The Beach is Calling

Bird Watchers Band Together

If you are planning a visit to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area for Spring Break, be sure to look in on the bird banding stations at historic Fort Morgan. Dedicated volunteers spend hours patiently waiting for migrating song birds to find their way to the banding station nets. Volunteers note the species and health of the birds; band them and send them back on their voyage to South America. Visitors to the station get the opportunity to adopt the banded birds and should they turn up again in subsequent years, volunteers notify the adopting families by email.

Fort Morgan’s location at the edge of the beach makes it an attractive spot for migrating birds to stop on their long trek south. For more than 10 years the bird banding station has catalogued these birds to monitor population levels and the effects of weather.  Painted and indigo buntings are usually spotted as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds, a variety of warblers, woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, summer tanagers and many others.

The bird-banding station will be open from March 31 – April 12, from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with a crew of trained volunteers from the Hummer Bird Study Group. Fort Morgan Historical Park charges $5 admission for adults and $3 for children 6-12, but banding is free. Bring your camera and get comfortable, but the bird banding station asks that you leave pets at home.

 

 

“Share The Beach” With Endangered Sea Turtles.

Every year, from May through October, three species of sea turtles nest on the beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Our Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley and Green Sea Turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act and it’s against state law to disturb nesting sea turtles, their hatchlings, or their nests. “Share The Beach” is an Alabama Gulf Coast conservation program dedicated to helping increase sea turtle survival while supporting hands-on volunteers who work hard to protect nesting areas.

The program also offers an “Adopt-A-Nest” sponsorship that many parents and grandparents use to teach kids the importance of conservation. All “Adopt-A-Nest” sponsors receive a certificate and information about their particular nest, plus a final report at the end of the nesting season.  There’s a choice of sponsorships ranging from a $10 Hatchling Student Sponsor to a $250 Shoreline Sponsor. You can also make a one-time donation online. What a great gift idea for the upcoming holidays, especially considering the aftermath of the BP Oil Spill. Visitors to the Alabama Gulf can also do their part by following a few quick tips:

·    Avoid using flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night.

·    At night, turn off outside patio lights and shield indoor lights from shining onto the beach.

·    Do not disturb sea turtle nests.

·    Leave sea turtle tracks undisturbed.

·    Do not leave trash on the beach.

For complete information about volunteer opportunities, sponsorships and online donations, go to www.alabamaseaturtles.com.     

Photo by Carrie, one of the wonderful Share the Beach volunteers.