Gulf Shore Getaway

Spring Bird Banding Session 2006

The spring bird banding session is in progress right now at Fort Morgan. Just like in the fall event, you're invited to come out to Fort Morgan to help with the banding fun. You're sure to see hummingbirds, doves, cuckoos, sparrows, wrens and dozens of other neo-tropical migratory birds in the final legs of their return north from their winter homes in Central America.

Each spring the event is hosted by the Hummer Bird Study Group. They capture, weigh, measure, band and release the birds, sending them on their way unharmed. This bi-annual event allows birders, scientists and environmentalists to study and understand population levels, health and weather effects on migration.

If you aren

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge reopens to birders on Monday

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge reopens to the public beginning Monday, just in time for peak birding season. The park has been closed since September 2004 except for limited beach access.

FORT MORGAN, Ala. - Wild birds returning from Mexico this month take rest stops at Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan Peninsula, where birdwatchers with cameras and binoculars await their arrival.

For the first time since Hurricane Ivan struck the Alabama coast in September 2004, birders and other visitors will be allowed into the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge beginning Monday. Walking trails have been repaired in this favorite forested area for migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and the federally protected Alabama beach mouse.

The refuge had about 100,000 visitors annually before the hurricane, according to federal wildlife officials. There is no entry fee.

The refuge's reopening coincides with the work of a study group banding hummingbirds at Fort Morgan until April 15, said John Porter, volunteer director of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary.

Dauphin Island last year was named "birdiest coastal" small city based on its April count of 185 species, said Philip Pryde, a professor emeritus at San Diego State University who teaches birding identification courses. Pryde coordinates the national bird counts reported by teams of birdwatchers in 40 cities and counties.

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New this year: North Alabama Birding Festival

While you might argue that Northern Alabama is not technically on the Gulf Coast, it's hard to argue that Alabama isn't. This news item, though taking place a bit north of the Alabama Gulf Coast area, is potentially of great interest to birders and vacationers to the Gulf Coast area.

The good folks of Northern Alabama have put together what looks to be a spectacular birding festival this year. In its inaugural event it appears they've managed to pull off a world class weekend for birders. If you're planning to be anywhere near the northern Alabama area in early May this might be just the thing for your vacation weekend calendar.

This festival includes activities for the kids, seminars and workshops on backyard habitat, conservation practices and other topics by renowned speakers, field and canoe trips for birders, an art exhibition, a reception, social events and contests. There is literally something for everyone in the family. It will be worth the trip just to see how they will manage to fit this all in to a single weekend.

Great Texas Birding Classic April 22-30

Birding is big on the Gulf Coast this time of year. So big in fact that there is even something of a competitive circuit for birding.

The New Jersey Audubon Society runs the World Series of Birding each year in a swamp. Well, there's a team planning to compete in the New Jersey Great Swamp this year anyway. And it will bring in competitive birders from all walks of life and from all around the world to compete in four classification levels. Competitor will spend 24 hours - yes, through the night - identifying and cataloging birds.

Closer to the Gulf Coast, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Texas Parks and Wildlife will be hosting their tenth annual Great Texas Birding Classic in late April. The GBTC is a week long event in which birders from around the globe congregate on the Texas Gulf Coast a week of fun and friendly team birding. Each year the event is timed to coincide with the Texas spring migration. For avid birders this is an event not to miss.

Bluewater Bay Bird Walk

Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville area birders, or anyone with a mind for some fresh air and sunshine for that matter... You're welcome to come out to the Bluewater Bay Bird Walk. The Choctawhatchee Audubon Society will host the event in the Bluewater Bay and Lake Pippin areas beginning at 7:30am. If you're interested you should call Phil or Carole at (850) 897-2666 to get all the details.

Birding Photo

Kevin Doxstater captured this close-up shot of a long-billed curlew in the middle of a crab lunch in a Florida tidal marsh. This is just one of many great birding photos among the winners of National Wildlife's 35th Annual Photography Contest.

Even if you're not into birding you owe it to yourself to check out the winning photo. It is one to remember.