Alabama Audubon Events

This trip will cover the marsh boardwalk area of Meaher State Park, boasting some incredible views of the gateway to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and the birds that rely on it! The birding for this trip can get started quickly right where we will meet in the marsh boardwalk parking area with palm, pine, and orange crowned warblers as well as overhead osprey and other raptors.
You never know what might pass overhead at this site so keeping an eye on the sky is always encouraged! The shrub lined pathway leading to the boardwalk is typically filled with yellow-rumped warblers but sparrows, cedar waxwing, and towhee can be spotted as well. The elevated boardwalk provides birders a great angle to get an in depth look into the marsh, shore, and wading birds that can be found in the area.
We will look for species like ibis (white and glossy), grebe, tricolored and little blue herons, rails, shoveler, gadwall, wigeon, and maybe a flyby from a Northern harrier. Depending on the tide the surrounding mudflats can hold Wilson’s snipe, yellowlegs, avocet, and dunlin. This is a trip that travels a short distance but can have looks at some really great birds! Binoculars will be available to borrow. A scope is good to have at this location so bring one if you have it!

The trip leader will have one or two on hand as well for the group. You can view the Meaher State Park eBird hotspot here to see what’s been recently spotted at this location!This event is free but registration is required.

This program is limited to 15 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Trip Leader: Your trip leader will be Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org / 402-297-1775). Please reach out to the trip leaders if you have any questions, concerns, or require special accessibility accommodations so that we assist you. Please call or text your leader on the day of the event only.
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 LOCATION DETAILS: There is a $3/person entry fee at this location. If you are unsure where the parking lot for the marsh boardwalk is, ask the gate attendant and they can direct you.  The parking area for the marsh boardwalk is on the smaller side and may fill up quickly but there is additional parking close by. There are restrooms at this site. They are located along the main road on the right hand side as you head towards the boardwalk. Depending on the weather, the grass trail leading to the boardwalk may be muddy. Please remember to wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray as necessary.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: We will meet at 8 am at the marsh boardwalk parking lot which is located at the far end of the park near the rental cabins. If you are unfamiliar with the park you can ask the gate attendant for directions!

Address: 5200 Battleship Pkwy, Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Accessibility: This trip will be an out-and-back covering a little over a half-mile. The pathway leading to the marsh boardwalk is a flat, wide, well-maintained grass trail that may be muddy depending on recent weather conditions. There is a ramp leading up to the elevated boardwalk. There are benches located along the boardwalk.

Please reach out to Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org) if you have specific questions or require any special accommodations, have questions, or cannot attend, so that we can better assist you on the day of the event.

Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon.
*If you need to cancel at the last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!*Thank you for your support of Alabama Audubon. Please consider becoming an Alabama Audubon member or donor to help us continue to offer programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond!

Join Alabama Audubon as we partner with the Birmingham Zoo to participate in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! This fun event will take us "behind the scenes" in the Alabama Wilds section of the Children's Zoo as we look for wintering regulars like White-throated Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Perhaps we may be lucky and encounter a Rusty Blackbird, Brown Creeper, or a Winter Wren! Bundle up for the weather and bring your binoculars.

Meeting Place:  We will meet at the Children's Zoo entrance gate (to the right of the main entrance) at 8:00 a.m.

Address: 2630 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham, AL 35223, United States

Target Birds: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Red-headed Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow
This event is free, but registration is required. 
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Field Trip Leaders: Greg Harber  (205) 807-8055 // Matt Hunter (205) 460-9546Please contact your field trip leaders day of the event for questions.

Accessibility: Travel distance will be up to 1. mile on mostly flat pavement that is accessible with resting spots and restrooms, on site. The “behind-the-scenes” portion may not be accessible and will leave the pathway where the terrain will be uneven.Picture Owner & Rights: Cedar Waxing by Greg Harber

See full event details on the website by clicking here!

Monday, February 16 - Friday, February 20, 2026  // Time:  7:30am – 5:30pm daily
Final Day to Register: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Cost: $1285 (single rate); $925 (double rate) 
Capacity: 12 (6 minimum) 
Join Alabama Audubon for a self-driven tour of northwestern Tennessee and southeastern Missouri in exploration along one of North America’s most important migratory flyways: the Mississippi River! Executive Director Dr. Scot Duncan and Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard will guide participants around parts of Reelfoot Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and adjacent wildlife management areas (WMA’s) in Tennessee and Conservation Areas (CA’s) in nearby Missouri. Andrew spent nearly three years exploring this area while in graduate school at Murray State University (KY) and will lead us to some of the birdiest locations in the region.

Tucked along the water’s edge the Fairhope Pier and Beach Park offer not only iconic views of Mobile Bay, but its birds too! We will meet at the entrance to the pier and start by scanning the waters for gulls, terns, and other waterbirds. While most folks come to this spot to check out the water, the tree lines by the bluffs can be a haven for songbirds in the area and aren't to be overlooked. We will walk the south beach park area which around this time of year can hold brown-headed nuthatch, yellow-bellied sapsucker, pine warbler, brown thrasher, and kinglets.

This site is one of the 18 across the coast in Alabama that is monitored as part of the Audubon Coastal Bird Surveys due to its important habitat. We plan on having bird walks at this site throughout the year so folks can see how the bird diversity changes and just how important of a space it is for our feathered friends! All birding levels are welcome, and binoculars will be available to borrow! The trip leader will have a scope available for viewing of birds near the pier and on the bay. Y
ou can view the Fairhope Municipal Park Pier eBird hotspot here to see what’s been recently spotted at this location!
This event is free but registration is required. This program is limited to 15 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Trip Leader: Your trip leader will be Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org / 402-297-1775). Please reach out to the trip leaders if you have any questions, concerns, or require special accessibility accommodations so that we assist you. Please call or text your leader on the day of the event only.

REGISTER

LOCATION DETAILS: There is ample parking at this location both in the pier area where we will be meeting and nearby inside South Beach Drive if needed. Parking is free at this location. There is not currently an admission fee to enter the South Beach Park. Restrooms are located within walking distance within the park, but not directly by the pier. Please remember to wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray as necessary.

Meeting Location: We will meet at the entrance to the pier at 8 am. Address: 4 N Beach Rd, Fairhope, AL 36532

Accessibility: This trip will be a mile-long loop starting from the entrance to the pier. We will be using boardwalk, sidewalk, and paved roads for the duration of this trip but we may need to step onto the grass while in South Beach Park to give way to passing vehicles.

Please reach out to Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org) if you have specific questions or require any special accommodations, have questions, or cannot attend, so that we can better assist you on the day of the event.

Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon.
*If you need to cancel at the last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!*
Thank you for your support of Alabama Audubon. Please consider becoming an Alabama Audubon member or donor to help us continue to offer programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond!

Fort Morgan State Historic Site is a favorite amongst birders for good reason! This location provides easy access to diverse habitat along the Alabama coast. So diverse that it is split into 5 individual stops on the Coastal Alabama Birding Trail. Since we will have limited time before the fort closes we will head into the fort immediately at 4pm and bird the inside of the property first starting with the middle grounds tree line. This edge habitat and open field combo this time of year can hold several swallow and sparrow species, meadowlark, palm and pine warblers, and sometimes early migrants like buntings.

We will head along the seawall where kestrel and shrike are frequently found while also scoping out over the dunes and gulf for other raptors, gannet, and passing waterbirds. After making a quick stop at the bathrooms, we will exit the fort property onto the beach right where the waters of Mobile Bay meet the Gulf.

As we walk the beach back to the parking area we will look for shorebirds and waterbirds including snowy plover, piping plover, whimbrel, and peeps. Our last stop will be on the pier to scope for mergansers, scoter, grebe, and loons. If the group is interested and daylight allows, we may walk over to the stables area. This walk can be productive for songbirds and maybe an owl or nighthawk as the sun sets!Binoculars will be available to borrow and the trip leader will have a scope on hand as well. You can view the Fort Morgan eBird hotspot here to see what’s been recently spotted at this location!This event is free but registration is required.
This program is limited to 15 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Trip Leader: Your trip leader will be Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org / 402-297-1775). Please reach out to the trip leaders if you have any questions, concerns, or require special accessibility accommodations so that we can assist you. Please call or text your leader on the day of the event only.
REGISTER

LOCATION DETAILS: All participants must pay the $8/adult ($5/college, seniors, and children 6-18y/o) admission fee. Active, retired, or reserve military free with ID. There is ample parking in the fishing pier area and no parking fee. There are porta potties located in this parking area. The fort has restroom facilities that we will pass near towards the end of the trip. This trip will cover paved road, old brick roads/walkways, grassy fields, and dirt/gravel paths that may not be suitable for all people. Please remember to wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray as necessary.

Meeting Location : We will be meeting in the parking lot near the fishing pier promptly at 4pm.

Address: 453 AL-180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
If you arrive early please pay your entrance fee as soon as possible so we can enter the fort right at 4 pm. We will leave our vehicles at the fishing pier parking area.

Accessibility:  This trip will be a loop covering approx. 2 miles at a leisurely pace. This trip will cover paved road, old brick roads/walkways, mowed and unmowed grassy fields, dirt/gravel paths, and loose sand that may not be suitable for all people. Please reach out to Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org) if you have specific questions or require any special accommodations, have questions, or cannot attend, so that we can better assist you on the day of the event.

Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon. *If you need to cancel at the last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!

*Thank you for your support of Alabama Audubon. Please consider becoming an Alabama Audubon member or donor to help us continue to offer programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond!

Today's field trip will take us further afield - to the Coleman Lake/Pinhoti Trailhead area of the Talladega National Forest - where we will spend the first part of our morning gazing skyward, in hopes of finding Golden Eagle(s) soaring overhead. This species is known to winter in the area, and thus we'll plan to walk (on a dirt Forest Service road) to an area where we have encountered them in the past.

Bring a folding chair, if you wish, and be prepared to sit a while. Following our Big Sit, we'll drive to the trailhead parking area where we hope to encounter Red Crossbills and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Bring a lunch and a folding chair, if you wish, as there are no picnic facilities available. Be sure to bring winter/ rain apparel to have on hand as well as food and water.

MEETING LOCATION: We'll meet at the Buc-ee's in Leeds, AL and depart from there at 7:00 a.m., to caravan to our second gathering site, the McDonald's in Heflin, AL, via I-20 East (exit #199).

ADDRESS Meeting for the morning: 6900 Buc-ee's Blvd., Leeds, AL 35094, United States

ADDRESS for McDonald's: 1816 Almon St., Heflin, AL 36264, United States
We expect to arrive at the McDonald's by 8:15 a.m.
Bring your lunch and water for the day. This event is free but registration is required.

REGISTER

Field Trip Leaders: Greg Harber (205) 807-8055 //  Co-Leaders: Hans Paul (205) 807-7357 & Marj Young (205) 515-8394Please contact your leaders day of the event for questions or concerns.

Accessibility: Travel distance will be up to 2.0 miles on pavement, hard-packed dirt/sand with moderate uphill and downhill. There are no resting places or bathrooms on site.

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest park, with over 10,000 acres of woods and lakes to explore. We'll look for early spring migrants, lingering winter birds, and perhaps some early nesters on this trip. We may see Bald eagles and Osprey, and we should have excellent looks at Purple Martins. Expect a good sampling of woodland songbirds, too.

TRAVEL INFORMATION : Meet in the parking lot of the lower fishing lake, accessed by the EASTERN park entrance off Hwy 119 (the entrance nearer US 280 ).
Put 5601 Oak Mountain Lake Rd in your GPS, and it will get you to the entrance road. 
We will hike the trail around the lower fishing lake, look for birds in and above the upper and lower lakes, then -- as time allows -- perhaps drive through the park to search out other habitats.

Location Address For Event: Intersection of Oak Mountain Lake Rd. and John Findlay III Dr., Birmingham, AL 35242, United States

Target Bird Species: Yellow-throated warbler, Northern Parula, White-eyed vireo, Blue-grey gnatcatcher, Summer tanager, Wood thrush, Pileated woodpecker This event is free but registration is required.

This event is free but registration is required.
REGISTER

Field Trip Leaders: Paul Franklin (205) 542-7647 //  Sandra Allinson                                                                   *Please contact the field trip leaders day of the event if you have questions or concerns. Accessibility : We will travel up to 1.0 mile on pavement  and hard-packed dirt/sand. The trail is mostly flat with slight up hill and downhill changes. This trail would be suitable for cane and hiking. There are restrooms and no resting benches on location. 

Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon. *If you need to cancel at the last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!*Thank you for your support of Alabama Audubon. Please consider becoming an Alabama Audubon member or donor to help us continue to offer programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond!