Alabama Audubon Field Trip: BIRDingham Parks

Avondale Park (1401 5th Ave. S.), the centerpiece of one of Birmingham’s historic districts, hosts a rich collection of birds in and around a spring-fed lake. Wintering woodland species and waterfowl will be the focus of this stop.

W. C. Patton Park (1200 Sipsey St.), just off I-20/59 at Tallapoosa Street, features a large lake with walking trails to view many of the same species as Avondale Park.

East Lake Park (8101 4th Ave. N.) is one of Birmingham’s prime birding sites, with a variety of habitats that attract many species. It is one of the city’s oldest and most-visited public parks, as well as a stop on the Alabama Birding Trails Appalachian-Highlands section. While the park’s highlight is a large, easily viewed central island—home to one of the area’s largest black-crowned night-heron rookeries—birders can also expect to find resident and wintering songbirds along the banks of Village Creek, which runs along the southeastern edge of the park.