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 […] Oakville Indian Mounds Park consists of 122 acres and hosts an array of birds because of a multitude of habitats on our site, ranging from the 22-acre pond that is a home for Great blue herons, various sandpipers and, especially in winter, waterfowl, to the wooded surrounding areas where you can view Eastern phoebes and […] Fantastic birding opportunities abound at the 491 acre Nature Center. Sightings of Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, and Worm-eating Warblers have all been reported. Flycatchers are typically seen during summer months. Loggerhead Shrikes can be spotted hunting along fence rows and Eastern Bluebirds nest on the property. Kudzu Cove is located on Buck Island in Guntersville, AL. It began as a rental cabin property that has several cabins available to rent. Three fishing ponds are available for visitors as well as birds to catch fish. Resident Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons can be seen year round at these ponds. Green Herons […] Particularly in spring and fall, the hiking trails and wildflower garden should have migratory warblers.  There are awe-inspiring, natural landscapes throughout this 70-year old park. Five miles of hiking trails offer access to hills of oak and pine forest, a bog sanctuary filled with birdsong, several small meadows, a 30-year wildflower garden which is on […] A 1.1-mile gravel and boardwalk A.D.A.-accessible trail meanders through a wetland created by a beaver dam and along the shoreline of two embayments of the Elk River.  The trail loops around an open field.  Two raised wooden overlooks provide viewing access to the Elk River. Swamp, Chipping, White-throated, Savannah, and Song sparrows are plentiful here. […] Stevenson Town Park (Site #43, Northeast Loop) sits on the east side of Crow Creek. The park provides an excellent vantage point from which to scan the open water of the reservoir for Common Loons and Horned Grebes, as well as a variety of waterfowl. During times of low water, look for shorebirds and herons […] Murphy Hill was supposed to be developed as a power plant. Fortunately for both birds and birders, these plans fell through and the area now hosts a huge variety of habitats ripe for exploration. As you walk through open areas, listen for Yellow-breasted Chats and Indigo Buntings. Once the woods get a little thicker, check […] Buck's Pocket State Park's wooded pocket canyon is complete with singing Red-eyed Vireos, Wood Thrushes, and Scarlet Tanagers. The park is also host to some interesting surprises during migration. As you drive along the rim of this incredibly scenic canyon, listen in the open fields for Yellow-breasted Chats and Prairie Warblers. Farther down in the canyon, Yellow-throated Warblers and Red-eyed Vireos can be heard calling from below while Rough-winged Swallows and Chimney Swifts frolic overhead. Enjoy both woodland songsters-Kentucky and Hooded Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-throated Vireos and displays of native wildflowers and blooming shrubs. The boardwalk is 360 yards long through wooded slopes and moist forest floor. The 120 acre DeKalb County Lake (Site #46, Northeast Loop) is a popular fishing spot that also serves as an excellent introduction to northern Alabama's bird life. Check the open waters of the lake for wintering waterfowl, including any number of diving ducks, Pied Billed Grebes or resident Mallards.  Wooded areas and the larger trees […] Russell Cave National Monument has been home to wildlife and man for thousands of years. This peaceful setting combines food, water, and shelter with tranquility and beauty. Following the elevated boardwalks and nature trails can lead to eastern woodland species such as Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, whose song is accompanied by the insect-like croaking of […] Mud Creek Wildlife Management Area (Site #42, Northeast Loop) has numerous impoundments that are likely to turn up a great variety of species. Access roads leading into the area also make Mud Creek easy to bird. Check the ponds in fall and winter for dabbling ducks such as Mallards, Gadwalls, American Wigeons, and Green-winged Teals. […] Skyline Wildlife Management Area  (Site # 41, Northeast Loop) is an extensive tract of wild lands in northeastern Alabama, which hosts the state's only population of Ruffed Grouse. This carefully managed area also supports older hardwood forests utilized by nesting Cerulean Warblers. A visit to the Skyline Wildlife Management Area is most rewarding in spring when […] The Roy B. Whitaker Paint Rock River Preserve (Site # 40, Northeast Loop) was a working farm until Mr. Whitaker, wishing that future generations be able to enjoy the farm he loved so much, sold it to The Nature Conservancy who now manages it for conservation. These rolling fields sit alongside one of the most […] North Sauty Creek (Site #39, Northeast Loop) has an excellent display of waterfowl and wading birds that occupy the area. Park on the roadside and scan the creek for waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds, especially during migration or in the winter. A small heron rookery is located on one of the small islands. However, exercise […] Goose Pond Colony  (Site # 38, Northeast Loop) is a public recreational development built on a peninsula on the northern side of Guntersville Lake south of Scottsboro. This location makes for some excellent birding, especially during the winter. Stop at one of the numerous viewing points to search the rafts of waterfowl for Common Goldeneyes, […] The north side of Guntersville Dam is similar to the south side and also provides boat access to Painted Bluff a few miles downstream. However, the north side of the dam is usually better for viewing Bald Eagles. Active eagle nests have been seen on the ridge just northeast of the dam and in a […] Guntersville Dam (Site #36, Northeast Loop) impounds the 67,900-acre Guntersville Reservoir in northeastern Alabama. The Tennessee Valley Authority manages the dam for electricity production and flood control. The dam makes an excellent vantage point to scan the waters of the reservoir for waterfowl, wading birds, and gulls. Numerous Great Blue Herons fish here, unaffected by […] The reservoir is at its best in winter, when waterfowl is plentiful, often supporting rafts of Red-breasted Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, Gadwalls, Ruddy Ducks as well as Common Loons and Horned Grebes. Guntersville State Park is one of the premier birding areas in northeastern Alabama. Renowned for its Eagle Awareness Weekends, the park is best visited in the winter. During this time, look for dense populations of waterfowl, and the chance to spy a vagrant such as a Red-necked Grebe or an unusual gull. Bankhead National Forest's Sipsey Wilderness Trail  (Site #15, Northwest Loop) takes the birder a step back in time with its tinkling waterfalls and moss-covered stones decorating one of the finest forests Alabama has to offer. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Reservation (Site #8, Northwest Loop) hosts a number of walking trails that meander through woodlands, fields, and along the Tennessee River. The Tennessee Valley Authority Reservation is one of the few reliable areas in northern Alabama for Swainson’s Warblers, which nest near the end of the 2.6-mile bicycle/jogging trail. Other species […] The Leighton ponds (Site #5, Northwest Loop) sites are a series of sinkholes and semi-flooded agricultural fields that are excellent for waders and shorebirds. Scan the muddier areas for resident Killdeer alongside migrants such as Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers. In larger sinkholes, search for Green Herons, American Coots, and perhaps a Common Gallinule. Each […] Town Creek Marsh (Site #4, Northwest Loop) is a small marsh in the bend of Fosters Mill Road overlooking Town Creek. It is an excellent place to see rails feeding on the mudflats during appropriate times of year. The marsh also supports a variety of wading birds and waterfowl, especially during the winter months. From […] The park provides access to the north side of Wheeler Lake and the associated backwaters, which are often good for waterbirds. The park also contains several patches of deciduous hardwoods crisscrossed by marked forest trails for woodland birding. Hurricane Creek Park (Site #32, Central Loop) is known for its scenic deep canyon, which is heavily wooded with mature hardwoods. The park offers a number of trails, leading birders through a landscape crisscrossed by streams and waterfalls. As you walk the trails, listen for Red-eyed Vireos and Great Crested Flycatchers among the numerous Northern […] The Cave Springs Cave (Site # 31, Central Loop)  has been popular for thousands of years. The combination of shelter, fresh water, and abundant food has attracted humans and other wildlife to its safety. The cave's current residents include several thousand Gray Bats, an endangered species whose population stronghold is in northeastern Alabama. Where the […] 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 […] A visit to the Beaverdam Peninsula Tower (Site #24, Northeast Loop) in the summer may make visitors wonder why the tower is even mentioned. This broad observation platform sits in wheat and corn fields dotted with a few Red-winged Blackbirds. While a visit in the summer might not impress, once fall is in the air, […] Arrowhead Landing  (Site # 23, Central Loop) is located on Limestone Bay, another corner of the fertile Wheeler Reservoir and the Tennessee River. There is an outstanding view of the bay and the wooded areas on Beaverdam Peninsula. Watch the open water for rafts of Lesser Scaups, Red-breasted Mergansers, Green-winged Teals, Common Loons, and perhaps […] Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area (Site # 21, Central Loop) on the Tennessee River is managed for waterfowl and small game, although it supports many more species. Mudflats can be covered with shorebirds, serving as a key attraction to this area in the fall. Search among the typical Yellowlegs and Killdeer for unusual species such as […] Wilson Dam and Visitor Center (Site #6, Northwest Loop) is where the Tennessee Vally Authority's hydroelectric dam impounds the 15,500-acre Wilson Reservoir. This was the first dam constructed on the Tennessee River in Alabama. Construction began on the dam in 1918 and was completed in 1924. The dam was acquired by the TVA in 1933. […] Dancy Bottoms (Site #33, Central Loop) is an excellent area in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to visit during spring migration when dozens of warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, orioles, and grosbeaks fill the trees. The area is also good for breeding species, including Barred Owl and Red-headed Woodpecker. Louisiana Waterthrush can be heard singing along […] 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 […] The Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk (Site #25, Central Loop) leads the visitor into the heart of the largest Tupelo Swamp in Alabama. While exploring the boardwalk, watch the canopy for active flocks of Tufted Titmice, Red-eyed Vireos, and warblers. The swamp usually rings with the songs of frogs, insects, and numerous birds including Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great-crested […] Round Island Recreation Area  (Site #22, Central Loop) provides access to the north side of the Tennessee River and an excellent vantage point for viewing winter waterfowl as well as cormorants, loons, and grebes. The pine woodland that surrounds the camping area is scattered with songbirds such as Red-breasted Nuthatches and numerous kinglets in winter. […] The Decatur Hospitality Nature Park (Site 17, Central Loop),  nearby US Highway 31 Causeway, and the Decatur Boat Harbor provide a great opportunity to scan the waters of the Tennessee River for winter waterfowl and shorebirds. This area is one of the first sites to develop mudflats in the fall as water levels begin to […] Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge’s (NWR’s) showpiece Visitor Center (Site #16, Central Loop) serves as the gateway to the North Alabama Birding Trail. The Visitor Center hosts a series of interpretive exhibits that explain the refuge’s numerous residents, the ecology of these organisms, as well as information on the early human residents of the Tennessee River […] Habitats in the national forest range from old fields to mature pine and hardwood forests. The area is renowned for its breeding Cerulean Warblers, which can be found in several of the heavily wooded canyon bottoms. The walking trail at Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area (Site #13, Northwest Loop) is one of numerous gravel and dirt hunter access roads on the 34,500 acre WMA, which leads visitors into a variety of productive habitats ranging from old fields to mature hardwood forest. These habitats are interspersed with wildlife openings planted for deer, […] Colbert Ferry  (Site #12, Northwest Loop) provides access to a number of wooded habitats, including a beaver pond with lots of standing dead timber. Check this area for Red-headed and other woodpeckers. Closer to the shore, search the trees for White-breasted Nuthatches year-round and Orchard Orioles and Eastern Kingbirds in the summer. The park also […] The Rockpile Recreation Area (Site 7, Northeast Loop) sits at the base of Wilson Dam. This area provides basic camping and picnicking facilities in a wooded setting along the edge of Pickwick Reservoir. Woodlands in the park attract numerous songbirds, while the reservoir attracts a variety of waterfowl, wading birds, gulls, and raptors. Check around […] Completed in 1936, Wheeler Dam (Site #2, Northwest Loop) was the first Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River. This dam impounds the 67,100-acre Wheeler Lake, creating an enormous habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and gulls. Scan the water for Double-crested Cormorants and Common Loons, as well as a variety of […] The 1,483-acre Mallard Fox Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) (Site # 1, Northwest Loop) along the southern shore of Wheeler Lake provides access to a number of habitats, including grasslands, agricultural fields, wildlife openings, and hardwood forest. This site offers numerous opportunities for viewing waterfowl, wading birds, and woodland and grassland songbirds. Scan the water for […] White Springs Dike (Site #20, Central Loop) on Wheeler NWR is one of the premier birding sites of the Tennessee River Valley in Alabama. The dike runs between a de-watering area on the north side and the Tennessee River on the south. Intrepid birders can walk for more than eight miles along the dike, getting excellent […] The town of Waterloo  (Site #11, Northwest Loop) sits a few miles west of the Natchez Trace Parkway in northwestern Alabama. The area is renowned for the concentration of Bald Eagles that congregate here in the winter months. Sightings of half a dozen eagles are possible, and at times more than 20 have been seen […] Rock Springs Nature Trail (Site #10, Northwest Loop) winds through an idyllic wooded area from Colbert Creek to Rock Springs (approximate 20-minute walk). The creek is intermittently dammed by beavers, creating an impressive wetland abounding with a variety of resident and wintering birds. The edges of the wetland support an abundance of orange jewelweed, which […] Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (Site# 9, Northwest Loop) has large open fields managed for warm-season native grasses interspersed with small patches of deciduous woodland and the seasonal sinkhole wetland. The refuge is gradually being converted from crops to native warm-season grasslands. The benefit of this restoration is immediately apparent from the dozens of […]