10. Wheeler NWR Audubon Christmas Bird Count (NABT) – 19 December, 2026 (SATURDAY) 5:30 am
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world. For over a hundred years, people have gathered during the winter holiday season to identify and count birds. In the process, they have created a vast pool of bird data that is a valuable source of information on the status and distribution of early winter bird populations. Parties of birders are assigned to different parts of a count circle, 15 miles in diameter, to identify and count all birds seen or heard from dawn to dusk. There are currently 14 active count circles in Alabama and over 2000 nationwide. Wheeler is one of the more productive inland count areas around, usually yielding 115-120 species, and always including some unusual birds. Birders of all skill levels are welcome and needed; we go in all types of weather. If you can’t do the whole day but would still like to participate, we should be able to connect you with a party leader to arrange that (contact Dwight by 1 December). Please submit your list(s) to Dwight via email or regular mail and include starting and ending times, miles and hours on foot and by car. Bring binoculars, a spotting scope, if you have one, your camera, if you wish and lunch. (34.547406 -86.951136). – Dwight Cooley, Leader/Compiler (256-565-6239; cdcooley5050@gmail.com)
11. Guntersville Area Audubon Christmas Bird Count (NABT) – 26 December, 2026 (SATURDAY) 5:00-6:00 am (meeting time varies by count group)
This Count, in another well-known birding area in northern Alabama, yields a wide variety of songbird, raptor and waterfowl species. The format is the same as that of the Wheeler Count. As with all our counts, Guntersville could also use more participants – please consider helping out, even if for only part of the day. There is no single gathering spot for folks to meet and join a group. For this reason, please contact Linda Reynolds if you are interested in joining one of the eight parties of counters; meeting times for different parties may vary. We won’t be meeting for compilation; party leaders should submit list(s) to Linda via email or regular mail and include starting and ending times, miles and hours on foot and by car. – Linda Reynolds, Leader/Compiler (256-298-1810; (lindareynolds1939@icloud.com)
12. Wheeler Dam, AL Audubon Christmas Bird Count – 1 January, 2027 (FRIDAY)
Coordination with compiler is required before the count. If anyone wants to join, I will gladly cut a “piece of the pie” for a separate party; this count already has a few pieces vacant. Additional participants are needed, please contact the compiler if you are interested. – Damien Simbeck, Leader/Compiler (256-856-3079, tnbarredowl@aol.com)
13. (AR) Wheeler NWR –Limestone Bay/White Springs Dike (NABT #20, 23, 24) – 2 January, 2027 (SATURDAY) 8:00 am (NOTE LATER MEETING TIME)
Join us for another trip to one of our favorite birding areas as we look for waterfowl, raptors, cranes, a variety of songbirds, etc. Expect to be behind locked refuge gates for 2-3 hours. Take the Mooresville exit off I-565, go south onMooresville Road and meet at the parking area near where it intersects with old Highway 20 (34.627442 -86.880186). –Ken Ward, Leader (256-679-8332; kenphin1990@gmail.com)
14. Cullman Audubon Christmas Bird Count – 3 January, 2027 (SUNDAY) 6:30 am
Another Christmas Count that sometimes gets overlooked in northern Alabama is held in the Cullman area. Counters meet at the North Alabama Agriplex, 1714 Tally Ho St., Cullman, AL to assign areas to be covered. We gather again at noon at the North Alabama Agriplex to determine if we need to target birds during the afternoon. This count is frequently short-handed, so we hope some of you will consider helping out. Those who want to help for part of the day (morning or afternoon) can also participate. – Rachel Dawsey, Leader/Coordinator (256-297-1044; cullmanag@gmail.com)
15. Savannah, TN Christmas Bird Count – TBD.
Contact Damien Simbeck for more information (256-856-3079, tnbarredowl@aol.com)
EVENT OF INTEREST: Wheeler NWR Festival of the Cranes, 8-10 January, 2027
16. Town Creek Embayment, Wheeler Dam, Joe Wheeler State Park (NABT #2, 3, 4) – 16 January, 2027(SATURDAY) 8:00 am (NOTE LATER MEETING TIME)
This trip primarily targets waterfowl and other water birds, but also includes some productive songbird areas, especially in the state park. We’ll meet at the WalMart parking lot off Hwy 72 W in Athens (34.786933 -86.958486). – Harry Dean, Leader (256-541-0842; hdean@hiwaay.net)
17. Guntersville Waterfront/Peninsula, Guntersville Dam South(tentative) (NABT #35, 36)– 6 February, 2027 (SATURDAY) 8:00 am (NOTE LATER MEETING TIME)
This trip starts on Sunset Parkway along the west side of Guntersville. We should see a great variety of ducks, many loons and grebes, possibly some odd terns and gulls, eagles, etc. Meet in Guntersville at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot on the south end of the Hwy 431 bridge. From there, we’ll go west on the Lake Loop Road and bird the waterfront. If time permits, the tour will then go south and across the Hwy 69 Causeway to the south end of Guntersville Dam (34.363686 -86.29116). Ken Ward, Leader (256-679-8332; kenphin1990@gmail.com)
18. Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area/Round Island Recreation Area (NABT #21, 22) – 14 February, 2026 (SATURDAY) 8:00 am (NOTE LATER MEETING TIME)
We’ll start along Dairy Road in Swan Creek WMA and work our way west, searching for water birds, sparrows and other winter residents or early migrants. Mid- to late-February is a transition period for waterfowl and other birds, and weather will play a key role in what we see. We will meet at the southernmost parking lot of Calhoun Community College. From Huntsville, take I-565 W/Hwy 20 toward Decatur. Just before the river, take the Hwy 31 exit north, then turn right at the first traffic light past the Subway. – Dwight Cooley, Leader (256-565-6239; cdcooley5050@gmail.com)
19. (AR) Wheeler NWR –Limestone Bay/White Springs Dike (NABT #20, 23, 24) – 13 March, 2027 (SATURDAY) 8:00 am (NOTE LATER MEETING TIME)
Our final trip to White Springs Dike for the season is in its 9th year, as waterfowl start moving out of the area, and prior to spring migration. Duck numbers are still usually good, but with less variety, with migrating Blue-winged Teal moving through, good numbers of Green-winged Teal and Shovelers around, etc. A few years ago we got a big surprise, with the presence of a beautiful male Cinnamon Teal in the marshes near the Decatur end of the dike. Otherwise, a variety of songbirds and raptors will be around. Take the Mooresville exit off I-565, go south on Mooresville Road and meet at the parking area near where it intersects with old Highway 20 (34.627442 -86.880186). – Ken Ward, Leader (256-679-8332; kenphin1990@gmail.com)
North Alabama Birdwatcher's Society 