Birmingham Audubon Society

Lake Guntersville is one of the premier birding sites in the state for observing waterfowl and raptors in winter. During the morning we will make several stops around Guntersville Lake to view ducks, grebes, gulls, coots, cormorants and other water birds. If we are lucky to have good sunshine, you can enjoy some amazing colors and plumage patterns of ducks up close with a scope. About noon, we will stop for lunch at the Guntersville Public Library, which is located at 1240 O'Brig. Lunch will be in the meeting room and afterwards we will head to the "Hawk Farm" near the Guntersville Dam and see what awaits us there.

Travel Plans: We will meet at 6:50 a.m. in the parking area of the Golden Rule BBQ restaurant on AL Hwy 79 to organize car-pooling for the trip. Cars may be parked for the day at Golden Rule BBQ. To reach the Golden Rule BBQ from Birmingham, take the Tallapoosa St. exit off I-20/59 and travel north on AL Hwy 79. Proceed about 8.7 miles, past Thompson Tractor, which is on the right, to Golden Rule BBQ, also on the right. If you reach the entrance to Jefferson State Community College on the right, you have gone just a little too far - turn around and start looking for the Golden Rule BBQ.

Please be prepared to depart Golden Rule BBQ at 7:00 a.m. sharp. We will caravan up Hwy 79 North to Guntersville and stop at the Burger King in Guntersville around 8:00 a.m. for coffee, biscuits, and a rest room break. If you would like to meet us at the Burger King, turn left at the intersection of AL 79 and US 431, go a few blocks and Burger King will be on your right. At the Burger King, we will meet BAS members Dick and Linda Reynolds who live in Guntersville and are expert birders. They will guide us to the locations that hold the most promise for good birding, including the former Harbor House site, Guntersville Dam, and the "Hawk Farm."

Be sure to have a full tank of gas, a State of Alabama Highway map, your favorite picnic lunch, drinks, binoculars (call John Swan if you need to borrow a pair) and a telescope if you have one. Dress for the predicted weather and bring some extra warm clothing as Guntersville can be much colder than Birmingham.

Trip Leader: John Swan 205 933-6469 (home) or 205-567-5614 (cell).