Alabama Wildlife Center

What a difference one year makes!
Mississippi Kites are fascinating birds with a notable change in plumage as they mature. Juvenile Mississippi Kites start off with a more mottled, brownish appearance, which gradually shifts to the sleek, uniform gray of adult birds. This transition usually begins around their first year and becomes more pronounced as they approach full maturity.

Feeling wild and adventurous? Come have lunch with Noir! On September 28th, attendees will get to have a picnic with the sweetest Black Vulture in all the land. For more info, visit the link below. Space is limited to 20 spots, so get your tickets today!

Ticket Link: https://alabamawildlifecenter.org/event/eagle-talk-lunch-with-black-vulture/

🦅 Meet Shelby, Our Majestic Bald Eagle! 🦅

Shelby has been with us for many years, captivating visitors with her beauty and grace. Did you know these fun facts about Bald Eagles and their diets?

1. Fish Aficionados: Bald Eagles' primary diet is fish. They use their powerful talons and razor-sharp beaks to sn**ch their catch from lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

2. Scavenger Skills: They are opportunistic eaters and will scavenge for food, feeding on carrion, especially in the winter months when fresh prey is harder to find.

3. Birds and Mammals on the Menu: While fish is their favorite, Bald Eagles also hunt small mammals, like rabbits, and other birds, including ducks and gulls.

4. Kleptoparasitism Experts: Bald Eagles are known to steal food from other birds, especially ospreys. They often swoop down to intimidate smaller birds into dropping their catch.

5. Flexible Feeding Habits: Their diet can vary based on location and availability. From coastlines to forests, Bald Eagles adapt their eating habits to what their environment provides.

🥗 Join us for "Eagle Talks & Lunch with Noir"!

Come witness the power and elegance of Shelby up close on Sept 28th, @ 12:00 . Our Education Director, Viktoria Partain, will lead an engaging eagle talk, followed by a chance to watch Shelby soar in her enclosure as she enjoys a lunch and training session.

Following this event, attendees will have the opportunity to eat lunch with our resident Black Vulture. What better way to spend a Saturday! BYOL (Bring your own lunch).

Ticket price for event:
$15 for non-members
$10 for members
$5.00 per child
Children under 6 are free

See yall then!

Event Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/EKv3g3SyDyat4NUK/?mibextid=9l3rBW

We are grateful for those able to join us for last week’s Chimney Swift Release at Oak Mountain State Park, and wanted to share a quick clip of the moment 9 attendees got to release the Swifts back into the wild.

We’re also sharing a bonus clip of another release from last week. Can you catch what type of bird we released? Don’t blink or you’ll miss it! Drop your best guess in the comments, and make sure to join us for the next public releasing event!!

NEWSFLASH: AWC goes global! 🌎 🌍 🦉 🦜

Alabama Wildlife Center was thrilled to welcome some of our neighbors from “across the pond” last week, as we hosted The Woods Foundation and their group of 11 law interns from Cambridge University.

AWC Executive Director, Chris Sykes, and AWC Director of Education, Viktoria Partain, introduced the group to two of AWC’s educational ambassadors - Noir and Atlas - before exploring the Treetop Trail to learn more about Alabama nature and wildlife.

If you have a large group (schools, organizations/businesses, social groups, etc.) that would like to schedule a tour of AWC’s facility, direct message us to schedule a time to come by and learn more about Alabama’s amazing wildlife!

Want to visit AWC by yourself or with a small group?

🕐 AWC is open to the public for free self-guided tours (excluding state park admission fees) every day except Monday (Tuesday through Sunday) from 9 am to 5 pm.
🕑 Treetop Trail is open 365 days per year following park hours.
🕒 AWC’s clinic is open for bird intake 365 days per year from 11 am to 4 pm.

Alabama just got 15 new birds this morning!

Another graduating class of our 2024 baby bird season out the door. We received over 700 baby songbirds from April to August this year, and sometimes they get released together in groups.

Enjoy Alabama, little buddies!

Last month, this Chimney Swift was brought to us as a tiny, helpless bird. Today, it's fully grown and ready to experience life in the wild for the very first time! Join us today at 6:30 as we release this Chimney Swift, along with nine others, and marvel at the beauty of these magnificent birds.

Our Songbird Coordinator, Carleen Phillips, and Executive Director, Chris Sykes, will guide the event, sharing fascinating facts about these remarkable creatures and their journey back to the wild.

Don’t miss this chance to witness the beauty of nature up close—bring a friend and celebrate with us as we send these Chimney Swifts off on their next adventure!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Release location: 200 Terrace Drive, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL 35124. Free event with admission into the park.

If you've visited us recently, you may have noticed some exciting changes near Shelby's enclosure. We're thrilled to introduce our brand-new Education Flight & Training building! This addition marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of both our clinic and education departments.

When avian influenza first emerged, we recognized the need to better protect our birds by separating the clinic from the education areas. Thanks to the generous support of a few key donors, we were able to secure the necessary funding to make this vision a reality.

Our new building is a 12'x12' facility, thoughtfully equipped with HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, stone countertops, and tile flooring. Adjacent to the building is a 400+ square foot netted training area, providing a safe and secure environment for our educational ambassadors.

Today, we had the opportunity to let one of our educational ambassadors explore the new space for the first time. It was a significant milestone for our team, and we're eager to see how this facility will enhance our educational programs.

We are deeply grateful for the support that made this possible and look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to grow and improve our services.

Interested in meeting Noir or taking a behind-the-scenes tour? Our Eagle Membership includes a complimentary tour or educational program for you and your loved ones. It's a fantastic way to support our organization while enjoying a unique experience. Sign up today at: https://alabamawildlifecenter.org/memberships/

Featured in photo:
- Director of Education, Viktoria Partain
- Black Vulture, Noir
- Skillbridge Intern, Laruen Baker

Same vibes. 💃🕺

We found this feather in Coosa’s enclosure. Nature is beautiful. 🥰
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Coosa is a 20+ year old Barred Owl who was the first glove trained educational ambassador for the AWC. You’ve probably seen him, but if not, check out the pics in the comment section.

Remember the mystery bird post from a couple weeks ago? They were Acadian Flycatchers! 😊

Siri, play "The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy. Our resident Red-tailed Hawks, Madison & Drummond, are back in their mews after a much-needed cleaning. Thanks so much to everyone who helped us deep clean the enclosures at Treetop. The birds and us thank you!

Drummond was hit by a car in Fort Payne, AL, in August 1995. She had sustained an injury to her wing, including a broken bone and extensive muscle damage. While she has completely healed from her injuries, her wing is not fully functional. Therefore, she is unable to survive in the wild.

Madison was brought to AWC in January 2007 after being found with almost all of her feathers missing on her right wing. It was revealed that she had extensive damage which prevents her feathers from regrowing. Due to this, she was deemed non-releasable as she wouldn't be able to survive in the wild.

Let's give a warm welcome to the newest member of our team, Jordan Giddens. Serving as our first Director of Development, Jordan brings over a decade of experience in public administration and fundraising. We are excited to have Jordan's wealth of knowledge and expertise guiding our organization's growth and success.

"An Alabama native, left a 10+ year career in Alabama state politics to join the team at AWC. I received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Public Administration from UAB, and am in the dissertation phase of a Joint Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy at Tennessee State University. I currently serve on multiple Alumni Boards at UAB (Young Alumni Council, MPA Board of Directors, and UHP Alumni Board) and Altamont (Young Alumni Chair, Executive Committee Member, Alumni Board Member). In my free time, I am usually traveling, kayaking, or exploring a local thrift store."

If you see him around the AWC or out and about at one of our events, come say hi!

🗑 Black Vultures: Nature’s Cost-Saving Cleanup Crew!

Ever wondered just how valuable black vultures are to our environment and our wallets? These amazing birds are more than just fascinating to watch; they play a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems clean and healthy.

A single black vulture can consume up to a couple of pounds of carrion per day. By feasting on dead animals, they help prevent the spread of diseases and maintain a balanced ecosystem. Imagine the mess if these efficient scavengers weren't around!

Now, let’s talk dollars and cents. If humans had to do the job of cleaning up all the carrion that black vultures handle naturally, it would cost us millions of dollars annually. These birds provide a natural, cost-effective solution to waste management that benefits us all.

Noir is one of our educational ambassadors who calls the Alabama Wildlife Center home. Have you ever had trouble telling the difference between a black vulture and a turkey vulture? Here's a simple tip: check out the wingtips! Black vultures, like Noir, look like they're wearing white gloves, while turkey vultures have lighter feathers that give their entire wings a translucent appearance.

If you’ve been following the mystery box post from this morning, here is what was inside! We now have stainless steel shiftcages! There are a total of 12, that can also be converted into 24 with a sliding insert. This is such a game changer for us because we’ve been using wooden shiftcages since the 1970s. Wood is not ideal in a rehab setting due to deterioration, crevices for pests, and you can’t properly clean and sanitize like you can with metal. The purchasing of these cages were made possible by two very generous donors. We are forever grateful for folks that support us. If you’ve ever donated, volunteered, visited the Center, brought us a bird, or told someone about us, please know we are thankful for you!

Check the comment section for what our old shiftcages looked like.

Christmas came early at the AWC! Anyone want to take a guess what’s inside these twelve very large boxes. 😍🤔

🎶 Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
Banding birds in the sky
Just the two of us.
You and I 🎶

Or something like that. Thanks for stopping by Alabama Audubon!

We take in upwards of 700 baby birds from April to August each year and sometimes they can be hard to ID. Meet mystery birds BB665-667. We have a good idea, but wanted to see what y’all thought. Any guesses? 🤔

Today, we had a special visitor near the side of our building—a Timber Rattlesnake! While the area it was spotted doesn't have visitor traffic, we thought it was a great opportunity to share some interesting and fun facts about these fascinating creatures.

🐍 TIMBER RATTLESNAKE FUN FACTS

• Despite their fearsome reputation, Timber Rattlesnakes are quite shy and prefer to avoid humans. They often stay hidden and use their camouflage to blend into their surroundings.
• Their iconic rattle is actually a warning signal to keep threats away, not an invitation to fight. It's their way of saying, "Stay back!"
• These snakes can live up to 20 years in the wild, making them one of the longer-lived snake species in North America.
• Timber Rattlesnakes play a crucial role in controlling the rodent population, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem.

🔍 DECREASING FEAR

• Snakes, including rattlesnakes, are often misunderstood. They are not out to get us and usually only bite in self-defense.
• If you encounter a rattlesnake, give it plenty of space. They usually won't chase after you—just calmly back away and let it move on.
• Remember, snakes are an important part of our ecosystem. By respecting their space, we can coexist peacefully and appreciate their unique beauty and role in nature.

We hope this helps you see Timber Rattlesnakes in a new light! If you ever spot one, give it space and enjoy the encounter from a safe distance. Stay safe and appreciate the wonders of wildlife!

🐦 **Bird Spotlight: Chipping Sparrow** 🌿

Meet the charming Chipping Sparrow, a delightful sight in gardens and parks! These small, nimble birds are recognized by their bright, rufous cap and the melodic chipping sounds they make, which resonate most prominently during the spring.

👀 Unique Features:
Chipping Sparrows sport a striking, rusty red cap and a crisp, black eye line. Their songs consist of a sharp, repetitive chip that has become their namesake. These sparrows adjust well to a variety of settings, making them common guests in suburban areas.

🌳 Habitat:
Chipping Sparrows favor open woodlands, grassy clearings, and garden landscapes. They build their nests low in bushes or trees, often visiting feeders in suburban settings or rural yards.

🌾 Diet:
Primarily seed-eaters during the winter, their diet shifts to include more insects during the breeding season, providing their young with essential protein.

✨ Cool Fact:
Chipping Sparrows are incredibly social during the non-breeding season. They form large flocks with other sparrows and can often be seen dust-bathing or foraging together on the ground.

Enjoy watching these sociable and tuneful birds, and listen for their distinctive chipping next time you’re near a park or a quiet woodland!

🌼🎶

Did you know Alabama Audubon hosts a birding festival each year? Come see us and many other offerings at their Black Belt Birding Festival, happening August 2nd-4th. For more info visit their website: https://alaudubon.org/

🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce a special giveaway for AWC’s 2024 Summer Camp! One lucky winner will receive a FREE TICKET to our summer camp, where adventure and learning await! 🌞🐦

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is:

1. LIKE this post ❤️
2. COMMENT on this post with the word “Chimney Swift” 🐦

It’s that simple!

🏆 Winner announcement: Friday, July 5th @ 11:00 AM

The winner will receive a comment back from us in the comments! This contest is being held on both Facebook and Instagram, but only ONE WINNER will be chosen from both platforms combined.

Don’t miss your chance to join us for an unforgettable summer filled with fun, friends, and nature! 🌳✨

Good luck to everyone! 🍀