Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
north side of the river. Take I-565 east of I-65, towards Huntsville; exit 3 off I-565 is Green-
brier Road. Along Greenbrier Road are many fields, and this area attracts many hawks and
kestrels. Take Greenbrier Road south 1.9 miles; then turn right on Pryor Road. Go through a
small neighborhood; pass the Mount Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church on the right. At
an intersection where the paved road goes to the right, take the dirt road to the left; signs here
indicate the refuge boundary. The road goes a short distance next to a field to an observation
tower overlooking the surrounding fields. Here, you can look for hawks or watch waterfowl
such as geese during the early winter months when there is plenty of feed left in the fields.
The dirt road continues to the south a short ways until it dead-ends at a branch of Wheeler
reservoir; wading birds and some waterfowl may be seen here. While driving the road south
of the tower, watch for horned larks, which are common in winter in the two fields on either
side of the road. Using your car as a blind, you can get very close up views of the larks.
There is much more to the refuge, but it is difficult for the public to gain access to, as many
of the roads are closed. Having access to a boat will give one passage to most of the refuge,
because the refuge covers much of the northern and southern shores of Wheeler Reservoir
and some of its tributaries.
Information about Wheeler NWR and a bird list can be obtained by writing: Wheeler Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge, Route 4, Box 250, Decatur, AL 35603. Being conveniently reached
from one of the most direct routes south through Alabama, Wheeler is a natural stop for any
birder headed south during the winter months.
Decatur
Occasionally during the winter, there are invasions of more northerly species in the Dec-
atur area. One area that attracts many of these species is the airport and ball fields at Calhoun
Junior College. In the winter of 1991-92, a large number of Lapland longspurs (which are
sighted most winters) with a few Smith's longspurs (the first in two decades) were regularly
sighted here. To check this field, take US 31 north from Decatur, toward Athens; at the junc-
tion with US 72 that goes toward Huntsville, stay on US 31 heading north. At the first traffic
light, Limestone County Road 45 (Airport Road) is immediately north of the Hardee's and
bears to the right, straight to the fields, which are on the north side of the road, between one
quarter and one half mile from the intersection. These fields include golf practice areas, a
ballpark, and an airport that is used for pilot training. Also watch for horned larks and savan-
nah sparrows.
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK
Located on the western edge of Sand Mountain where it meets Lake Guntersville, this state
park has become synonymous with bald eagles. Every winter, as many as 75 to 100 bald
