Alabama Audubon's Black Belt Gosse Nature Walk: Moundville

Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes by 12 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 20th. Visit alaudubon.org/event/2022-01-21 for more information and to register.

Join us and special guests from Black Warrior Riverkeeper as we have a wintertime exploration of Moundville Archaeological Park. This historic site was once a powerful Native American community that, at its peak, was America’s largest city north of Mexico. Located on the Black Warrior River thirteen miles south of Tuscaloosa, the park preserves 326 acres where, 800 years ago, Mississippian people constructed 29 massive flat-topped earthen mounds, arranged carefully around a vast central plaza.

Mound Parkway is a loop road circling the open areas and providing access to the mounds, museum, and park offices. At the head of the circle, scan the nearby marsh for red-winged blackbirds (all year), possible rusty blackbirds (winter), and shorebirds (migration and possibly winter). The open fields often have flocks of ground-feeding songbirds present—robins, bluebirds, grackles, cowbirds, and even Northern flickers—mostly in migration and winter. Bluebirds and Eastern phoebes (all year) hawk insects from around the fields and marshes, and red-tailed hawks are common all year. Check out the Alabama Birding Trails site for more info.

This event is free and open to all as the organizations are covering the admission fee.

The details: Meetup is at noon at Moundville Archaeological Park (634 Mound State Pkwy., Moundville, 35474). We will meet in the first parking lot by the building at the entrance.

Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your binoculars, water and snacks, rain gear, sunblock, and seasonally appropriate attire.

In the case of inclement weather, the event may be cancelled. You may contact the trip leader the morning of the event if the weather is questionable.

Registration: To register, visit alaudubon.org/event/2022-01-21.

Accessibility: Most pathways are paved and flat, and the primary one that circles the mounds is drivable. Some wheelchair accessibility. Moundville’s Archeological Museum is ADA accessible. If you need wheelchair accessibility for this tour, please email us so we may plan our route accordingly.

Trip leaders: Alabama Audubon Outreach & Communications Director Sarah Randolph co-leads this trip with Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke.