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Bird Watching
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge,
located in the Tennessee River Valley with headquarters in Decatur, was
established in 1938 as a wintering area for ducks, geese and other migratory
birds. The refuge's great diversity of habitat includes deep river
channels, tributary creeks, swamps, backwater embayments, bottomland
hardwoods, pine uplands, and agricultural fields. The diversity makes
the refuge fertile grounds for enjoying the great activity of bird watching,
animal observation and nature photography.
A complete checklist of birds, both common and rare, that can be found at
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge is available at the Interstate 65 at Exit 334.
This checklist includes 285 species on observations by refuge personnel and
ornithologists.
Near the Interpretive Center is a large glass enclosed observatory
overlooking an 18-acre pond where waterfowl can be studied during their
winter migration.
Bird species found in the area include loons, grebes, pelicans and their
allies, herons ,egrets, ibises, spoonbill, stork, waterfowl, vultures,
hawks, quail, turkey, rails, gallinules, coots, cranes, shorebirds, pigeons,
doves, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, kingfishers, hummingbirds,
woodpeckers, sparrows and finches.
Events are regularly scheduled by the North Alabama Bird watchers Society.
For current events, call (256) 883-9288 or (256) 883-8487.
Although the refuge's management has been aimed primarily at providing
winter habitat for waterfowl, it does support an interesting variety (some
121) species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians that have been identified
at the refuge. They may be observed, and photographed, in a bottomland
hardwoods, and caves.
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