The fifth annual BLACK BELT BIRDING FESTIVAL will take place on August 1, 2, & 3, 2025. Highlighting the birds, history, and heritage of Alabama’s Black Belt region, the festival brings together the joy of birding with the benefits of ecotourism to a region of profoundly important ecology and civil rights history.
“We are super excited about this year’s festival given that participation has surged over the past two years. Nowhere else can you see Wood Storks, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, and Swallow-tailed Kites against a backdrop of bountiful grasslands and epic civil rights history.”—Dr. Scot Duncan, Executive Director of Alabama Audubon
Friday AUGUST 1st // 6-8pm
Let’s kick off this year’s festival together!
FREE / 5:00 pm-8:00 pm
Join us in the Ballroom at Project Horseshoe Farm, a community health organization located in the historic Greensboro Hotel, for a FREE kick-off party to celebrate the beginning of our 5th annual festival! With live music, blues singer Rachel Edwards in the courtyard, and a vendor expo from our partners in conservation and more! Scot Duncan, ALABAMA Audubon’s Executive Director, will welcome attendees with a short speech at 6:15 pm, and guests are encouraged to meet and mingle and then explore Greensboro’s growing and eclectic dining options!
Saturday, AUGUST 2nd // Morning Events
Perry Lakes Park $30 / 6:30 am - 9 am One of the most popular birding sites in the Black Belt, Perry Lakes Park is a mix of bottomland forest, oxbow lakes, and swamp. A highlight is the restored fire tower, built by Auburn University’s Rural Studio, a design-build architecture program, where birders can see eye-to-eye with birds in the canopy. Species we may see on this guided hike include Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Little Blue Heron, Northern Parula, Barred Owl, Red-eyed Vireo, and Summer Tanager.
M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area (Old State Cattle Ranch)
$35 / 6:30 am–9:00 am
One of the birdiest sites in the Black Belt, this site offers a mix of wetlands, prairie, and forest. Species we may see on this guided tour include Wood Stork, Anhinga, Blue-winged Teal, White Ibis, several heron and egret species, Indigo and Painted Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Common Gallinules, American Kestrel (southeastern race), Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Yellow Warbler, and Dickcissel. This is the best location for an unexpected species, including early migrant shorebirds, ducks, and terns.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
$30 / 6:30am–9:00am
Visit Alabama’s first capital and most famous ghost town, Old Cahawba. Situated between the Cahaba and Alabama Rivers and formerly inhabited by Mississippian Indian tribes, the once prominent town was abandoned shortly after the American Civil War. Birds we hope to see and hear on this guided hike through the ruins and bottomland forest include Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Wood Thrush, various warblers and vireos, Summer Tanager, Broad-winged Hawk, Indigo Bunting, Acadian Flycatcher, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Entrance fee included in price.
Spillway Falls Park $30 / 7 am - 9 am A unique park in the Black Belt, Spillway Falls lies below the Demopolis Lock and Dam, and features expansive rocky and shallow shoals viewable from a wide observation deck, and a forested trail offering an interesting mix of water and woodland species. Near the water, commonly seen are roosting Wood Storks, Anhingas, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, and possibly migrating shorebirds near smaller pools and puddles. Along the wooded trail, you might catch a glimpse of Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, tanagers, and woodpeckers. The local family of otters may also make an appearance!
Sumter Farm Birding and Wild Horse Prairie Tour
$30 / 7:00 am–9:00 am (Included in the Sumter Farm Package)
The 11,000 acre farm, co-owned and operated by Hazel and Mitchell Bell, is located in Geiger, Alabama, in the northwest corner of Sumter county. The Bells are excellent stewards of their property, hosting scientists and nature-enthusiasts alike! Your birding guide will lead you through this increasingly rare remnant of Black Belt prairie tracts along with several forest types, including longleaf pine savannah restorations. Expect to see Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and Summer Tanagers among the cedar and hardwood groves while the restored pine savannahs host Prairie Warblers.
Selma History and Heritage Walking Tour- Meet at the base of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, AL $40 / 7:30 am - 9:15 am Bird where Civil Rights history was made! Walk through downtown Selma and over the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge with Selma native, Terry Chestnut. The three events known as the Selma to Montgomery March for Voting Rights took place on the Edmund Pettus bridge, first resulting in the Bloody Sunday brutalities by law enforcement against the marchers, the second march to the bridge by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the third complete march from Selma to Montgomery accompanied by 25,000 foot soldiers. Mr. Chestnut was present during these marches with his father, J.L. Chestnut, Jr., Alabama’s first Black lawyer and the lawyer to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On this guided walk across hallowed ground, we’ll look for birds on the river and in the forest canopy below the bridge, as well as around the downtown area. Possibilities include Cliff Swallows, Osprey, waders, and White-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Red-eyed Vireos. Note: it is a 45-minute drive from Selma to the Joe Farm in Newbern.
Saturday, AUGUST 2nd // Afternoon Events
The Joe Farm
$40 / 10am–12pm
Spend a few hours as a guest of the Joe family on their multi-generational Black Angus cattle farm in Newbern. As we watch, the Joes will harvest hay which usually attracts Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites that dive after insects stirred up by the tractor—some at eye-level. As we wait for the kites, enjoy birding the nearby hedgerows and bottomland forest, and chat with the Joes and fellow nature lovers. Featured on Nat Geo’s Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper, and in numerous publications, including a cover story of the Bitter Southerner, the Joes are leading the way in showing how ecotourism can benefit the Black Belt and birds.
Birds of Prey with Alabama Wildlife Center
$20 / 1:00pm–2:00pm
Meet the staff of the Alabama Wildlife Center and their bird ambassadors - live owls, hawks, kites, and falcons - and maybe even a vulture! AWC is Alabama’s oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation facility and cares for almost two thousand wild bird patients each year. The magnificent birds you will meet face-to-face have injuries preventing them from re-entering the wild, so they are used in education to heighten appreciation of Alabama’s native wildlife.
KEYNOTE // Dudley Edmonson $20 / 2:30pm-3:30pm The 2025 Keynote Address will be presented by author, photographer, and filmmaker Dudley Edmonson on The Browning of Birding and its Impact on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation, where he will explore the intersection of race, representation, and environmental stewardship. Drawing from his compelling book, People the Planet Needs Now, Dudley will share powerful stories from 25 Black and Brown scientists and activists whose lived experiences and groundbreaking work offer new perspectives on addressing the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. Through vivid storytelling and full-color photography, Dudley will illustrate how these diverse voices are leading the charge for environmental justice and innovation, while emphasizing why the work of land trusts is essential for fostering meaningful connections to nature for all communities. Find out more about Dudley Edmonson here.
Saturday, AUGUST 2nd // Evening Events
Prairie Restoration at “Contentment”
$30 / 4:15pm–5:15pm
Enjoy the late afternoon as a guest of Elise Smith at Contentment, the eighty-acre property she is transforming from agriculture back to native prairie with guidance from regional experts in prairie ecology and botany. We will also view the 19th-century cabin used by famous ornithologist William C. Avery, who was Elise’s great-great-uncle. Each year, the prairie shows signs of further rejuvenation due to the use of prescribed burning and the reintroduction of native plants. Previous year’s visitors can look forward to seeing what’s new!
Barton’s Beach and Endangered Species Tour
$30 / 4:30pm–6:30pm
Did you know that Alabama is a global hotspot for freshwater animals? First, we will tour a world-class facility, the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, where biologists are raising endangered mollusks for release into the wild to restore their populations and river ecosystems. Afterwards we will enjoy a hike to a nearby large sandbar (and local swimming hole!) on the Cahaba River, one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. Meet experts from the Cahaba River Society and learn about river creatures and river conservation. And be sure to dip your toes in the river to cool off!
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers & Longleaf Pine Fire Ecology
$30 / 4:30pm–7:30pm
The threatened Red-cockaded Woodpecker is found only in a few pockets of the region’s remaining Longleaf Pine forests including here at Payne Lake Recreation Area in the Talladega National Forest. With your guide you will gather near the nesting trees of the woodpeckers and await their return to roost for the night. While waiting, we’ll learn from experts about the biology of the species and about the role that fire plays in maintaining these unique and threatened ecosystems. We’ll also see other species typical of the Longleaf Pine forest, possibly including Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Red-headed Woodpecker. If the woodpeckers return to the roost early, this excursion will not last the full three hours. Note: a day-use fee of $3 (cash only; bring exact change) is required for admission.
Saturday, AUGUST 2rd // Night Events
Owl Prowl at Contentment, Greensboro
$30 / 8pm–9pm
Owls live all around us, but are masters at hiding in plain sight! Join Alabama Audubon at dusk for a walk in search of the amazing nocturnal predators that call the Black Belt home. Possibilities include Barred and Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owls.
Owl Prowl at Sumter Farm
$30 (Included with those staying at Sumter Farm) / 8pm–9pm
Owls live all around us, but are masters at hiding in plain sight! Join Alabama Audubon’s Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard at dusk for a walk in search of the amazing nocturnal predators that call the Black Belt home. Possibilities include Barred and Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owls
Sunday, AUGUST 3rd // Morning Events
Sumter Farm Birds and Wildflowers Walk $30 / 7:00 am-9:00 am Enjoy a guided bird walk through this 11,000 acre farm in Geiger, Alabama, managed and co-owned by Mitchell and Hazel Bell. Possibilities include Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Dickcissels, Prairie Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and Eastern Kingbird. We will also admire the summer wildflowers and grasses that support Black Belt prairie birds, and the many pollinators and other insects upon which this unique ecosystem relies.
Driving Tour: National Historic Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March Trail Campsites 1 & 3 $30 / 7:30 am - 10:30 am Join us as we travel down the National Historic Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March Trail along Hwy 80, as we visit campsites 1 (David Hall Family Farm) & 3 (Robert Gardner Family Farm) used by foot soldiers en route to Alabama’s capital. We will meet with family members who still live on this land, and learn about each family’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and how they came to host over 300 marchers, 1,000 military policemen, and 2,000 Army troops during the course of the march - which eventually swelled to 25,000 marchers entering Montgomery on March 25, 1965. The event is designed for birding from the car with occasional stops and minimal walking. Possibilities include some of the specialty bird species that breed in the area: Painted Buntings, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Bald Eagles, Loggerhead Shrikes, Dickcissels, and Eastern Meadowlarks. Vast grassland and cattle ranches nearby feed Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites.
M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area (Old State Cattle Ranch)
$35 / 6:30 am–9:00 am
One of the birdiest sites in the Black Belt, this site offers a mix of wetlands, prairie, and forest. Species we may see on this guided tour include Wood Stork, Anhinga, Blue-winged Teal, White Ibis, several heron and egret species, Indigo and Painted Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Common Gallinules, American Kestrel (southeastern race), Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Yellow Warbler, and Dickcissel. This is the best location for an unexpected species, including early migrant shorebirds, ducks, and terns.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
$30 / 6:30am–9:00am
Visit Alabama’s first capital and most famous ghost town, Old Cahawba. Situated between the Cahaba and Alabama Rivers and formerly inhabited by Mississippian Indian tribes, the once prominent town was abandoned shortly after the American Civil War. Birds we hope to see and hear on this guided hike through the ruins and bottomland forest include Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Wood Thrush, various warblers and vireos, Summer Tanager, Broad-winged Hawk, Indigo Bunting, Acadian Flycatcher, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Entrance fee included in price.
Perry Lakes Park: Birding by Canoe with the Cahaba River Society $40 / 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Join us and the Cahaba River Society for an exciting morning of birding by canoe at Perry Lakes Park. Enjoy paddling between a series of oxbow lakes while on the lookout for Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Little Blue Heron, Northern Parula, Barred Owl, Red-eyed Vireo, and Summer Tanager. Oxbow lakes are past river channels that have been separated from the current channel through a number of sedimentation events. These lakes are areas that continue to hold water and can be reconnected with the river after flood events. These are oases of life for a vast array of insects, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Cahaba River Society will provide the canoes, but if you’d like to bring your own canoe or kayak, please let us know in advance.
We have a wide variety of events to offer this year, and we are doing things a little differently!
*Register for your group size, then add events as you go—checkout all at once.
When registering be sure to note event locations, as they may vary. A PDF itinerary will be emailed closer to the event.
Sumter Farm Package
Friday - Sunday, Lodging, Events, & 2 Meals
Be a guest of Bells at Sumter Farm! The 11,000-acre farm, co-owned and operated by Hazel and Mitchell Bell, is located in Geiger, Alabama, in the northwest corner of Sumter County. The Bells are excellent stewards of their property, hosting scientists and nature enthusiasts alike!
The Sumter Farm package includes:
Tickets to all the events on the farm (Saturday: Sumter Farm Birding and Wild Horse Prairie Tour, Sumter Farm Owl Prowl; Sunday: Sumter Farm Birds and Wildflowers Walk).
Two communal meals with other guests (dinner Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning).
Lodging for two nights (Friday and Saturday). Each of the 4 cabins features 2-4 ensuite bedrooms with 2 queen-size beds per room and a shared kitchen and living room.
Since space is limited, doubling up is encouraged!
$300 for single reservations (1), $250.00 for couples (2).
Please note: Sumter Farm is 1 hour from Greensboro and 2 hours from Selma.
*The first page of registration will collect information, and the second page will have the package choices.
QUESTIONS? Please email us directly at INFO@ALDUDUBON.ORG