A bed and breakfast for migratory birds Story and photos by W. H. “Chip” Gross
I
t was a late-December day, and my wife and I heard the birds long before we saw them, a ventriloquist act like none other. With sandhill cranes, their calls are so clear you’d swear the birds were close. But looking up, we spotted the small flock still several hundred yards overhead. The sandhill’s strange call has been described as a guttural rattle, and there is no better place to hear it in all of Alabama—and see the four-foot-tall gray birds that produce it—than Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Located along 20 miles of the Tennessee River between Huntsville and Decatur, Wheeler NWR was established in 1938 to provide habitat for wintering and migrating birds. The easternmost federal refuge in the Mississippi Flyway, Wheeler’s 35,000 acres attract thousands of wintering waterfowl each year, and support the southernmost and Alabama’s only significant concentration of wintering Canada geese—specifically, birds from the Southern James Bay population. The refuge also serves as winter habitat for the state’s largest duck population. In addition to migratory birds, the refuge hosts 115 species of fish, 74 species of reptiles and amphibians, 47 species of mammals, and 295 species of birds. It is also home to 12 federally listed endangered or threatened species. Wheeler NWR is home to so much wildlife because of its diversity of habitats: bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments. In combination, these habitats provide excellent feeding, loafing, and roosting areas for waterfowl, as well as nesting sites for migrating songbirds. The refuge is also a much needed natural haven in one of the state’s fastest growing regions. Spring is a great time to visit Wheeler as migrating birds make their way north. March will bring blue-winged teal and shorebirds to the area. Other wildlife to look for are turtles sunning on logs and crappie fishing is at its best at this time. The teal migration is at its peak in April, as well as migrating songbirds. Warblers, vireos, and other small passerine birds can be seen 24 MARCH 2013
along refuge trails and roadways. Migrant songbird nesting is in full progress and wildflowers are at their peak. Broods of wood ducks, mallards, and black ducks appear in May and the last of the migrant songbirds are moving through the refuge. The numbers of migratory birds wintering at Wheeler can be astounding. For instance, during a one-day, early-January survey conducted this year, refuge staff counted 70,000 ducks, 4,400 geese, and 12,000 sandhill cranes. “The cranes have been showing up in increasing numbers over the past decade,” says Adams. “In contrast, the numbers of Canada Geese on the refuge have dwindled. The geese only migrate as far south as they need to, and we believe that because of warmer winters in recent years most of the birds are wintering farther north. If they can find food and open water they can tolerate the cold temperatures.” A rare bird being spotted on the refuge in increasing numbers is the federally-endangered whooping crane. “There were 13 on the refuge last winter,” says Adams. “They mingle with sandhill cranes, and anywhere from five to nine of the large, white whoopers hung out near the observation building where many people were able to see and photograph them.” One of the very best places on the refuge to view migratory birds—especially for people with mobility issues—is the large, twostory observation building near the Visitor Center. It’s also a good choice during inclement weather, as you can remain inside and still see hundreds if not thousands of waterfowl. But if you’d like to stretch your legs, any of the five walking trails on the ref-
Chestnut-sided warbler
uge provide sightings of songbirds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. One of the trails is even a boardwalk through a cypress swamp. Although winter is the time to see waterfowl, a great migration of songbirds occurs at Wheeler both spring and fall. “Those two seasons are the times of year to see colorful warblers,” says Adams. “With summers being typically hot and humid, less wildlife is usually visible at that season, especially during the day.” Unlike many federal wildlife refuges Wheeler is very accessible, with more than 100 miles of roads open to the public throughout the refuge. “Some roads are closed to motor vehicles during the waterfowl season,” says Adams, “but they begin opening again in mid-February. And even when the gates are closed, the public is still invited to walk or bicycle past the gates if they’d like, as long as it is not in a posted closed area.” In addition to wildlife viewing, other recreational opportunities are available at Wheeler: fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, cycling, and outdoor photography. If you’d like to get involved in caring for the area, volunteers at Wheeler staff the Visitor Center, conduct interpretive programs, perform trail maintenance, and work on various projects requiring carpentry and other skilled trades. For more information about volunteering, call the Visitor Center at 256-350-6639. For general, online information about Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, go to www.fws. gov/wheeler/, or the Friends of Wheeler website at www.friendsofwheelerrefuge.org. Wheeler is a great place for families. With so many kids remaining indoors these days attached to some electronic device, the refuge is a safe environment where young people and their families can reconnect with the outdoors. But be forewarned, if you take your kids (or grandkids) on a visit to Wheeler NWR, they’ll no doubt beg to go back. Just don’t forget your binoculars when you go, and a camera will help capture your memories. A W. H. “Chip” Gross (www.chipgross.com) is a freelance outdoors writer, photographer, and author. Contact him at whchipgross@gmail.com. www.alabamaliving.coop