AUDUBON OUTING
KEY CAVE, LEIGHTON, WHEELER DAM
$35 / SPACE IS LIMITED
REGISTRATION CLOSES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 AT 12AM
Embark on an early spring full-day self-driving tour through North Alabama's diverse habitats, beginning at Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, known for its endangered species like the Alabama cavefish and Gray bat. While the cave is not accessible to the public, the surrounding grasslands offer birdwatching opportunities to spot species such as Grasshopper Sparrows and Northern Bobwhites. The tour also targets expanding populations of Lark Sparrows and, if present, the Western Meadowlark, distinguishable by its song. The journey continues to a birding church pond for migrating waterfowl, swallows, and shorebirds.
The adventure proceeds through Lauderdale County with a meal in Florence, followed by a visit to "the Sinks" near Leighton, AL, a hotspot for birders during the wet seasons. Here, birdwatchers can expect to see Pectoral and Least Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and the first American Golden-plovers of the season. The tour includes roadside stops for winter waterfowl and early migrants like Purple Martins and Blue-winged Teal, culminating at Wheeler Lake and Wheeler Dam, where one can observe Bonaparte’s Gulls, molting Common Loons, Caspian Terns, and nesting cormorants and wading birds.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
Gary Robinette / Audubon Photography Awards
TRIP LEADERS
The contact leader for this trip is Andrew Lydeard / 703-606-8956. Please contact by phone on the day of the trip only.
NEED-TO-KNOW
REMEMBER This is a FULL DAY, SELF-DRIVING trip, so be sure to bring plenty of snacks, water, bug spray, and sunscreen.
DETAILS We will meet at the Key Cave NWR Information Kiosk and explore the area before moving to a local pond hotspot. After Lauderdale County, we'll head to Florence for a quick lunch, followed by some stops in Leighton, and then Wheeler Dam at the end.
REQUIRED Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver when registering. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
ACCESSIBILITY We will walk up to 3 miles throughout the course of the day on mostly flat terrain. Some areas may be wet and slippery and may not be recommended for those requiring accessibility needs. There is no restroom at Key Cave, Church Pond, or in the Leighton area, so please plan accordingly.
CANCELLATION The tour will only be cancelled in the event of hazardous conditions. Refunds will only be issued if the trip is cancelled by ALABAMA AUDUBON. In the event of inclement weather, or if you need to cancel at the last minute, please text your trip leaders, as the main office will be closed.
WHERE TO MEET & WHEN
MEETING POINT
MCFARLAND PARK
Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Visitor Center
200 Jim Spain Drive
Florence, AL 35630
MEETING TIME
The group will meet promptly at 7:15AM.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & 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.