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Birmingham Audubon Society
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Activities -
Activity Information
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March Monthly Meeting
"Trails of Africa"
Presented by: William R. Foster, D.V.M.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 7:00 p.m.
Birmingham Zoo Auditorium
Director Bill Foster will offer us an engaging program about the Zoo's newest exhibit "Trails of Africa," currently in the early stages of construction. Trails of Africa is a mixed-species exhibit featuring a bachelor elephant herd, red river hogs, giraffes, rhinos, and antelopes such as wildebeest, impala, and kudu, along with zebras and ostriches.
The keystone feature of the new exhibit will be the herd of bull elephants. Bringing new elephants to the Birmingham Zoo and maintaining accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) will enable the zoo to participate in a nationwide initiative to protect elephant populations in captivity.
"Trails of Africa" will offer ground and aerial observation opportunities providing education and entertainment to hundreds of thousands of visitors who will enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience. Zoo Director Foster hopes they will also be enlightened about the plight of endangered animals and inspired to support global wildlife conservation efforts.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 March 2010 14:07 )
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IBAs established in Alabama
Recently the National Audubon Society has recognized 16 of Alabama's birding sites as IBAs (Important Bird Areas). We are excited to have these sites, that we already know and bird, listed and available to birders and  conservationists worldwide. As Frank 'Gill, Senior Ornithologist, National Audubon Society said, "IBAs have the unique power to unite people, communities, and organizations in proactive bird conservation, one place at a time".
IBAs are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds. The sites are usually discrete sites for breeding, wintering and/or migrating birds. Identification of a site as an IBA indicates its unique importance for birds.
Bird Life International in Europe initiated the IBA program in the 1980's. National Audubon Society as the United States Partner of Bird Life International administers the IBA Program in the U. S. Over 8000 sites in 178 countries have been identified as IBAs since the program began.
To see a list of Alabama's IBAs click here. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 March 2010 09:44 )
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Activities -
Activity Information
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BAS Field Trip to Lanark - Home of the Alabama Wildlife Federation
Saturday, March 13th, 7:00 a.m.
Tim Gothard, Director of Alabama Wildlife Federation, has extended an invitation to Birmingham Audubon Society to join the River Region Bird Club for a visit to AWF's home at Lanark in Millbrook, Alabama, on March 13,  2010. This beautiful property has over five miles of well-planted hiking trails that take you from creek bottoms to hill sides. Expect a $5.00 charge. Read more about Lanark at http://www.alabamawildlife.org/lanark/. We can reasonably expect to see the usual winter birds, such as kinglets, juncos, and perhaps a hermit thrush or creeper, and if we're really fortunate, a very early spring migrant or two.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 March 2010 23:21 )
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Read more: Field Trips
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Activities -
News
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NatureScope Exhibit Opens at McWane Science Center
in Partnership with the Birmingham Audubon Society
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The new NatureScope exhibit at the McWane Science Center will usher in an exciting era in the long, storied history of the Birmingham Audubon Society. The BAS office opened at McWane in June 2007 with Bianca Allen as our Administrative Director, and BAS volunteers have given a few bird programs in the intervening years. But as the saying goes, “Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet!” Integral to NatureScope will be a new log cabin-themed office reminiscent of the type of housing where John James Audubon himself might have lived. The office will be adjacent to a presentation stage, where BAS and other programs, and the occasional live animal show, will occur.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 February 2010 11:37 )
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Read more: Breaking News
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Activities -
Activity Information
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Coleman Lake area of the Talladega National Forest
February 20, 2010
We arrived at the Pinhoti Trail parking lot near the entrance to Coleman Lake about 9:00 a.m. The North Alabama Birdwatcher's Society had also planned a trip to this location and they had arrived before our group. Dick Reynolds greeted us and reported that Red Crossbills had already been heard in the area but none sighted. Thus, we knew that one of our target birds for the trip was a distinct possibility!
We bid adieu to Dick and headed down the trail to where the rest of the NABS group was gathered. We caught up to them in short order and within a matter of minutes Bachman's Sparrows appeared in response to a taped  call. The entire group enjoyed close views of the sparrows for many minutes. The NABS members returned to the parking area while we continued on the trail in hopes of spotting either the crossbills or Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Our search was not fruitful and we were approaching the edge of the suitable habitat these birds prefer. So, we also returned to the parking area, whereupon, of course, we heard some red crossbills calling in the opposite direction!
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 March 2010 23:54 )
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Read more: Trip Reports
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