Things You'll Need:
- Bird watching guide
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Notebook
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Step 1
Begin your Alabama bird watching on the Gulf Coast. This area is an important stopover for tropical migratory birds, and the species of birds changes with the seasons. The migratory flight path extends from Mobile to Dauphin Island. You can also view a wide variety of shore birds, such as herons, pelicans and egrets. In the winter you will see many of the typically northern species arrive to winter over.
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Step 2
Visit one of the great natural areas managed by the Nature Conservancy in Alabama. These preserves protect some of the highest quality habitat in the state. As protected areas, you must make prior arrangement before visiting many of these sites, but the extra effort is worth it. The local members of the Nature Conservancy are extremely helpful and knowledgeable and often more than one will be a top-notch birder.
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Step 3
Follow the North Alabama Birding Trail and explore such varied habitat as tupelo swamps, oak-hickory forests and open water. There are numerous woodland species of birds in this area and during the fall you can enjoy migrating waterfowl and the return of such noble birds as Sandhill Cranes and raptors.
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Step 4
Head up to northeastern Alabama to the Little River Canyon National Preserve. Not only is this forested upland area beautiful, it is home to a great variety of birds. You will find ospreys, hawks and kites, plovers and lapwings, cuckoos and roadrunners, woodpeckers and wrynecks, hummingbirds, and tyrant flycatchers.
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Step 5
Print out your guides and trail maps if you are unfamiliar with the area. The bird watching community of Alabama has graciously posted hundreds of maps, guides, rare bird sightings and more on their websites.
