Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tuskegee Nat'l Forest
Winding through various habitats such as upland pine forest, bottomland hardwoods, and
streamside forest and swamp, the trail offers a variety of birding opportunities. Just west of
the parking area near the ranger station, a fairly open pine forest is a good spot to look for
abundant pine warbler, brown-headed nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey, red-
headed woodpecker, eastern bluebird, red-bellied woodpecker, and great crested flycatcher.
Prairie warblers can be found in the summer in low, young pines that make up some of the
replanted clearcut areas in the forest. East of the parking lot at the ranger station, in ravine
areas where hardwoods dominate, solitary vireos can be found in winter. The more mature
pine stands in the forest have mostly been cut down and replaced with short-term rotation
pine plantations; therefore, most of this area that was once suitable for supporting the red-
cockaded woodpecker is no longer, as the bird requires pine trees over 60 years of age and
prefers trees over 100 years old. The status of the species is very weak in this area. There is
probably not enough good habitat to sustain a viable population now; nonetheless, I saw one
in this area many years ago. So, when in any areas of large pines, keep a lookout for this en-
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