Old Lock 7 Complex, West Damsite Park

The Lock 7 Recreation Area and West Damsite Park has two components: southern and northern. The southern section (left turn at the signage) is more open and park-like. It has a large  paved parking area, a few picnic tables, and a shaded camping area. Of the two sections of the Park, this one has by far the greater amount of bird activity. The woods ringing the open park — surrounding the parking lot, picnic area, and camping area – have good numbers of woodland songbirds and woodpeckers. There are plenty of Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, and Eastern Kingbirds (warm months only) working the open areas. Walk due east from the parking area to reach an inlet just below the dam that’s decent for  herons and egrets. Look for Common Yellowthroats and Louisiana Waterthrushes in this area.

The northern segment of the recreation area consists of a paved parking pad and a boat ramp surrounded by a dense hardwood thicket. The boat ramp area is a fine spot to see and hear Northern Parulas and Prothonotary Warblers from April through September, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos are present in good numbers here. The parking pad overlooks the Black Warrior River. In late spring and summer, watch the open expanse to the east for soaring kites, vultures, and perhaps Wood Storks. The 3.9-mile drive on CR 53 passes through an extensive area of low-lying second-growth habitat. This area is home to many Prairie Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Common Yellowthroats, and Catbirds. Look and listen for Northern Bobwhites here, too.

GPS: 32.7866191 -87.8369601

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) (Mailing address)
Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes
34 Resource Management Dr.
Demopolis, AL 36732-1546
334-289-3540