MBAS Members, Friends, Family and Guide at Wakulla Springs

     2024 Trip to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, near Tallahassee, Fl

     The end of winter and first signals of spring came to life when several members of Mobile Bay Audubon Society took a special trip to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and Wakulla Springs State Park 28 February through 3 March 2024. 

    The agenda for the weekend included a bird walk and boat trip at Wakulla Springs Friday followed by an environmentalist led cart ride/birding event through the St. Marks dykes on Saturday Morning. Unfortunately, On Wednesday before the trip even had begun the environmentalist cancelled the cart ride due to forecasted weather conditions on Sat. 

     On our first evening we all met at the Magnuson Hotel in Crawfordville, Florida for a wonderful get-together with lots of snacks and goodies. We talked about the two days ahead and got to know each other better listening to the many stories from the members present. 

Trip Leaders, MBAS President Terri Withee & Vice-President Mark Stockfish, with the consensus of the group, decided to weather the forecasted storms and explore the wetlands and the parks to see what they offered. 

    The evening was tremendous fun, but we all were concerned about the weather which predicted rain for two days, but we had contingency plans and the whole group hit the hay for the evening.

     Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, the group met for an early bird walk at Wakulla Springs, as predicted, it was overcast with some mist but pleasant to walk around in. After marveling at the old lodge and just experiencing the majestic surroundings, we began to walk the trails. Wakulla Springs is home to one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, with over 6,000 acres of protected natural environment. The springs are home to a wide variety of birds, alligators and other mammals and the winter refuge for manatees, the waters are a constant 70 degrees year-round. 

     The Spanish style lodge was built in the 1930’s with its period furniture, original elevator and colorful painted ceilings that depict wildlife and old Florida scenes. Film makers loved the park’s swamps and wildlife and filmed Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) in the park. The park has three nature trail systems which go through pine forests, bald cypress wetlands and hard wood hammocks. 

     We walked for a couple of hours sighting pileated woodpeckers, red shouldered hawks, swamp sparrows and other bird species, more good times were around the corner as we all met for our boat tour into an area that was restricted to all outside human activity except our boat. At least 13 miles of the Wakulla River are kept untouched by outside activity and twice a year a ranger goes down in a small boat to just check the area. As we stood on the pier awaiting the boat tour, we saw manatees in the shallow waters and witnessed at least 40 black vultures sitting in trees gawking at us, occasionally soaring overhead. The backdrop was pristine with Great and Snowy Egrets along the shorelines, a Roseate Spoonbill, White and Glossy Ibis, Purple and Common Gallinule, Coots, Mergansers, and other ducks as well. 

     Our boat tour was phenomenal with a great boat captain tour guide that told us all the stories about the area and brought us close to many birds and alligators alike. Anhinga were drying their feathers everywhere along the way the males and females sported magnificent markings and colors. Everyone was mystified by the surroundings as well as the birds. As we pulled back to the pier, we looked back at this area with awe and vowed we would return. 

Some of us took another short bird walk afterward then we met at 2:30 p.m. at the lighthouse on St. Marks Wildlife Refuge where we walked around lighthouse pond and saw ducks, coots and more wading birds. 

     Two of our members had rented an Airbnb and invited the whole group for dinner on Friday evening.  We went to the guest house where Laura Kramer and Sherry McGowen hosted a wonderful meal. The surroundings were so relaxing, and the food was terrific. There was a video playing with all sorts of pictures of birds and everyone was so happy to talk about the events of the day. We were still holding our breath regarding the weather, hoping it would hold out.

    Saturday morning, we continued our adventure as we met at St. Mark’s Wildlife Welcome Center. The weather was still holding out for us. Thank heavens! After a visit to the area surrounding the center and a visit to the store, we began our drive along the wetlands of the refuge. The refuge was established in 1931 to provide winter habitat for migratory birds and is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge system. It encompasses about 86,000 acres and includes 43 miles along the Florida Gulf coast. We drove along Lighthouse Road Drive and saw hardwood swamps, marshlands, mounds and impoundments with hundreds of wading birds of all kinds. We saw eagles and alligators and so many flocks of birds in flight that graced the sky with streaks of white and silver. It was amazing! We noted over 40 species of birds on this trip as we stopped to hike in a variety of places. 

     Everyone was in high spirits, and it was a glorious day. Some folks returned to Wakulla Springs to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the woods or view the manatees and vultures along the shore. All were on their own for dinner.

    Sunday morning we met up with a few folks to recap our bird sightings, saying goodbyes with lots of hugs and safe travel wishes. Some went back to Wakulla Springs or St. Marks on their own. The was a fantastic trip with some wonderful company. Birders are great people!! 

     The wonders of nature that our group witnessed in Northern Alabama at Wheeler Wildlife Refuge were truly magical. Some members of the Mobile Bay Audubon Society traveled to Decatur, Alabama to attend the 2024 “Festival of Cranes” held annually at the refuge. Located on the flood planes of the Tennessee River, thousands of wintering waterfowl visit Wheeler each year. 

     One of the most impressive species that arrive in great numbers is the Sandhill Crane. Over 16,000 cranes were counted this year with 16 endangered Whooping Cranes as well.  We were lucky enough to see so many that you could hardly believe your eyes and 3 Whooping Cranes that were easily identifiable among the Sandhills standing 5 foot tall appearing stark white. The Sandhill Cranes migrate from southern Canada and Wisconsin and travel the flyway to Alabama. The Whooping Cranes were part of a captive group that were being led by an ultralight attempting to reintroduce them to Florida. They liked Alabama so much, they decided to stay and winter at Wheeler. The Sandhill Cranes arrive in mid- November and leave in mid-February with the peak being late December and early January. We spoke to the Wildlife rangers and they told us that there is abundant food for them during that time period. Feeding in the shallow waters and fields during the day and roosting in trees and higher fields at night.

As we walked along the trails at the refuge with cypress swamps and open fields, we were in awe as the cranes soared overhead. Thousands were very close to us as we watched at a wonderful observation building with huge glass windows and speakers so we could hear their shrill prehistoric sound. There were also several blinds set up for watching as well as a wonderful outdoor observation building where we witnessed a Bald Eagle swoop in and catch a fish while a Sandhill Crane tried to steal it from him. He was so upset that he just stood there in the middle of all the cranes and tried to show his prowess.

     There were several other species of birds on the refuge. Greater white-fronted geese, a snow goose from the Arctic Circle, Gadwall, ring necked ducks, canvas back ducks, shovelers and many other species. We even met a Barred Owl up close and personal along the walkway to the observation building. Saturday was a full day of walking, watching and learning from folks in the Welcome Center which had many displays, videos and folks from the International Crane Foundation. In the afternoon we attended a Raptor show that sported an Albino Barred Owl, Snow Owl, Screech Owl, Harris Hawk, Bald Eagle, and a very sociable turkey vulture that flew over our heads many times in the theater. He even walked up and down the aisles while small children squealed with excitement.  

     Sunday morning we attended a phenomenal presentation about bats with special appearances by a fruit bat that was really comical. There are 45 species of bats in the U.S. and 16 are found in Alabama. They are crucial to our environment for insect control. The endangered grey bat is present in caves around Wheeler and highly protected. Then we returned to the refuge to enjoy the presence of the cranes and to our amazement came across several hundred white pelicans in the body of water across from the main entrance to the refuge. We watched the squadrons land individually in the water and slide into the rest of the pod. It was like watching airplanes land on an aircraft carrier. Spectacular! It was a very special trip for all of us and we really didn’t want to leave. But we vowed to return next year to stand in the midst of the majesty of nature at its best.