fall migrants and Neotropical breeding birds heading south for the winter. Andrew will cover the basics of binocular use, how to use habitat as a field mark for identification, and general bird identification, including by both sight and sound. We will travel as a group from the overlook area, around the park, and back to the overlook in search of migratory birds. Registration is free but required for this program.
LOCATION DETAILS: We will meet at the main overlook parking lot located at the northeastern part of the park. From here, we will see what migrants are near the overlook before traveling as a group on an easy and relatively short journey around the park.
Park Address: 2598 Bankhead Pkwy NE, Huntsville, AL 35801
Directions from the main gate: Continue on Nolan Avenue until you reach your first left turn on Bankhead Parkway NE. Continue about .2 miles until you reach the parking lot at the overlook, which is located next to the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.
Coordinates to Meeting Place: 34.747637, -86.510500
Trip Leader
Your trip leader will be Andrew Lydeard (andrew@alaudubon.org / 703-606-8956). Please call or text your leader only on the day of the event.
TRAVEL INFORMATION : While this event is free, registration is required for this event. Please see the entry fees for the park below.
Monte Sano State Park has entry fees as follows:
$5 per Adult (age 12+)
$2 per Child (age 4 to 11)
$2 per Senior (age 62+)
Free for ages 3 & under
All Active Military, Retired Military, and Veterans are Free.
Accessibility : We will travel about 2 miles total as a group on mostly flat road and gravel trail surfaces. While the terrain is mostly flat, please be aware that tripping hazards such as a debris, holes, rocks, or sticks may be present and may not be suitable for all people. There are restrooms at this park and places to sit for resting. As always, remember to bring plenty of water, snacks, insect repellent, sun screen, and wear seasonally appropriate attire; binoculars can be loaned to participants if needed. Please reach out to your leader prior to the event, so that we may accommodate any accessibility needs before the program.