Cost: Free
Capacity: 30
The Alabama River west of Montgomery has long been a birding destination for a number of the River Region’s specialties, and we’ll focus our efforts on both the north and south sides of the river looking for them. The crop fields and pastures south of AL Hwy 14, between Prattville and Autaugaville, have been fairly reliable in recent years for Painted Buntings and Common Ground-Doves, and to a lesser extent, Lark Sparrows. We’ll spend the morning hours searching for those, with the expectation that long-legged waders, Loggerhead Shrikes and Eastern Meadowlarks are likely, too.
Following lunch in Prattville at Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch (154 First Street, Prattville, AL 36067), we’ll continue our River Region birding adventure on the south side of the river, near Lowndesboro. Some years we have had luck finding kites coursing above the extensive fields along County Road 40/Jones Bluff Road. A visit to the “ghost town” at Robinson’s Switch crossroad will certainly be in order while we are here. This picturesque collection of abandoned buildings will surely capture your attention – bring a camera!
If the necessary arrangements can be made, we’ll visit an alligator farm/heron rookery in Pine Level, south of Montgomery off US Hwy 231, at the end of the day. We’ll have dinner at Red’s Little School House Restaurant in Grady at 5:30 and then depart for the rookery from there. If you participate in this optional side trip expect a very long day in the field as we will be at the rookery until sunset. The return trip to Birmingham is about a two-hour drive.
MEETING TIME AND PLACE Our departure point this day is a familiar one: the McDonalds on US 31 in Hoover, located at 1731 Montgomery Highway (US 31) across from the Galleria. Plan to depart at 7:00 a.m. and caravan to our destination from there. We’ll make a short stop at the McDonald’s in Prattville (I-65 exit # 179, 2573 Cobbs Ford Road, Prattville, AL 36066). We should arrive about 8:15, if you wish to meet us there.
TRIP LEADER Your trip leaders for this event will be Todd DeVore, 205-873-5482, and Greg Harber, 205-807-8055.
ACCESSIBILITY We will mostly be birding from ours cars (standing on the roadside), with very little walking involved. The Gator Farm, if we go there, is a distance of about 25 yards from the parking area to the fenced area where the birds are nesting.
REMEMBER This is a daylong affair, so plan accordingly and bring plenty of drinks and snacks in addition to a full tank of gas, insect repellent, rain gear, and appropriate summer attire and sunblock.
REQUIRED Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver when registering. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
CANCELLATION The event will only be canceled in the event of hazardous conditions. If you need to cancel at the last minute, please email or text your trip leaders.
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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.