During the first week of April, our wish came true. We stayed for a week at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, right in the midst of prime birding territory. We made field trips to Fort Morgan State Park (25 miles away) and Dauphin Island (a 30-minute ferry crossing from Ft. Morgan). Our efforts paid off with up-close encounters with hummingbirds, warblers, and other beautiful brightly colored species.
Flyways from the Yucatan Peninsula to North America
Coastal Alabama: A Birding Hotspot
In early spring, the coast of Alabama is one of the top birding spots in the Southeast. That’s because it’s one of the first places that neotropical migrants make landfall after their arduous 600-mile flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Each spring, millions of birds gather on the Yucatan peninsula. They journey from their winter homes in Central and South America to prepare for the flight to their summer breeding grounds in North America.
Painted Bunting
It’s difficult to imagine any birds, but especially the tiny ones, making that demanding trip. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird weighs barely more than a penny! They fly across the Gulf in one night, navigating by the magnetic fields of the Earth and the constellations. Come daybreak, if they’re strong and lucky, they’ve reached land. They then have the opportunity to rest and refuel before continuing on to their nesting grounds throughout North America.
Observing A Bird-Banding Event
We were fortunate to be there during the bird banding that takes place for two weeks during the spring migration. Bob and Martha Sargent have devoted the past 30 years of their lives to tracking and banding neotropical migrants. Their tireless efforts have helped to chart and protect migratory routes, monitor bird health and populations, and gain insights into the effects of weather on bird migration.
Gently holding a Worm-eating Warbler, Bob reassured us. “The birds are not unduly disturbed by the banding process,” he said. “It’s a minor inconvenience in their day. As soon as we’re finished weighing, measuring, and banding them, they go back to their normal feeding behaviors.”
We watched dozens of birds go through the banding process, which involves weighing, measuring, and placing a tiny lightweight band on the leg. None of the birds seemed traumatized, and each took flight as soon as it was released.
Only trained bird banders are allowed to remove birds from the mist nets, take measurements, and band the birds. The public, however, is allowed to participate in releasing the birds. You simply cup the bird in your hands in the way the handler demonstrates, open your hand, and the bird disappears in a flash of bright feathers.
Releasing a hummingbird
Sharing Birding Adventures With Friends
We were delighted to share our birding adventures with friends who enjoy birds just as much as we do. On our first day at Gulf State Park, we met up with Loretta, Henry, Patricia, and Ken, whom we first met earlier this year at Ochlockonee River State Park while searching for the elusive Red-cockaded Woodpecker. They invited us to join them at the bird banding activities at Fort Morgan. We shared a fun day of birding and a terrific seafood dinner at the Tin Top Restaurant.
Observing the weighing and measuring
Two days later, we met up with our fulltime traveling friend MonaLiza (Lowestravels) and returned to Fort Morgan for another day of bird banding activities, followed by an all-day adventure on Dauphin Island. MonaLiza and Steve had just spent a week on the island, and she acted as our tour guide for the day. We took our bikes on the ferry and spent a wonderful day exploring and birding. Later, Steve met up with us for another delicious dinner at the Tin Top and had a delightful happy hour together at their place the evening before we left. It was a grand birding adventure, made even better by sharing it with friends.
Ah….those tiny, gorgeous, sweet, hardworking miracles. I know they must be so very, very careful, yet it sorta breaks my heart to think of those little birds being netted, banded, weighed, and released. It seems like it would be so hard on them… But thanks for sharing these sweet photos. They are such amazing little beasties. :)
I feel exactly the same way, Janet. More than once during the banding event I whispered to Eric, “Do they REALLY have to band birds?” I felt much better when I saw how truly undisturbed the birds seemed by the process and witnessed how gentle and competent the banders are. In the past couple of weeks I’ve educated myself a lot more about bird banding — there has been a lot of good to come out of it (protecting nesting grounds and important flyways, for example). I also felt hopeful for the future of birds by seeing the pure delight that people — from very young to very old — experienced at the event. xo
That little rainbow guy is so adorable. I can’t believe how tiny some of the hummingbirds are. What a great experience for those with a birding passion. Just being that up close to the birds must have thrilled Eric (loved your comment at the beginning). Glad MonaLiza had a chance to bird with you. Great photo of you, Eric, and Mona:) Now the owl and owlets would have brought a thrill to my heart. I have always loved owls and read stories and studied them with my students. Super photos:)
If I had to choose a favorite, I think it might be the owls and owlets, too, Pam. But it’s hard to choose! We had such a wonderful time birding and biking with MonaLiza, and it was great to have her as our own personal “guide” on Dauphin Island. Can’t believe we didn’t get a photo of Steve when we got together in the evenings! He was very supportive of our birding adventures and happy to let us all indulge our birding passion.
I just don’t believe these pictures! WOW! I would have loved loved loved to have been there. Although, I am not sure I buy the idea that even a little tag on the leg of a bird isn’t an irritation and extra weight in the flight. And that they are not traumatized by the whole thing. I fear we are too arrogant in assuming we know how animals feel or don’t. Perhaps it is worth it if the information gathered really does help them but unless there is a huge population decrease or some law against multiple homes taking away their habitat, what good does it all do? Sorry to be such a downer on what was clearly a magnificent experience that I would for sure have joined in on if I could have despite my concerns.
I have had precisely the same concerns, and still much prefer finding and observing birds in the wild (as does Eric). In my perfect world, we wouldn’t need to interfere with the lives of wild things at all, because we wouldn’t have screwed things up in the first place. Apparently some very good things have come out of bird banding practices, including protecting nesting areas and flyways and identifying at-risk populations.
Ahh a lifetime goal…the painted bunting up close and personal….sweeeeeet! Thank you both for sharing your adventures….wow!
Oh yes, it’s so sweet to have simple and attainable life goals, isn’t it? So happy as always to know that you’re journeying along with us — and looking forward to seeing you soon in Ashland. xo
Beautiful and adorable photos of neotropical birds! Thank you, you did a good job of expanding more about bird banding and the ultimate reasons. And I was so glad I went out with you and Eric on those days, for I learned more than just taking photos of these cute and colorful critters. Let’s do it again!
Are we not the cutest birders!
Well, YOU are definitely one of the cutest birders I’ve ever seen! ;-) We had such a great time with you — can’t wait to have more adventures with you and Steve. We’re planning on Texas this winter for sure.
Sounds and looks amazing! Lucky you!
Yes, we were lucky — beautiful nature experiences with wonderful friends. Doesn’t get any better!
Laurel and Eric, Again, you have outdone yourselves with the great bird photos! Wish we could have stayed another day to see the best of the birding. You explain the birding and banding accurately and give proper credit to Bob and Martha Sargent for their commitment to the bird world. They deserve a medal!
Loretta, it was so much fun to connect again with you and Henry (and Patricia and Ken). Looking forward to when you guys will be on the road full-time and we can have many more adventures together!
I could not stop smiling all the while I read this wonderful post Laurel. I have bookmarked this spot so we can visit and hopefully share some of the great adventures that you and Eric did. Your photos are fabulous! I can only imagine what an experience this was for two serious birders.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, LuAnn. It was a wonderful experience, and one I’m sure you would appreciate to the fullest. I’m looking forward to seeing your photos from that area one of these days!
Wonderful photos and info. The colors on some of those birds are breathtaking. What fun encounters!
Aren’t the colors amazing? A bit of the tropics in coastal Alabama!