Ebenezer Swamp & Limestone Park Field Trip

Two sites on the Appalachian Highlands Birding Trail have been chosen as the locales for Birmingham Audubon’s full day field trip on September 19, 2015. This is the first full-day field trip of the 2015-2016 season. Our first stop will be the Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve, a Tupelo gum swamp located near Montevallo on Spring Creek. It provides the birder with a variety of habitats and diverse plant and bird life. Approaching the swamp one passes through open fields, then hardwood and pine thickets. Next, one walks into the swamp via an elevated boardwalk which is maintained by the University of Montevallo. Rich with warblers, woodpeckers, long-legged waders and woodland songbirds, the swamp will be a fascinating place for our morning stroll.

Limestone Park is one of Birmingham Audubon’s Urban Bird Initiative sites where a prairie restoration project, led by Audubon members Ken Wills and Dick Mills, has been underway for several years. The park, a City of Alabaster park, has a mix of habitats including old fields, wetlands, oak-hickory woods and ponds. Grassland sparrows, water birds, waders and raptors all call the park home along with a occasional surprise bird. Excellent views of the wetlands and adjacent swamp can be had from the observation deck, a joint project of the City of Alabaster and Birmingham Audubon.

Please bring  water and snacks. Binoculars, cameras and spotting scopes are welcome on this trip. If you do not have binoculars, Birmingham Audubon will have some for you to borrow. As of this writing, meal plans are incomplete. Please check this website and Birmingham Audubon’s Facebook page for further information and updates.

MEETING PLACE: McDonald’s at Colonial Shopping Center (I-65S Exit 238 Alabaster, Columbiana)                                                           ADDRESS: 205 S. Colonial Drive Alabaster, AL 35007
Phone: 205-621-2805

Please park across from the McDonald’s in the parking area for Target. Consider carpooling as both the Ebenezer Preserve and Limestone Park have  limited parking.

GPS: Ebenezer Swamp Eco. Preserve 33.1747 955 -86.801 351
Limestone Park 33.1857 985 -86.763 5835

ADDRESS: Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve Station 6463 Montevallo, AL 35113 Phone: 205-665-6463

Limestone Park City of Alabaster 2400 Hwy. 31 south Alabaster, AL 35007 Phone: 205-664-6800

WEBSITE: Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve www.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/ebenezer-swamp www.montevallo.edu/campus-life/ebenezer-swamp

Limestone Park www.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/limestone-park  www.cityofalabaster.com

LEADERS:

Anne G. Miller 205-902-1389 (cell)  Maureen Shaffer 205-822-8728 (home) 205-222-2662 (cell)