Description : Join us for our monthly Nature @ Noon event with our friends at Ruffner Mountain! Every month, we offer an opportunity to participate in an hour-long, Friday lunchtime walk that explores different locations of the state and its nature each month.

The March walk will be led by our executive director, Dr. Scot Duncan, and Program Coordinator, Andrew Lydeard. Ruffner’s Conservation Director, Jamie Nobles, will also be joining to point out spring native plants around the habitat gardens, and some of the early ephemeral plants that should be growing as spring sun warms the forest floor—specifically those that benefit birds and other wildlife! The demonstration gardens that hug the parking lot add a diverse layer of habitat that provides cover and food for dozens of bird species, and the surrounding mature woodlands can be excellent places to see a variety of winter and early spring woodland birds.

LOCATION DETAILS : Meeting Time and Place
We will meet in the main parking lot of Ruffner (at the Nature Center) at 12:00pm and work slowly through the parking lot and adjacent trails in search of birds and spring ephemeral plants.

Parking Address:
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve,
1214 81st Street S, Birmingham, AL, 35206

Accessibility :
We will meet at the parking lot of the nature center and work around the area in search of songbirds. Part of the group may split off to do a short journey on a trail in search of nearby amphoral plants while others patiently bird the parking area for early migratory birds. There are benches and restrooms available, and parking should be ample. While the parking lot is paved, there is moderate sloping that may pose challenges for some people. The trails are dirt/gravel and may have obstacles such as sticks, roots, and other debris that may not be suitable for all people. *Please reach out to your leader prior to the event, so that we may accommodate any accessibility needs before the program. As always, remember to bring plenty of water, snacks, insect repellent, sun screen, and wear seasonally appropriate attire.

Please Note:
Registration is free, but required for this event. 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.

Photo Credit & Rights: Andrew Lydread