Exit 1-65 at exit 173 (Northern
Boulevard) and travel 6.9 miles to the exit for Wetumpka (US. 231 north). Proceed 7.9
miles and turn left at the marker for Fort Toulouse. After 1.0 mile, the road passes
Bozeman Road. From this point on, keep an ear open in spring and summer for
Yellow-breasted Chat and, occasionally in spring, Dickcissel. After an additional
1.4 miles, stop at the entrance to pay the nominal admission charge. Park at the end of
the lot to the left. A boardwalk path leads into an arboretum. Barred Owl is generally
present in the woods. In winter, this wood is one of the more dependable places in the
area for Solitary Vireo and Hermit Thrush. In summer, there are good numbers of breeding
Summer Tanagers, Northern Parulas and Prothonotary Warblers and several Acadian
Flycatchers. In spring and Fall migrants will usually be present at the edges between wood
and field. You can stay on the boardwalk or, if the weather has been fairly dry, you can
walk the dirt paths to the Tallapoosa River.
After coming out of the woods at the other
end of the boardwalk, make a left and follow the path toward the Coosa River. In winter,
the area near the river is good for Rusty Blackbird and Fox Sparrow. Other more common
sparrows include White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,
Field Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. Common woodpeckers include Red-headed Woodpecker,
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (winter), Northern Flicker and Downy
Woodpecker, with Hairy Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker also present. By following the
trail along the river to and past the mound area, you should find Eastern Bluebird and
Indigo Bunting (not in winter). The trail continues almost to the point where the Coosa
joins the Tallapoosa to form the Alabama River.
ALABAMA WILDBIRD