First Bird Banding Station with Alabama Audubon at Ruffner Mountain

We held our first bird banding station on May 15th for the MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity Survivorship) Program with Alabama Audubon. Thanks to Lianne Koczur - AL Audubon, Mercedes Maddox - AL DCNR (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Kevin Shaw - UA grad student, Alliemarie Humphries - AL Audubon, Eva Ledvina - AL Audubon (JCIB) work study student (we love the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve hat).

Report from Jamie Nobles, Conservation Director:

We had 10 mist nets set up around the Wetlands and Maggie's field. Nets opened at sunrise and closed 6 hours later. The handlers provided regular rounds to remove captured birds from the nets and took them to the banding location at the pavilion. Captured birds were banded, sexed, aged, weighed, and measured then released. The primary goal of this program is to provide annual indices of breeding success and population data.

We banded 12 species and 23 individuals:

Northern Cardinal (6)
Eastern Towhee (1)
Kentucky Warbler (1)
White-eyed Vireo (5)
Hooded Warbler (1)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
*Magnolia Warbler (1) - migrant
Indigo Bunting (1)
Carolina Wren (2)
Swainson's Warbler (2)
Wood Thrush (1)
Summer Tanager (1)

We also netted 2 other species that were not banded: Common Yellowthroat (escaped prior to banding), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (not permitted to band).

Other birds observed or heard in the area during this time but not netted include: Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Blue Jay, Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied, Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl.

https://alaudubon.org/research/

https://www.birdpop.org/pages/maps.php

*All birds were handled and banded by biologists with the proper state and federal permits*

Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Parking Lot Improvement Project Begins May 31st, 2023

Alabama's Forever Wild Program and Alabama State Lands have committed to improving visitor access at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve by funding the redevelopment of the Fall's Parking lot. This $250,000 improvement project will be allocated towards the construction of a much-needed asphalted parking lot contracted by Norris Paving and Asphalt. This construction will help alleviate roadside parking— one of the biggest safety issues facing the preserve. 40 new parking spots will be added with ADA-compliant parking spots available as well. The parking lot will also include improved drainage for the site which will alleviate erosion issues. 

Construction for parking lot improvements begins on WEDNESDAY, May 31st, 2023. We expect this construction to last approximately 6 weeks and will likely require road closures, decreased parking availability, and increased congestion until the project has been completed. We are entering our busiest season at the preserve so we ask for your patience during this time.

 We would like to thank Insite Engineering for donating their time and expertise to all of the designing and engineering plans for this project without which this project would not have been possible.   

It's Hydrangea Season!

Two species native to our forests, oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) and lacecap (Hydrangea arborescens), begin to bloom just as the emerging, light hues of spring leaves complete transition to darker verdant greens of summer's mature canopy. Seemingly luminescent in the dark forest, white clusters and lacecaps line the trails here on the mountain. There’s a bit of trickery in the blooms. The showy flower parts with big white petals are actually sterile and serve as the “open for business” sign, while the smaller hairy florets beneath the invitation petals are the fertile flowers. We love the come hither blooms of hydrangeas!

Good Dogs!

Thanks to Good Dogs, Neo, Twoey, and Lulu for using a leash! Help your dog be like them.

Wildlife can be hiding just off the trail. By keeping your dog on a leash, you are protecting your dog and other wildlife in the preserve.

Not all dogs are social butterflies. By keeping your four-legged friend on a leash, you are avoiding possible confrontations with other dogs.

Not all people are dog people. By keeping your dog on a leash you are helping the preserve to be welcoming to everyone.

1214 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL 35206 | 205.833.8264 info@ruffnermountain.org