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.
DECATUR, Ala. -- Embraced by the wooded surroundings of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and crowned by the cool waters of sprawling Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Alabama, has been a natural magnet for untold hundreds of species of both native and migratory birds for decades.
Come this spring, this southern gem of a city will become a magnet for bird enthusiasts from across the country when it hatches the inaugural North Alabama Birding Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 5-7, 2006.