HEIBERGER EAGLE NEST SITE
(Delorme page 36 G-3)

GETTING THERE: From the north, the birding trail begins in Centerville Alabama. Begin at the intersection of US HWY 82 W and AL HWY 25 S. Turn left onto AL HWY 25 S and travel 3 miles south to the junction of AL HWY 5. Turn left onto AL HWY 5 S. Travel 11.3 miles south to Perry County 47. Turn left. Travel 3/10 miles to the road behind the Heiberger Methodist Church. Turn left onto the unmarked road directly behind the church. Cross the Cahaba River via the William Givhan Bridge and go 4/10^th mile to the fork in the road. Turn right onto the dirt road. Travel 1.5 miles to the small wooden bridge.

HABITAT: The dirt road parallels the Cahaba River. There are some large open fields which provide good habitat for soaring raptors in the winter. There is a nice stand of Possumhaw (Viburnum Nudum) which provides a nice berry crop most years for flocks of Cedar Waxwings and other berry eating birds. The eagle nest site has a series of catfish ponds bordered by a swamp on the southern side. THE CATFISH PONDS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED. PLEASE BIRD FROM THE PUBLIC ROAD. The owner has requested that we do not enter the catfish ponds beyond the gate and NO TRESPASSING signs.

BIRDS: Since 1995, a pair of BALD EAGLES has nested each year in a tree in the swamp on the southern side of the ponds. Each year, they have successfully fledged a baby eagle, and in 1997, they fledged 2 young. From late February to mid-March, one can observe the Bald Eagles sitting eggs on the nest tree.

From late March until about May, one can observe the parents feeding the young. Often, one of the mature Bald Eagles will sit on a pine limb watching the nest. Many times in late April to early May, one can observe the mature Bald Eagles flying with the recently fledged young.

One of the best ways of locating the nest tree is to stand on the small wooden bridge facing south and view the dirt road at "NOON". From this view, the eagle nest tree is at about 11:00 o’clock beyond the edge of the catfish ponds.

An alternate view of the nest tree is to look straight across the swamp from the next small wooden bridge located 1/10^th of a mile further down the dirt road. When the leaves are on the trees this view is sometimes difficult.

In addition to the eagles, this area is a good spot for Northern Harriers, Osprey, American Kestrals, Red-tail Hawks, and Red Shoulder Hawks in the winter. There are many migrant warblers in the trees near the small wooden bridge in the spring and fall. In late summer, WOODSTORKS have been seen in the swamp. Often, when the catfish ponds have been drained, a good variety of sandpipers, yellow-legs and snipe may be viewed in the mud flats. We have occasionally seen King Rail in the marsh just south of the catfish ponds.

FACILITIES: None

COMMENTS: The road beyond the eagle’s nest forms a loop which goes to a rear view of the eagle’s nest and to 2 more good swampy areas. To do this, continue past the second wooden bridge to where the pavement begins again (6/10^th of a mile further) to a sharp hairpin turn to the left. Turn onto the dirt road and go 5/10^th of a mile to the swampy area on the left side of the dirt road. This will give you a good look at the eagle nest from behind. It will also often yield Wood Ducks and migratory warblers in the spring. Continue down this road 1.3 miles to a pair of bridges over another swampy area. Check this area for warblers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. Continue to the first left turn at 1.8 miles from the first (hairpin) turn and turn left. This road will go past another nice tupelo swamp and intersect with the first dirt road (where we began the loop.) Proceed back across the William Givhan Bridge and across Perry County 47 straight across the road between the church and the cemetery back to AL HWY 5. Turn left onto AL HWY 5.

MARION FISH HATCHERIES
(DELORME PAGE 36 H-3)

GETTING THERE: Follow AL HWY 5 S for 2.9 miles to the intersection of AL HWY 175 S. Turn left onto AL HWY 175 S and travel 3.6 miles to Marion Fish Hatcheries. Park at the gate and walk between the ponds. Do not drive on the dikes beyond the gates.

HABITAT: Marion Fish Hatcheries is a 600 acre series of ponds bordered by deciduous woods in the rear. There is also a nice hedge along the northern end of the complex. The Marion Fish Hatchery was recently deeded from the National Fish & Wildlife Service to the Alabama Game & Fish Division.

BIRDS: Marion Fish Hatcheries has been the host to many seldom seen birds. The ponds are maintained at varying water levels. The drained ponds often host a wide variety of shorebirds such as snipe, yellow-legs, and sandpipers. The sky overhead is a good place to spot an OSPREY in the winter or early spring. This is also a good place to look for WOOD STORKS and BLACK TERNS in late summer. In summer, a good variety of herons and egrets are present. On a recent summer day, we startled up a SORA. The ponds are often a good place to see a good variety of swallows. In addition to Barn Swallows and Rough-wing Swallows, Tree Swallows have also been spotted there.

If you are feeling energetic, a walk along the northern perimeter beyond the back ponds will lead you to a dirt road. Follow the dirt road beyond the gate for about a mile. This area has a recently renovated and upgraded picnic area known as "Perry Lake". Along this road, the Cahaba River forms an oxbow. In the early spring (late March or early April) this is one of the first places to see migrating warblers such as NORTHERN PARULA, PROTHONOTARY, YELLOW, and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS. It is also a good idea to check the trees in the yard across the road from the Marion Fish Hatcheries. These trees attract a good variety of warblers in the spring and fall.

FACILITIES: There are a few picnic tables near the road on the northern end of the hatcheries.

COMMENTS: Marion Fish Hatcheries is always worth checking if you are birding in Perry County.

LAKELAND FARMS
(DELORME PAGE 43 A-7)

GETTING THERE: From Marion Fish Hatcheries, return to AL HWY 175 S and travel 2 miles to the intersection of AL HWY 183S/ AL HWY 14. Turn right onto HWY 183 S and travel 3.4 miles back to AL HWY 5 S. Turn left onto AL HWY 5 S. Travel 3.7 miles going past the town of Marion to Prier Road. (This is a small road which is easily missed. A good landmark is the Gateway Inn Motel & Restaurant on the right. Prier Road is just 1.2 miles beyond the Gateway Inn Motel & Restaurant.) Turn right off AL HWY 5 S onto Prier Road. Follow Prier Road 3/10^th mile to Perry County 20. Turn left at the "Lakeland Country Catfish" sign onto Perry County 20. Travel 1.9 miles to Lakeland Farms.

HABITAT: Lakeland Farms has large farm ponds and open, rolling fields. Marshy areas border the ponds and there are large rows of hedge along the roadway. There are many fences and power-lines along the road, grain storage facilities which tempt many a black bird in winter, and several barns and cattle shelters.

BIRDS: Lakeland Farms offers a wonderful variety of birds throughout most seasons. The best way to describe it is to go from the starting point along Perry County Road 20 at the 1.9 mile from the turn off Prier Road. Stop at this spot along the road and scan the fence posts and the brush piles to the north of the road. This is an excellent place to see Loggerhead Shrikes and Sparrows. In summer, it is also a very dependable place to locate Dickcissels. Across the road, to the south, scan the ponds in the distance. Often, a good variety of ducks and geese are present in winter. There are often herons and egrets present in summer. Check the fence and hedges behind the old abandoned tile roof buildings. This is an excellent spot for Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles and a variety of warblers in spring. In winter, be sure to scan the treetops and sky for Osprey, Northern Harriers and other raptors.

Continue down Perry County 20 beyond the large yellow house and pasture. Stop to check the ponds on the left side of the road for herons, egrets and other waders in summer. Go 8/10^th mile further from 1^st stop and turn left onto the unmarked dirt road. Travel about 2/10^th mile and stop. The cattail marsh on the left has been the host to Least Bitterns in some years. Across the road facing west, check the tall trees on the opposite side of the pond. This often has Egrets, Herons, and in summer, Wood Storks and White Ibis have been seen in the treetops. This spot has also had a Bald Eagle in late spring. Check the snags in the pond for Eastern Wood Peewees and Eastern Phoebes. Also, be sure to check the grassy areas in the ponds for Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers.

Travel 1/10^th mile and park at the gated driveway on the left behind the barn. Across the dirt road, the small trees have been the host to the Ash-throated flycatcher and other rarities. It is also a wonderful spot to see warblers in the spring. In winter, be sure to check the large brush piles between the fence and the pond for white crowned sparrows. It is a good idea to walk this road for a short distance checking the trees. As you continue down the road, check the fence for sparrows. Swamp and Savannah sparrows are common here and Vesper sparrows have been seen on rare occasions.

At the 1.6 miles point, check the grain storage facilities and the open fields around them in winter for Rusty Blackbirds and Brewers blackbirds mixed in with the Redwing Black Birds and Brown-headed cowbirds.

At 2.3 miles check the ponds on either side of the road for ducks in winter and migrant shorebirds in early spring and late summer. There has been a good variety of ducks spotted at these ponds including Blue-wing teal, Ruddy ducks, Ring-neck ducks, Gadwalls, and many others. The pond on the right side of the road is also a good spot to see American Golden Plover in late March.

The woods beyond the ponds are a good spot for warblers, kinglets, cuckoos, and tanagers in spring and early summer. Beyond the woods, at the 3.2 mile point, the unmarked dirt road intersects with AL Hwy 183.

FACILITIES: None

COMMENTS: Lakeland Farms is a large cattle operation. Many years ago, it was a resort type area with vacation cottages and picnic areas. At the present, the farm is owned by 3 different families. The Perry County Rd 20 and the unmarked dirt road are public roads. PLEASE BE SURE TO BIRD FROM THE PUBLIC ROAD AND DO NOT ENTER THE PASTURES OR FARM PROPERTY.

PERRY COUNTY ROAD 23
(DELORME 43 A-6 & B-6)

GETTING THERE: From the end of the Lakeland Farms unmarked dirt road, Turn Right onto AL HWY 183. Travel south 3.9 miles to Perry County Road 23. While traveling, be sure to scan the sky for Mississippi Kites and Swallowtail Kites in late July and early August. Turn Right onto Perry County 23. Go 3/10^th mile and pull off to side of the road.

HABITAT: This road has a pine and cedar tree thicket on one side and some nice farm ponds on the other side.

BIRDS: Check the pine thicket on the right side of the road for Blue-grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, and Dickcissels. Check the ponds on the left side of the road for Herons, Egrets, and Wood Storks in late summer. Also, be sure to check the power lines which are a very dependable spot for Eurasian Collared Doves.

FACILITIES: None

COMMENTS: This road intersects Perry County Road 20 (the public road which borders Lakeland Farms on the north.) Turn right onto Perry County Road 20 to make a loop or retrace your steps back to AL HWY 183 North which will intersect with AL HWY 5.

ALTERNATE ROUTE TO LAKELAND FARMS FROM THE SOUTH:

Exit I-65 at the US 80W exit. Go west to the intersection of AL HWY 5 North. Travel north on AL HWY 5 to the intersection of AL HWY 183. Go to Prier Road which is approximately 2 miles north of the intersection of AL HWY 183 and AL HWY 5 North. Turn right onto Prier Road and follow directions above to Lakeland Farms.