Located
in the hilly coastal plains along the Florida border, the Conecuh National Forest
contains longleaf pine over much of the area as well as upland scrub oaks and dogwoods,
bay swamps, bogs, winding creeks, and cypress ponds. Birders can enjoy the diverse plants
and animals such as Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, dusky gopher frogs, pine
barrens tree frogs, carnivorous pitcher plants and many unique wildflowers. The Forest
supports white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, squirrels, bobcats, fox, river otters,
alligators, and many species of snakes. A visit to the ranger station can equip you with
brochures, and maps showing ownership, roads, trails, and facilities can be purchased.
GETTING THERE
From 1 65, take Evergreen exit
93, and go east on U.S. 84 to Andalusia. Where U.S. 84 intersects with the Andalusia
by-pass, turn south (right) and follow signs for U.S. 29 south. Continue from this
intersection 3.3 miles. Just after mile marker 42, look for a brick building on the right
of U.S. 29 with a sign reading, "Conecuh Ranger Station." office hours are 7:30
am to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Information can be obtained by writing Conecuh National
Forest, Rt. 5 Box 157, Andalusia, Alabama 36420, or call 334-222-2555.
BIRDING GUIDE
Open Pond, Conecuh Trail, Blue
Spring: To reach Open Pond from the ranger station, continue on U.S. 29 south for 7.8
miles to Ala. 137. Turn south (left) on Ala. 137 and go 5.2 miles to Covington County 24
where there is a sign reading, "Open Pond Recreation Area." Turn east (left)
onto 24 and continue 0.3 miles to Covington County 28. Follow the signs to Open Pond. This
is a fee area that contains day-use facilities for picnicking and camping (electric and
water sites available). The Conecuh trail system offers both long and short walks through
a variety of habitats and scenic areas. To reach Open Pond from the ranger station, continue on U.S. 29 south for 7.8
miles to Ala. 137. Turn south (left) on Ala. 137 and go 5.2 miles to Covington County 24
where there is a sign reading, "Open Pond Recreation Area." Turn east (left)
onto 24 and continue 0.3 miles to Covington County 28. Follow the signs to Open Pond. This
is a fee area that contains day-use facilities for picnicking and camping (electric and
water sites available). The Conecuh trail system offers both long and short walks through
a variety of habitats and scenic areas. To reach Open Pond from the ranger station, continue on U.S. 29 south for 7.8
miles to Ala. 137. Turn south (left) on Ala. 137 and go 5.2 miles to Covington County 24
where there is a sign reading, "Open Pond Recreation Area." Turn east (left)
onto 24 and continue 0.3 miles to Covington County 28. Follow the signs to Open Pond. This
is a fee area that contains day-use facilities for picnicking and camping (electric and
water sites available). The Conecuh trail system offers both long and short walks through
a variety of habitats and scenic areas.
There is the I -mile lake
shore trail around Open Pond, a 5-mile loop of the Conecuh Trail that visits nearby Buck
and Ditch Ponds and Blue Spring, and the remaining 15-mile Conecuh Trail. Also, next to
Five Runs Creek in the Yellow River drainage is the clear, natural Blue Spring. The
shorter 5-mile loop-trail to Blue Spring should take approximately 3-4 hours. The longer
15-mile trail can be done as overnight trips or hiked in sections by using any of 4 trail
parking areas. All trails are well signed with white diamond-shaped markers.
Open Pond and the
trail around it offer opportunities to see both forest and wetland associated species. You
may encounter Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Anhinga, Wood Duck,
Connnon Moorhen, Purple Galhnule, herons, egrets, Belted Kingfisher, and Red-winged
Blackbird. The other trail sections guide you to small creeks, river bottoms, pine
uplands, pine-scrub oak communities, cypress ponds, bay swamps and mixed pine-hardwood
habitats where many species of residents and migrants can be found. Watch for Mississippi
and Swallow-tailed Kites, hawks, Barred owl, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-billed
Cuckoo, doves, Common Nighthawk, woodpeckers, Great Crested and Acadian Flycatchers,
Brown-headed, and Red-breasted Nuthatches, wrens, Swainson's Thrush, vireos, American
Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Grasshopper, Bachman's, and LeConte's Sparrows, and many
warblers. The trail also goes to Blue Lake (day-use fee area), a natural sinkhole pond
named for the clear blue water it holds. Blue Lake can be accessed from Ala. 137, 1.1
miles north of where Co. Rd. 24 intersects. There are many other areas of interest (such
as Natural Spring, Mossy Pond, Nellie Pond, Gum Pond, and Camp Creek) along the trail
that, by following a district map, also can be reached from nearby roads.
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker: From
the intersection of 24 and Ala. 137, go south on 137 for 6.5 miles to the town of Wing
where Covington County 4 intersects. Turn west (right) onto 4 and continue 1.3 miles. On
the north (right) side of 4, look for FS road 321 and a group of pine trees with painted
blue bands. These Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees are easily seen along the road. You
can park on the side of FS 321 or along 4. The woodpeckers are most visible in May when
they are feeding young throughout the day. During the rest of the year, the best time to
see them is at dawn and dusk when they are exiting and entering their cavities, calling to
each other, and declaring their territory. Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavities have been
known to house flying squirrels, Red-bellied, Red-headed, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Great
Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Bluebirds, and even Wood Ducks! In habitat surrounding the
cavity trees, watch for Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Wild Turkey, Northern Flicker, Pine
Warbler, and Bachman's Sparrow. From
the intersection of 24 and Ala. 137, go south on 137 for 6.5 miles to the town of Wing
where Covington County 4 intersects. Turn west (right) onto 4 and continue 1.3 miles. On
the north (right) side of 4, look for FS road 321 and a group of pine trees with painted
blue bands. These Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees are easily seen along the road. You
can park on the side of FS 321 or along 4. The woodpeckers are most visible in May when
they are feeding young throughout the day. During the rest of the year, the best time to
see them is at dawn and dusk when they are exiting and entering their cavities, calling to
each other, and declaring their territory. Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavities have been
known to house flying squirrels, Red-bellied, Red-headed, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Great
Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Bluebirds, and even Wood Ducks! In habitat surrounding the
cavity trees, watch for Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Wild Turkey, Northern Flicker, Pine
Warbler, and Bachman's Sparrow.
There are 9 other Red-cockaded
Woodpecker groups within only 2 miles of this one. Another nearby woodpecker site is 0.8
miles further west on 4. It is on the south (right) side of 4 and sits a little further
back (30 yards) from the road (look for the painted blue bands).
Leon Brooks Hines Public
Fishing Lake:
From the woodpecker site by FS 321, continue west on 4. After 10.5 miles
Escambia County I I joins 4. Go another 0.6 mile and turn south (left) on I I and go 1.4
miles. Following the signs to Brooks Hines Lake, turn right on a gravel road, go 0.5 mile
and turn left, and the entrance to the lake will be another 0.5 mile on the right. This is
a 184-acre man-made public fishing lake. A pair of ospreys has nested on top of an old
snag at the north end of the lake. Although rarely seen, Bald Eagles have been sighted
here. Waterfowl including Mallard Duck, Blue- and Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail
are infrequent visitors. Species of waterbirds at Open Pond are found here as well.
From the woodpecker site by FS 321, continue west on 4. After 10.5 miles
Escambia County I I joins 4. Go another 0.6 mile and turn south (left) on I I and go 1.4
miles. Following the signs to Brooks Hines Lake, turn right on a gravel road, go 0.5 mile
and turn left, and the entrance to the lake will be another 0.5 mile on the right. This is
a 184-acre man-made public fishing lake. A pair of ospreys has nested on top of an old
snag at the north end of the lake. Although rarely seen, Bald Eagles have been sighted
here. Waterfowl including Mallard Duck, Blue- and Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail
are infrequent visitors. Species of waterbirds at Open Pond are found here as well.
There are many opportunities
for birding in all parts of the Conecuh National Forest. As you travel and spend more time
in the Forest, you can discover your own favorite sites. An excellent opportunity to see
many parts of the Forest is in late March when we host our annual flowering dogwood tour.
Also, photographers can not only enjoy the bird life but the bog sites that offer
beautiful scenes abundant with pitcher plants, orchids, and many other wildflowers. The
best time to see a diversity of bird life is April-June.
ALABAMA WILDBIRD