Blue Grosbeak by Andrew Lydeard

Celebrate the beauty of spring with Alabama Audubon at Shoal Creek Park during the 2026 Great Spring Bird Count! This exciting event welcomes birders of every skill level to join the fun and see how many feathered friends we can add to the park’s list in one unforgettable morning. Shoal Creek Park offers one of the Birmingham metro area’s most unique landscapes, where open grasslands and scrublands blend seamlessly with forested areas—creating the perfect haven for a wide variety of bird species. Participants will team up in one of three or four small groups, each guided by seasoned birders and naturalists, to explore the park for a couple of hours before regrouping at the pavilion to tally up our total species count.

*All proceeds will directly support Alabama Audubon and Shoal Creek Park, helping fund conservation efforts and habitat management that keep this remarkable park thriving for years to come.

Meeting Location & Time : We will meet promptly in the parking lot of Shoal Creek Park at 7:00 am before splitting up our groups to explore the park. We will meet back at the pavilion around 9:30 am for a tally of the species and wrap-up the morning!

Shoal Creek Park Address: 2781 Hwy 119, Montevallo, Alabama 35115, United States

Target Bird Species: Indigo Buntings // Blue Grosbeaks // White-eyed, Red-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Blue-headed Vireos // Prairie, Blue-winged, and Black-and-white Warblers // Louisiana Waterthrushes // Eastern Bluebirds // Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Field Trip Leader Name: Andrew Lydeard // andrew@alaudubon.org // (703) 606-8956

Accessibility: This event will cover up to 2 miles on pavement, grass, and muddy surfaces. There will be slight uphill and downhill changes. This event would be suitable for cane or pole users. Restrooms and benches are on site.