January 7 Field Trip

Updated 05 January at 4:30 p.m.: This trip has been CANCELED due to the strong possibility of snow and ice.—AP

January Half-day Field Trip Railroad Park and Avondale Park Saturday, January 7, 2017, 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Local favorites Railroad and Avondale Parks offer a selection of bird life that can be found in our urban parks and will serve as our destinations for the January half-day field trip. Railroad Park is a relatively recent addition to downtown Birmingham, having once been the site of abandoned lots and warehouses, while Avondale Park is one of our city’s oldest and the former home of the zoo.

We’ll begin the morning at Railroad Park, at the pavilion, and stroll the grounds of the park in search of resident robins, mockingbirds and doves, and winter visitors such as Song Sparrows and Palm or Yellow-rumped Warblers. There is an outside chance of finding waterfowl, but it is not likely. There is a better than average chance of finding raptors, such as Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks – and if you all have been good little boys and girls, a Peregrine Falcon.

We’ll then make the short drive to Avondale Park. The habitat here, while still an urban park setting, is more wooded and thus a slightly different suite of birds might be found. In addition to the aforementioned birds, we could encounter Hermit Thrush, both species of kinglet, woodpeckers and a few more sparrow species. Avondale Park is also one of our chapter’s Urban Bird Habitat Initiative sites and we’ll visit the garden there.

Plans: Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the main pavilion at Railroad Park, located at 1600 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35223 – near Regions Field. There is ample on street parking here. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks. The Avondale community is home to several popular restaurants should anyone wish to have lunch at the conclusion of the field trip. Trip leaders: Susan Barrow, 205-253-8667, and Matt Hunter, 205-915-8186.

[Hermit Thrush photo by Debbie McKenzie]