Cost: 0
Capacity: 15
LOCATION DESCRIPTION / In-person: Join Alabama Audubon in celebrating Birdability Week this year from October 21-27, 2024! This week-long event is dedicated to making birding accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability. Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard will lead a small, wheelchair accessible walk for our second celebration of the week at James D. Martin Wildlife Park in Gadsden. The small park is located along the Coosa River and includes walking paths and a short boardwalk. It includes benches regularly placed on the boardwalk for resting and a variety of habitats that feature great wildlife and birds with a relaxing view. We will travel out to the water’s edge and back for an Out and Back, slowly birding the edges of the wetland, woods, and the open water. The journey will be about 0.5 total miles.
Late October is a great time to search wetlands and open water as ducks and waterbirds pass south through our area. Many of the transient songbirds will have passed through but some of our winter warblers like Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers love this area in winter. Other winter songbirds will be arriving on their southern wintering grounds and may be present in good numbers, including Palm Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, and Hermit Thrushes. This is a great spot to search for ducks such as Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon that can stop on the water, and Ring-billed Gulls and Forster’s Terns can also be present as we approach cooler weather. Join Alabama Audubon to celebrate another bird walk for everyone!
LOCATION DETAILS / In-person: The park and parking are free. However, there are no restrooms available, so please plan accordingly.
TRAVEL INFORMATION : Meeting Time and Place
We will meet in the entrance of James D. Martin Wildlife Park promptly at 7:00am and begin our adventure.
Address: James D Martin Wildlife Park
1226 S 11th St
Gadsden, AL 35901
TRIP LEADER Your trip leader for this event will be Andrew Lydeard // (703) 606-8956
ACCESSIBILITY We will travel as a group no more than a half-mile (0.5 miles) total. The boardwalk and access from both entrances are accessible. Some of the areas that do not have boardwalk rely on natural hard dirt which can be wet during and after heavy rains and flooding. The boardwalk located on the island has one stair, so this portion of the park is not accessible, but most of the boardwalk is very easy to use and offers benches along the way along with lookout opportunities into the marshy area. If you require any accessibility accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact your trip leader.
REQUIRED Participants must complete the mandatory online waiver when registering. Please do not request registration for others when submitting your request.
CANCELLATION The event will only be canceled in the event of hazardous conditions. If you need to cancel at the last minute, please email or text your trip leaders.
Please continue joining Alabama Audubon as a member or donor to help us continue to offer accessible, educational programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond.