Event Description: The Wehle Forever Wild Tract and Nature Center in Bullock County nature preserve has a variety of habitats, including a couple of small lakes with swampy edges, mixed woodlands, and some open pine savanna areas. Mid-May should be a peak time here for birdsong.
Getting there: We will meet at the Wehle Nature Center at about 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESS: 4819 Pleasant Hill Road, Midway, AL 36053.
*Note that this location is about 2.5 hours from Birmingham, so if you are arriving from some distance away, plan accordingly.
NOTE: The nature center does have a camping area with camper/RV hookups or spots to pitch a tent, with restroom facilities on site. So anyone who would like to camp there with arrival on Friday, the evening before our birding, can let us know in advance, so the managers know who to expect.
Directions from Montgomery: Travel North on I-85. Take exit 11 and turn right onto AL-110. Stay on AL- 110 until it ends at US 82. Turn left onto US 82E and travel through Union Springs to Midway. Once in Midway, turn right onto AL-51 and take the first left onto Pleasant Hill Road. The Wehle Forever Wild Tract and the Wehle Nature Center will be on your right.
The Plan: We will spend the morning birding around the small lakes and roads near the Nature Center. We will move to a few spots using our cars, but expect to walk ups to a couple of miles on foot around the lakes and grounds. At midday, we will take a break for lunch at a picnic area near the camping ground. Those who wish can continue birding in other areas of the Wehle Forever wild tract, and some people may want to spend some birding time at Eufala National Wildlife Refuge, which is about a 30 minute drive from Wehle.
The birds: The woodland edges should definitely have a variety of warblers (Kentucky, Yellow-Throated, Black-and-White, etc.) The lake areas will have some wading birds like Little Blue Heron, and perhaps Anhinga and with some luck maybe a Bittern. There open areas between pines has Bachman’s sparrow that we observed on our previous trip there.
Lunch: Bring your food and snacks. There are a few restroom facilities on-site.
Photo: Bachman’s sparrow seen on previous Alabama Audubon trip.