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May Field Trips
Nature Conservancy's Prairie Grove Glade
All-day Field Trip
May 19, 2012 - 7:00 a.m.
 Birding and botanizing go hand-in-hand, particularly in the springtime in Alabama. So, it is at The Nature Conservancy's Prairie Grove Glades, Lawrence County. Prairie Grove is the largest intact cedar glade complex known in Alabama. Its 191 acres contain rare and endangered plants and wildflowers (listed below) as well as providing habitat for both returning spring migrants and our resident woodland birds. The drive into the glades passes through forested areas and pastureland. The ponds at Leighton and the wetlands of Town Creek Marsh (both sites are on the North Alabama Birding Trail) have been historically productive of numerous species of waterfowl and long-legged waders. Plan for a midday picnic at the Glades and perhaps supper on the way back to Birmingham. Bring drinks, juice, snacks & nibbles and your picnic. Binoculars and a camera are a must, along with a spotting scope, if you have one. Have a full tank of gas. Weather can be changeable during our spring, so a rain jacket may be in order.
Some of the wildflowers at Prairie Grove Glades: Harper's Umbrella Plant, Alabama Larkspur, Prairie Indian plantain, Alabama Gladecress, Nashville Breadroot, Yellow Sunnybells. Most of these plants are endangered or threatened species. Please stay on the paths when walking in the Glades and be mindful of fragile plants.
Travel Plans: Meet at the parking lot at the Fieldstown Road shopping center, Gardendale. Directions: From I- 65, take Exit 271 and turn right onto Fieldstown Road, another right onto Odum Road and an immediate left into the parking lot. We will depart at 7:00 a.m. and caravan north on I-65 to the AL-157 Exit #310, at which point we will take AL-157 toward Moulton. Any of you who wish to meet us in Moulton, please let the trip leader know ahead of time so a meeting place can be arranged in advance. It is anticipated that we will arrive in Moulton close to 8:30 a.m. After reconvening and taking a rest break, we will continue to the Glades, which are approximately 15 miles west of Moulton on AL-24 and Lawrence CR-43. Picnic at the Glades at midday. For the afternoon, we will proceed north to Leighton and Town Creek Marsh where we will conclude our day. Bring your picnic, snacks & nibbles, juice, water. Binoculars and camera are a must and a spotting scope (if you have one.) Have a full tank of gas. As weather is changeable in the Alabama spring, rain gear may be welcomed.
For further information and any questions you may have, please contact the trip leader, Maureen Shaffer, at 205-822-8728 (h) or205-222-2662 (m). See you at the Glades.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 May 2012 09:39 )
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BAS Field Trip to Tuscaloosa environs
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Hearing the springtime song of the Prothonotary Warbler is quite special, seeing one in glowing plumage is a treat. Observing at leisure a breeding pair of Prothonotary Warblers at the nest is beyond belief, particularly in full sun and singing their hearts out. But we did and have the photos to prove it. But, first-one of the spots along our route are the overpass for I-59/20 just prior to the exit for Fosters (#62). In recent years, Cliff Swallows have covered the supports and crannies underneath with their little brown jug nests. When we first arrived, no birds were seen, but within a half hour, a nice flock of “Cliffies” came swooping in to inspect the nests and hopefully begin cleaning house and laying eggs.
Continuing on, we arrived at a swamp near a riverside development to be greeted by a continually singing Northern Parula. The group split in half, one set went moseying down to a sod farm, the rest spreading out along the road. Noticing that not much moseying was going on with the first group, we joined them to be treated with the “Sweet, Sweet Sweet” of a Prothonotary Warbler, then another one. Andrew Haffenden had observed a golden streak over the water and carefully searched the many stumps and stobs. He found it perched on the tip of a dead, stubby tree, on fire with the sun. Then away it flew, to be replaced by the second who disappeared into a cavity in the trunk. The show continued the entire time we were there - back and forth, both carrying food. Perching on the power line over the swamp or on the stub. During all this, we were serenaded by a Bullfrog and watched several Blue-winged Teal who were most unconcerned with our presence. At the gated road to the sod  farm, some were treated to a fly-over by a Bald Eagle.
Things quieted down for our picnic at Lake Lurleen State Park. The group dwindled afterwards, some returning home, others continuing to Shirley's Bridges where a solo Kentucky Warbler was heard, the remainder to the University of Alabama Arboretum for a quiet late afternoon stroll. We finished the day at the Cypress Inn, a first rate eatery.
23 field trippers enjoyed the day, including a visitor from California, who is undertaking a photographic expedition of the birds of the Southeast. With his permission, we are posting an image of the Prothonotary Warbler. For a more complete write-up of our trip, I suggest a perusal of Andrew Haffenden's posting on ALBirds.
In all, we tallied 50 species, 3 species of vireo, an amazing 6 species of raptor and 5 warblers. The Cliff Swallows, Kentucky Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird and Orchard Oriole could separately be considered birds of the day, but the breeding Prothonotaries outglowed them.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 30 April 2012 14:18 )
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