Albany birdwatching enthusiasts set to flock to Gulf Coast

ALBANY — Each spring, a group of nature-loving folks from the Albany area take a trip to Florida that is for the birds.

Literally.

They’re members of the Albany Audubon Society, which usually meets on the second Thursday of the month at the Flint RiverQuarium at 117 Pine Ave. But in the spring, members of the group flock to a couple of locations at the Gulf — last year, Dauphin Island, Ala.; this year, St. George — to catch glimpses of migratory birds heading north to their summer homes. This year’s trip is set for April 24-26.

“What we usually do,” Melissa Martin, Albany Audubon Society president, said, “is take a spring field trip for the migration.”

The birdwatchers go to the Gulf Coast because that is the first land that many of the birds have seen for a lengthy amount of time as they return from wintering in Central and South America. They’re hungry and looking for a spot to rest up for the next leg of their journeys — perfect for those who want to catch a glimpse or shoot a photo of a bird not normally scene in the area.

While Martin, education curator at the RiverQuarium, said Audubon Society members don’t want adverse winds to further stress the birds, she noted that for birdwatchers it was “best to go to the coast when a front is going through.”

If the wind is behind them, the birds may fly overhead and continue their migration. But winds out of the north or northwest associated with fronts can “give them some problems,” prompting the already tuckered-out birds to stay in the coastal area for a while longer to feed and rest. And the longer the birds are there, the better the chances of spotting them.

“Hopefully we’ll see some great birds coming through,” Martin said of the upcoming trip. She said some of the birds that can be expected include warblers (including Blackpoll and Cape May), flycatchers, buntings, grosbeaks and tanagers. Birdwatchers will also see birds such as shorebirds, gulls, terns and gannets.

Martin’s been a member of the Audubon Society in Albany for nine years after coming to Albany to take her job with the RiverQuarium. With a wildlife-related degree from the University of Georgia, she was a looking for a local group that was focused on nature.

“I’ve always been interested in nature and wildlife,” she said. “I just love wildlife.”

The Audubon Society is attractive for those who are like-minded about nature, and not just the feathered flying part, she said.

“We have people (who are members) who don’t know that much about birds, and we have some who go all across the country chasing birds,” Martin said.

And while going great distances to see birds can be expensive, getting started in the activity of birdwatching is — some puns simply can’t be resisted — fairly cheap. While there are those enthusiasts who invest heavily in cameras and other equipment, the necessities are reasonable.

“It’s probably one of the least expensive outdoor activities out there,” Martin said. “All you really need are a good set of binoculars and a (bird guide) book.”

To go on the Albany Audubon Society spring field trip next month, however, there is one more relatively small expense. An individual would first have to join the local or national society. The cost for an individual membership for a year with the Albany group is $20; $30 for a family.

Martin said the society members are responsible for securing their own lodging at St. George. Those going usually convoy together on the drive down and have evening meals together. Sack lunches are usually the order of the day while trying to spot birds.

“People (on the trip) can come and go as they please,” Martin noted. “Not everybody can birdwatch continuously for 12 or 15 hours in a day.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in the society or joining for the spring trip can contact Martin at (229) 639-2650 Ext. 226, or by email at [email protected]. The Albany Audubon Society website is www.albanyaudubonsociety.synthasite.com. The Albany group, which was founded in 1972 and chartered the follwoing year, does not have meetings in June, July or August.