Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve is a 551-acre property located just to the east of Huntsville. The preserve, owned and managed by local nonprofit Land Trust of North Alabama, includes a diverse forest of mature hardwoods, pines, red cedar groves and dense mixed species of understory vegetation.  The 4.5-mile trail system of well-maintained natural paths provide […] Monte Sano State Park sits atop a remnant ridge of the Cumberland Plateau, giving a fantastic view of the surrounding valleys and plateaus that cover northeastern Alabama. These islands in the sky are covered in thick hardwood forest, which is home to a number of neotropical migrants. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge's Blackwell Swamp's flooded woodland and marsh (Site # 26, Central Loop)  can be explored by car, on foot, or by canoe. This extensive area hosts a variety of wetland species including Great Blue and Green herons and Great Egrets. The striking Prothonotary Warblers can be plentiful in the spring when the […] The Hays Nature Preserve  (Site #30, Central Loop) hosts several miles of paved trails that follow the Flint River and its associated oxbow lakes through low riparian habitat, old fields, and a golf course.  There are a total of 10 miles of trails that wind through bottomlands, swamps, and sloughs, suitable for hiking or mountain […] Madison County Public Lake (Site # 28, Central Loop) is best known for its fishing, but it also serves as an excellent introduction to northern Alabama's birdlife. Scan the lake for wintering waterfowl or perhaps a family of resident Canada Geese and their downy young. The woods around the lake host a variety of warblers […] Alabama A&M's Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station (Site #27, Central Loop) consists of  900 acres of grasslands and agricultural fields, providing a rare area of open country filled with native birds. Bird the area by making frequent stops, and look for Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissels, and Eastern Meadowlarks. Scan the open agriculture fields for other sparrows […]