NATURE@NOON
A BIRDWALK AT BIRMINGHAM’S RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE
FREE WITH REGISTRATION / SPACE IS LIMITED
REGISTRATION CLOSES THURSDAY, MARCH 28 AT 12AM
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.
We will start in front of the Nature Center and complete the parking lot loop, counting any bird we see or hear during our walk. The brushy edges that transition to the treeline can be prolific for winter birds, including large numbers of Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, multiple woodpecker species, and a variety breeding songbird species in spring. Brown Creepers are commonly seen here in the forest, and White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are regulars in the parking lot. It is also about time for our first Northern Parulas and Black-and-White Warblers to be singing, so we'll be on the lookout for the early migrants, too!
BROWN CREEPER
Roseanne Caleca / Audubon Photography Awards
TRIP LEADERS
The contact leader for this trip is Andrew Lydeard / 703-606-8956. Please contact by phone on the day of the trip only.
NEED-TO-KNOW
REMEMBER As always, remember to bring plenty of water and wear seasonally appropriate attire.
DETAILS Please note that Ruffner Mountain requires a parking permit to park in its lot, which can be purchased for $5 near the restrooms. Binoculars will be available for those that need to borrow some, and restrooms are available on site.
REQUIRED Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver when registering. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
ACCESSIBILITY The walk will be on paved, mostly flat asphalt. There is a slight incline and decline in the parking lot that may not be suitable for all people.
CANCELLATION In the event of inclement weather, or if you need to cancel at the last minute, please text your trip leaders, as the main office will be closed.
WHERE TO MEET & WHEN
MEETING POINT
RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE
1214 81st Street South
Birmingham, AL 35206
MEETING TIME
The group will meet promptly at 12PM.
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.