Birmingham Audubon bird walk at Ruffner scheduled for Sept. 3

Birmingham Audubon will host its annual Russ Bailey Memorial Bird Walk at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve on Monday, Sept. 3, at 7 a.m.

The event honors a late Birmingham Audubon member who led his own Labor Day bird walk, and the walk is a great opportunity for birders to see some of the species that stop in Birmingham during their migration south.

Ruffner is “one of the best places in Birmingham to look for migrant songbirds,” said Birmingham Audubon board member Greg Harber, who’s leading the walk. Attendees should see warblers, tanagers, vireos and hawks, he said.

Harber said the group might also visit nearby East Lake Park or Roebuck Springs, two other popular birding sites. Attendees usually finish up by having lunch at a restaurant.

Birmingham Audubon Executive Director Ansel Payne said anyone with an interest in birds is welcome.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a brand-new birder or a world-class expert,” Payne said.

All Birmingham Audubon field trips are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring binoculars, but organizers will have some on hand. They should wear comfortable clothes, walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen.

For details, call Harber at 719-3678 or go to birminghamaudubon.org.