Description : Join Program Coordinator, Andrew Lydeard, to one of the Birmingham area's best places to look for migratory songbirds, Oak Mountain State Park!
The park offers a variety of ecosystems that are perfect for both breeding and migratory songbirds and is a great location to practice birding by ear. As the leaves fill in canopies and undergrowth covers the forest floors during spring, songbirds can be difficult to detect visually.
However, this is the best time of year to hear birds as they sing for the breeding season, and Andrew will give you tips and tools to help you along the way, including best practices of using the Merlin app, how to read a spectrogram, and basics about song and bird calls. We will travel as a group around the picnic and recreation area, and if we have time, we may venture into the woods or up to Peavine Overlooks to search for more migratory songbirds.
Meeting Time and Place
We will meet at the lower parking lot on Terrace Drive (before the road up to Peavine Falls) at 8AM. From the south gate, you travel two miles and Terrace Drive will be on your right. Follow the road until you reach the Peavine Falls gate and park in the lot near the South Trailhead.
*Please note: It takes about 5-10 minutes to reach the parking lot from the gate.
ADDRESS: Oak Mountain State Park 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124
Coordinates to Meeting Place: 33.322824, -86.762048
TRIP LEADER: Your trip leaders will be Andrew Lydeard / andrew@alaudubon.org / 703-606-8956. Please call or text your leader only on the day of the event.
The event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of hazardous conditions or unforeseen circumstances. If you need to cancel at the last minute, please email or text your trip leaders.
LOCATION DETAILS: While this event is free, Oak Mountain State Park has entry fees as follows:
$5 per Adult (age 12+)
$2 per Child (age 4 to 11)
$2 per Senior (age 62+)
Free for ages 3 & under
All Active Military, Retired Military, and Veterans are Free
Possible Species:
-Up to 25 - 30 Warbler species!! (including Cerulean, Blackburnian, Kentucky, Swainson's, and Blackpoll Warblers)
-Red-eyed, Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, White-eyed, Philadephia*, and Warbling Vireo*
-Wood, Swainson's, Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Veery
-Summer and Scarlet Tanagers
-Broad-winged Hawks
-Pileated, Hairy, Downy, and Red-headed Woodpeckers
-Purple Martins, Barn, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows
-Rose-breasted and Blue Grosbeaks * Rare but possible for the date / location
Accessibility :
We will travel about 2 miles total as a group on mostly flat road and gravel trail surfaces. While the terrain is mostly flat, please be aware that tripping hazards such as a debris, holes, rocks, or sticks may be present and may not be suitable for all people. There are restrooms at this park and places to sit for resting. As always, remember to bring plenty of water, snacks, insect repellent, sun screen, and wear seasonally appropriate attire; Vortex binoculars can be loaned to participants if needed. Please reach out to your leader prior to the event, so that we may accommodate any accessibility needs before the program.
Picture Owner: Andrew Lydread // Scarlet Tanger