Sunset at Five Rivers Delta (Boris Datnow)

Early the next morning we departed for the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, on Fort Morgan Peninsula, a coastal barrier habitat home to migratory birds, nesting sea turtles, and the endangered Alabama beach mouse. As luck would have it, we didn’t see many birds, still we enjoyed a pleasant hike through maritime forests, coastal marsh, and beaches. A lovely surprise were blooming wildflowers that lent a blaze of color to the meadows, ponds, and dunes.

Wildflowers blooming at Bon Secour (Boris Datnow)

On the way home, an official from the Fish and Wildlife service halted our leader and asked him to escort us out of the refuge because of the government shutdown—fortunately we had already completed the trail. 

Osprey Nest at Bon Secour (Boris Datnow)

Later that afternoon, we took a relaxing cruise along the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, designated as a National Natural Landmark. The birders aboard were delighted to catch sight of these graceful and striking birds. 

Snowy Egret Taking Flight (Boris Datnow)

The next day, rumblings about approaching Topical Storm Karen began to circulate; nevertheless the sun shone brightly as we began our excursion. We enjoyed a stroll along the majestic oak-lined banks of Live Oak Landing on the Tensaw River.

Cypress at Live Oak Landing

We boarded the pontoon boat for a cruise down the lovely mosaic of natural habitats in the heart of the Delta. We clambered ashore on Gravine Island, a white sand beach created from sand dredged out of a channel cut into the marsh to allow passage of WWII Liberty ships. Local residents commented on the scarcity of bird life compared to former years and there was much speculation on the cause for the decreased sightings of birds. 
In the 1940s, the state Conservation Department introduced the nutria into the Delta. The voracious rodent was to be a fur-bearing animal for trappers, but so rapidly destroyed the native vegetation that nutria rodeos flourished for a time.
That afternoon we received disappointing news. The Saturday trips had been cancelled because of the encroaching storm. Our Birdfest adventure came to a close that night with a delicious, traditional southern-style banquet of shrimp, fried catfish, and BBQ pork. What could be more pleasant than partaking of good food and wine while chatting with old friends and making new acquaintances—some from as far away as Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, and even the U.K.
After dinner, Dr. Mark Woodrye, a Coastal Ecologist at Mississippi at State University Coastal Research Center in Biloxi, gave a fascinating talk on his research on marsh birds such as the Clapper rails and passerines, including the Seaside Sparrow.  Dr. Woodrye and his team are collecting data vital to preserving the health of these marshlands. 
To our surprise—no, annoyance—Tropical Storm Karen had stalled off the coast, even so we departed reluctantly for Birmingham as our scheduled trips had been cancelled. A bonus: on the way home we explored the portion of Splinter Hill Bog owned by Forever Wild. In particular we were impressed by the gorgeous white-topped Pitcher Plants growing there. 

Pitcher Plants at Splinter Hill Bog (Boris Datnow)

It is imperative to preserve the bog as it is home to diverse plant and animal species, including threatened species. We left grateful for what Forever Wild and the Nature Conservancy are doing to preserve our natural heritage.
On the drive home, Boris and I exchanged thoughts about our experiences at the Birdfest. We agreed that we were amazed at the beauty, immensity, and bio diversity of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta region—the United States' second largest river delta. I made a list of the coastal species in the Delta that would make intriguing candidates for the next eco mystery in my series, The Adventures of The Sizzling Six! We also speculated on why, in some areas, we hadn’t seen as many birds as we had hoped for. We wondered if it was the result of the BP oil spill and climate change—or maybe it was just that we weren’t in the right spot at the right time. Whatever our theories, we highly recommend the Alabama Coastal Birdfest to nature lovers. Bravo to the dedicated team who do an excellent job of putting the Birdfest together.
Other Links:
Birmingham Audubon Society
Alabama Coastal Birding Festival
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