North Alabama is a region that is rich with natural beauty and abundant amounts of wildlife that provide many different recreational and educational opportunities for this area.

One of the fastest growing recreational activities involves birding and wildlife watching.

The Alabama Birding Trail’s goal is to build a state-wide birding and wildlife trail system which will increase tourism and other sustainable sources of revenue in rural areas.

They recently received an RC&D grant to help in this goal. Due in part to a $2,000 grant provided by the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D), the Alabama Birding Trail was able to do the necessary research on local bird species, scout new sites for the trail, take pictures of the birds, and develop informational signs and interpretive panels that will be used in expanding the birding trail in our region.

These funds for the Alabama Birding Trail were administered through the University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development (UCED). RC&D Executive Board Chairman Roger Hayes said that birding and wildlife watching are environmentally friendly hobbies that also provide much needed tourism dollars for small towns.

“In tough economic times, the bird trail could benefit areas of the State of Alabama by bringing people into these rural areas that would not normally be considered a tourist town. If these folks stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, and enjoy the beauty that our area has to offer, maybe they will want to come back and bring someone with them next time too,” Hayes said.

Hayes also expressed his appreciation to all the senators, representatives, and elected officials who represent Northwest Alabama and provide support for the RC&D program in the State Legislature.