Take a Walk Down the North Alabama Birding Trail in Decatur, Alabama

Formed over millions of years by the winding path of the Tennessee River, the Tennessee River Valley Northern Alabama has emerged as one of the most beautiful areas in the Southeast United States. Among this beautiful landscape is the North Alabama Birding Trail, which provides year-round bird watch activity in the vicinity of Decatur, Alabama.

The North Alabama Birding Trail was originally constructed to showcase the diverse wildlife found in Northern Alabama. The trail was recently expanded to encompass 50 primary birding sites where visitors can view Alabama's avian wildlife in it's natural habitat. The wildlife that can be viewed from these locations consists of both seasonal and permanent residents to the state.

The landscapes in the Tennessee River Valley that make up the habitats used along the North Alabama Birding Trail come in various forms. These landscapes range from swamps, to vibrant fields of Alabama wildflowers, to enormous forests, to vast lakes and other bodies of water. Each of these areas caters to a unique set of wildlife, all of which can be viewed at various points along the North Alabama Birding Trail.

The trail that winds among these habitats is divided into three distinctive areas. The first of these is the Northwest Loop. This area covers the Shoals and Bankhead National Forest areas, and includes 15 birding areas along the trail. Connected to this is the Central Loop, with 17 birding areas that serve Athens, Decatur and Huntsville. The final area is the Northeast Loop, which contains an additional 18 birding areas.

The wildlife that can be viewed from these areas depends largely on the season. The wildlife along the North Alabama Birding Trail varies greatly at different parts of the year. This is largely due to the fact that the area is a primary migration point for birds that travel in accordance with seasonal weather patterns. Interact kiosks and interpretive displays educate visitors as to the wildlife they are viewing at each of the 50 bird watching points.