Showing posts with label sandhill crane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sandhill crane. Show all posts

Sunday, January 8, 2023

2023 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Event

 Yesterday, hubby and I went to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, which was an event with Joe Wheeler State Park. 

There, we meet up with a group from Oak Mountain in Birmingham. 

Groups were coming from several other places.

There were so many cars that the park ranger had to direct traffic. Many parked along the side of the road, and many parked across the highway. Next week is the big event for Wheeler Wildlife Refuge glad we went today. 

Hubby and I walked to the new observation building, which is where we saw the five Whooping Cranes with my new scope.

We also saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Ducks, and geese. 

Cypress Trees 

Next, we took the Cypress Tree Trail, which is a walkway across a wooden bridge and all around is filled with Cypress Trees.

We could loudly hear Blue Jay calling out to each other. We heard White-breasted Nuthatches (what we call upside-down birds). We heard Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and Eastern Phoebe, and we saw and heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

We walked to another observation station and didn't see any cranes but saw several Robins hopping around looking for food.

Hubby went back to the car, and I walked to the two-story Observation building that offers a wonderful enclosed view of our winter surroundings.

View of Sandhill Cranes, Ducks, and Geese from the Observation building

That is where I met several members of a photo club from Gatlinburg. They said that they would have a booth set up at Gatlinburg's Wildlife Week and said to look for them if I went that week. 

I saw a small boy enjoying kicking and picking up gravel as his family walked to the Observation building.

Walked back to the car, and we rode across the road to see more cranes.

We only saw a few but met several women from the Birmingham Area.

They were taking pictures. We did see a couple of white egrets.

Our next stop was a target to pick up a couple boxes of Skinny Popcorn. 

For lunch, we stopped at Whataburger, where I ordered a #1 Hamburger with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, mustard, and pickles with fries.

It was an overcast day with rain hanging in the air.

Later that night, hubby and I enjoyed dinner with my sisters and brother-in-law. After the meal, we girls played UNO and dominoes.

Had a wonderful day.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

2018 Dec 18, Christmas Trees, Cards, Cranes and Ducks Athens, Decatur, & Madison, Alabama

Today, Hubby and I visited the North Pole Christmas Tree Stroll at Big Spring Park, Athens.
North Pole Stroll Athens, Alabama 
Mallards, White Ducks, and goldfish greeted me as I approached the pond at Big Springs.
I enjoyed two(Grinch) buttermilk pancakes with a hint of green topped with sweet cream cheese icing and red candy hearts. Crowned with creamy green whipped topping & 2 link sausages at IHOP in Madison.
Hubby ordered fried Fish, shrimp, fries, toast, and a stack of 3 buttermilk pancakes.


Grinch Pancakes 
fish, shrimp, fries, toast 

Hubby drove us through the larger-than-life Christmas Card Lane that is showcased in front of some of the historic homes in Madison along Front and Chruch Streets.
Thank You for Visiting Christmas Card Lane
Magical Christmas Tree Trail Madison, Alabama Different sponsors of Madison decorate a tree, and the trees are located on both sides of the Main Street Cafe.

We rode to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur via I-65 workers working on the bridge over the Tennessee River traffic backup. 
View of Decatur from the bridge where the traffic was backed up 

We walked down to the overlook to see the Cranes and ducks. Not as many sandhills and Whooping cranes as last year.  
We saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes but only one White Whooping Crane
The Whooping Crane, at 5 feet tall, is the tallest bird in North America and one of the most endangered. They are named for their whooping unison calls. 

Our last stop was Founders Park in front of Old Historic Bank to tour the Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree Stroll. 
Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree Stroll in Founders Park, Decatur 
By the time we finished, it was beginning to get dark, but the solar-powered lights had not come on. 
By the time we arrived home, it was dark. Hubby stopped at McDonald's for a hamburger, fries, apple pie, and Ice Cream. I ate a piece of the fish he had left over from lunch. 
Uploaded some of my pictures after I arrived home.
Sunset 

Monday, February 12, 2018

Wheeler National Wild Life Refuge at Visitor Center

  • National Wildlife Refuge System
    The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife. 
    Units of the system stretch across the continent from the icy north shores of Alaska to the balmy Florida Keys and beyond to tropical islands in the Caribbean and the South Pacific.


    "Born of Necessity...Managed with Care"

    U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
    The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for protecting and conserving our country's wild birds, mammals, and fish for the enjoyment of all people. Cooperating with the states and other countries, the Fish and Wildlife Service carries out several programs to preserve our priceless wildlife heritage.


    Refuges
    Migratory Birds
    Fisheries 
    Federal Aid 
    Law Enforcement
    Ecological Services

    U. S. Department of the Interior

    Wheeler National Wild Life Refuge 
    Established in 1938, Wheeler Wild Life Refuge protects and manages 35,000 acres of wetlands and forests for wildlife and provides a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors.

    Waterfowl and wildlife
    Each fall, thousands of migratory waterfowl, including 26 species of ducks and four species of geese, arrive at the refuge to overwinter. Sandhill cranes, numbering in the thousands, also winter here.

    More than 500 species of wildlife, including songbirds, wading birds, hawks, deer, turtles, and snakes, inhabit the refuge. Twelve of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

    Habitat
    Wheeler Wild Life Refuge is comprised of diverse habitat types, including bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, shoreline or riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments. These habitats provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering waterfowl and Sandhill cranes, as well as nesting sites for migratory songbirds and many species of resident wildlife.

    Wildlife Management
    Several thousand acres of cropland are cultivated by local farmers on a share agreement. During harvest, a portion of the crop is left in the field as a food source for waterfowl and other wildlife. Each fall, the refuge provides green browse for wintering geese by planting wheat.

    Water control structures are used in wet areas to change water levels in a controlled manner. This type of management provides food for waterfowl by encouraging the growth of native plants in moist areas.

    Refuge Lands Within Redstone Arsenal
    Highways
    Secondary Roads
    Refuge Boundary
    Visitor Center
    Wildlife Observation
    Boating
    Flint Creek Environmental Area & Universally Accessible Fishing Pier

    Recreational Opportunity
    The Visitor Center offers wildlife exhibits, a gift shop, a large auditorium, two walking trails, special events, and refuge information.

    The Wildlife Observation Building, located a short walk from the Visitor Center, offers a unique setting for viewing wildlife. December through February, when large concentrations of waterfowl and Sandhill cranes are in the area, is a good time for viewing, especially just before sunset.

    Fishing is a very popular activity on the refuge. Six improved boat launch areas provide access to miles of water in Wheeler Reservoir and adjacent creeks where bass, crappie, bream, and catfish are often caught.

    Hunting for deer, squirrel, rabbit, opossum, raccoon, feral hog, and quail is allowed on Wheeler NWR. Special regulations apply, and a refuge hunting permit is required. Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.

    Wildlife Photography is encouraged on the refuge. There is one fully enclosed, permanent bend near the observation pond that may be reserved for a special use permit.

    Environmental Education/Interpretation is a very important program at Wheeler NWR. Organized groups may reserve dates for presentations, wildlife tours, and outdoor classroom activities.

    Nature Trails, ranging in lengths from 200 yards to 3 miles, provide opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. Maps and additional information may be obtained at the Visitor Center.

    The Visitor Center is open daily, October through February, 9AM-5PM. From March through September, the hours are 9-4PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday
    Phone:256-350-6639
    Website: www.fws.gov/wheeler

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