Alabama Coastal BirdFest
October 14-17, 2010
Schedule of Events
REGISTRATION IS PLANNED TO OPEN IN MID-JULY. SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Thursday, October 14
1. Fort Morgan Peninsula/Trans-Gulf Migration Flyway & Hummer/Bird Study Group
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
The American Bird Conservancy calls Fort Morgan one of the 100 Globally Important Bird Areas in the U.S. This trip will visit the banding site of Bob Sargent and the Hummer/Bird Study Group that, over a two-week period every fall, bands and records the health of 2,000-4,000 birds of 85-90 species. You might get to hold a bird in your hand and release it into the air. The trip also visits the extensive open areas and shoreline of Fort Morgan Historical Park, all part of a vital Trans-Gulf Migration Flyway. On this trip, expect to see Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Palm Warbler, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Broad-winged Hawk, Merlin and American Kestrel. This trip has extensive walking in brush and sand. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
2. Dauphin Island/Trans Gulf Migration Flyway
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
WildBird magazine calls Dauphin Island one of the top four locations in North America for viewing neotropical migrations. An informal count in April 2008 recorded 203 species, making Dauphin Island the “Birdiest Small City” in the U.S. This heavy walking trip will visit prime birding spots, including the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuaries, the airport marsh, Shell Mound Park, the goat trees, rock jetties at Fort Gaines, and the causeway. On this trip, you might see Clapper Rail, Great Blue Heron, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Restart, Common Yellowthroat, Brown Pelican and Black Skimmer. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
3. Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Research Vessel Alabama Discovery Cruise
7am– 3pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$45 – includes lunch
This trip provides a unique opportunity to view gulls and pelicans up close as they follow Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s new research vessel, the Alabama Discovery, a 65-foot, fuel-efficient fiberglass hull boat on Mobile Bay. You can observe movements of individual feathers as the birds fly just a few feet above and around you. With the aid of marine biologists from DISL and birding experts, you will learn the Bay’s history, ecology and value and examine specimens caught in a trawl net. The trip includes a stop at the George F. Crozier Estuarium and might make a close-up pass of Alabama’s only lighthouse, the Sand Island Light. Expect to see Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Skimmer, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Forster’s Tern, Caspian Tern, Herring Gull—and perhaps even bottlenose dolphins.
Please note:
- The Alabama Discovery has indoor and outdoor seating plus upper level observation deck. There are two toilets onboard.
- The captain makes the final decision regarding cancellations for weather or high seas.
- You must wear closed-toe, rubber soled, lace-up shoes. No sandals. No exceptions.
4. NEW! Hurricane Bayou Canoe/Kayak Paddle
7am – 11am Carpool from 5 Rivers to Hurricane Bayou
$25 – includes canoe/kayak, paddle & lifejacket
This beginner-level paddle will take you into the heart of wetland habitats of marsh grasses and tupelo gum/cypress swamps. There is no better way to experience the birds of the Delta than aboard a canoe or kayak, as experienced guides from 5 Rivers Delta Safaris, lead you gently through the bayou. On this trip you might see Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican and American Coot.
5. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Weeks Bay Explorer Cruise
7am – noon Carpool to Weeks Bay from 5 Rivers
$20
With the aid of biologists from the Reserve and other birding experts, you will learn about the ecology of this beautiful estuary on a comfortable pontoon boat cruise on Weeks Bay, Fish River and Magnolia River. After the boat trip, you may choose to take easy walks on a boardwalk through a bottomland hardwood swamp and/or a rare native pitcher plant bog. Expect to see Brown Pelican, Royal Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gull, Osprey, Bald Eagle and nest, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Clapper Rail—and perhaps American alligator and bottlenose dolphins. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
6. Lower Mobile–Tensaw River Delta Pelican Cruise
4pm – 6pm Cruise departs from 5 Rivers Dock
$20
Wind your way through open river, small bays, tidal marshes and mud flats on a comfortable cruise onboard the Pelican in the Lower Mobile-Tensaw Delta, led by a guide from 5 Rivers Delta Safaris. Designated a National Natural Landmark by Congress, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta is home to an abundance of wildlife and vegetation including over 300 bird species. Look for Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Boat-tailed Grackle, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, White Ibis, Wilson's Snipe, Laughing Gull and Willet. Look for frogs, nutria, northern raccoon and American alligators! Bring bug spray.
7. Welcome Reception and Presentation
6:30pm – 8:30pm Delta Hall/5 Rivers Delta Resource Center
$30 (includes soft drinks, wine, beer & coffee)
Enjoy a selection of hors d’oeuvres and dessert and meet your fellow birders at 5 Rivers’ beautiful Delta Hall. Browse the museum, gift shop and display halls, gather around the stacked-stone fireplace, or just take in the expansive view of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta from the screened porch and spacious deck. Bring your binoculars! Enjoy a slide show set to music, with works by local birder Lisa Comer, whose photos are featured on this year’s poster.
Friday, October 15
8. Bayou La Batre, Forever Wild Grand Bay Savanna, Grand Bay National
Wildlife Refuge and Point aux Pins
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
The Nature Conservancy calls this biologically diverse area one of the “Last Great Places on Earth.” Fishing, shrimping and oyster harvesting are big business, and birding concentrates on waterbirds, shorebirds and marsh species. Passerines and raptors are often abundant in the fall. On this trip, you might see Marsh and Sedge Wrens, Seaside and Swamp Sparrows, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Egret and Mottled Duck. This is a moderate walking trip. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
9. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Weeks Bay Explorer Cruise
7am – noon Carpool to Weeks Bay from 5 Rivers
$20
See trip #5 on Thursday for description.
10. Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Research Vessel Alabama Discovery Cruise
7am – 3pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$45 – includes lunch
See trip #3 on Thursday for description.
11. 5 Rivers, Meaher State Park, Daphne Bayfront Parks, Jackson’s Oak &
Fairhope Bayfront Park
8am – noon Carpool from 5 Rivers
$20
A moderate walking tour through a variety of local wood, wetland and shoreline habitats, including 5 Rivers, Meaher State Park, Daphne Bayfront Park, Jackson’s Oak and Fairhope Pier Park. Expect to see a wide variety of shorebirds and migratory birds including Virginia Rail, Greater Yellowlegs, American Coot, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, American White Pelican, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Boat-tailed Grackle, White Ibis, Wilson’s Snipe and Mallard. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
12. NEW! Middle Mobile–Tensaw River Delta Pelican Cruise
8am – 11am Carpool from 5 Rivers to Cloverleaf Landing
$20
Designated a National Natural Landmark by Congress, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta is home to an abundance of wildlife and vegetation including over 300 bird species. This relaxing Middle-Delta cruise, led by a guide from 5 Rivers Delta Safaris, will wind through open-river and wetland habitats of fresh water marsh grasses, Cypress/Tupelo Gum forests and man-made Native American spoil banks. Watch for Belted Kingfisher, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Boat-tailed Grackle, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, plus Alabama Red Bellied turtles and American alligators! Bring bug spray.
13. BirdFest Social, Speaker & Silent Auction
5:30pm – 9pm The Great Hall/St. Paul’s Life Center/Daphne
$35 – (includes soft drinks, wine, beer & coffee)
Come enjoy true Southern hospitality. Tonight’s event features a shrimp boil, courtesy Alabama Wild Shrimp, plus barbecue and tasty sides. Arrive promptly at 5:30 to enjoy music and to place your bids at the Silent Auction. You’re sure to find a must-have piece by a talented local artist or photographer, plus nature-related products, wine, trips and other items. After dinner, we’ll hear a fascinating and important presentation by Dr. John Dindo, Senior Marine Scientist and Associate Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, about the state of our coastal wildlife habitat and nesting patterns of herons, egrets and ibises on Cat Island.
Saturday, October 16
14. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
More than 370 species of birds have been identified at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge during migratory seasons. Guides include naturalists from BSNWR who are particularly familiar with the refuge’s 7,000 acres of coastal barrier habitat, home to migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and the endangered Alabama beach mouse. Trip includes walks through maritime forests, coastal marsh and beaches, essential habitat for an amazing diversity of birds. You might see Scarlet Tanager, Palm Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Brown Pelican, Marsh Wren, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swainson’s Thrush, Osprey, Merlin and Forster’s Tern and possibly migrating Monarch butterflies. This trip includes extensive walking through brush, wooded areas and on the beach. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
15. Dauphin Island/Pelican Island Shorebirds
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
Dauphin Island, a 14-mile long barrier island, has been called one of the “ten most globally important sites” for bird migration. This tour includes the Audubon Bird Sanctuaries, a 164-acre protected oasis of maritime forest, marshes and dunes, and visits Pelican Island, a narrow strip of land that now is often connected to the main island. Expect to see Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet, Piping Plover, Black Tern, Semipalmated Plover, Laughing Gull, Brown Pelican and Black Skimmer. Wear shoes that can get wet and pants that can be rolled up. You might have to wade to the island or board a small boat for a quick ride.
16. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Backcountry Trails
6:30pm – 2pm Bus leaves 5 Rivers
$40 - includes lunch
The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail begins at the bridge over Perdido Pass, where beaches and sea oat habitat are good opportunities for bird observation. The trip continues to the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, developed cooperatively by the City of Orange Beach and Gulf State Park in one of the last remaining maritime forests in coastal Alabama. This remnant natural area acts as a lifeline for millions of migratory birds by providing essential food and shelter, so there is excellent birding potential. The Branyon Trail is paved, but trip may include unpaved trails through sandy oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, relict dune swales and even a pitcher plant bog. Wear closed shoes and bring bug spray.
17. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Weeks Bay Explorer Cruise
7am – noon Carpool to Weeks Bay from 5 Rivers
$20
See trip #5 on Thursday for description. New Saturday trip!
18. Backyard Wildscaping
8am – noon Carpool from 5 Rivers
$20
Join Kent Schwartz, professor of landscape architecture at Faulkner State Community College, for a delightful walking tour of the Fairhope campus, yards of local nature enthusiasts and Fairhope parks that combine native plants, ornamentals and water features to create bird and butterfly friendly environments. The trip includes a stop at Fairhope’s Knoll Park for a glimpse of a rare coastal sandhill ecosystem, currently undergoing renovation to reestablish native species.
19. Lower Mobile–Tensaw River Delta Pelican Cruise
5pm – 7pm Cruise departs from 5 Rivers Dock
$20
See trip #6 on Thursday for description. Note time change!
Sunday, October 17
20. Blakeley Island Mud Ponds, Polecat Bay and William Brooks Park
6:30am – noon Carpool from 5 Rivers
$20
This area along the Mobile River provides an opportunity to view large numbers of waterfowl and waders. Blakeley Island is best known for large dredge disposal ponds that are the premier shorebirding spots in the state. William Brooks Park, managed by the City of Chickasaw, features a boardwalk and easy walk to a viewing pavilion. Check for waders, waterfowl and Osprey in the open areas over the creek. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.
21. Bayou La Batre, Forever Wild Grand Bay Savanna, Grand Bay National
Wildlife Refuge and Point aux Pins
6:30am – 2pm Bus leaves from 5 Rivers
$40 – includes lunch
See trip #8 on Friday for description.
22. NEW! 5 Rivers Canoe/Kayak Paddle
7am – 11am Paddle departs from 5 Rivers
$25 – includes canoe/kayak, paddle & lifejacket
This beginner-level paddle will take you through the middle of the river, bayou and marsh grass habitat of the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. There is no better way to experience birds of the delta than aboard a canoe or kayak, led by experienced guides from 5 Rivers Delta Safaris. You might see Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, American Coot, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Pelican and Clapper Rail.
23. NEW! Middle Mobile–Tensaw River Delta Pelican Cruise
8am – 11am Carpool from 5 Rivers to Cloverleaf Landing
$20
See trip #12 on Friday for description.
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