In many communities across the nation the winter months are designated a time to conduct annual bird counts, an annual census of migratory birds in area parks and other natural areas. The Huntsville Botanical Garden, one of the participating sites, encourages volunteers to help with the count by hosting their annual Beaks and Barks, held mid-January through February.
The event is an opportunity for people and their dogs to enjoy the gardens right off I-565 in Northern Alabama. Pets are not allowed on the grounds of the Botanical Garden, per policy, but an exception is made every winter.
“It’s a time of year when we all feel the need to shake off the winter doldrums and head outdoors,” said Katherine MacGilvray, Marketing Manager for Huntsville Botanical Garden. “Inviting our canine companions to join us is just added incentive.
The 2020 Beaks and Barks special event begins January 18 and continues through February 29.
“The Garden also participates (and we encourage our members and visitors to participate) annually in the Great Backyard Bird Count which takes place each February,” she told The Buzz.
According to the National Audubon Society, more than 160,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded. The information provided by these volunteers helps scientists at Audubon and Cornell University determine the state of the bird population in the nation.
Doggie stops for a pic on a trail in the Huntsville Botanical Garden [Photo/Herb Lewis]
“Bird populations are always shifting and changing. For example, 2014 GBBC data highlighted a large irruption of Snowy Owls across the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes areas of the United States,” states information on the Audubon website. “The data also showed the effects that warm weather patterns have had on bird movement around the country.”
The annual bird count for 2020 is February 14 –17.
“I’m not sure exactly how long Beaks and Barks has been held, but we’ve offered an opportunity for visitors to bring their dogs during the daytime in the winter months for several years,” MacGilvray said.
She explained that The Garden is “considered a birding hotspot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society and its Lewis Birding Trail features a rich diversity of local and migrating birds.”
One of several trails, exhibits and displays at the Garden, the Lewis Birding Trail winds through the ecosystems of meadows, upland and bottomland forest, wetland, and native wildflower and azalea gardens and highlights a large variety of local and migrating birds.
The Huntsville Botanical Garden encompasses 112-acres. It is open year-round and features the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. Other attractions are the aquatic garden, a wooded nature trail which boasts the largest accredited trillium collection in the U.S. The Children’s Garden has eight themed areas.
This Beaks and Barks initiative by the botanical garden draws a variety of visitors, MacGilvray reported. This includes those who live within a day’s driving distance of the Garden in the Tennessee Valley and those from around the country and even internationally.
While some of the Botanical Garden's policies are relaxed for Beaks and Barks, there are still some rules.
“We ask that our furry friends stay on the dedicated pet-friendly paths and are only off the leash in our no-leash zone,” MacGilvray said.
Dog admission is $1 per pooch (or a $10 season pass can be purchased); humans who aren’t Garden members will need to pay admission. Admission for adults is $14, with $2 off from November through February. Children under 2 are free and those 3 – 18 pay $9 to enter (the seasonal discount applies). Discounted admission is provided to military personnel, students and seniors.
Beaks and Barks is a way to open up the gardens to a wider community and fits in with the organization’s mission.
“The Garden’s mission is to provide a space for people to connect with nature and reap the many benefits of outdoor recreation, especially during a time of year when a lot of people don’t get outside as much,” MacGilvray explained. “As a public garden, we also serve as a catalyst for educating the public on the natural world, including wildlife, and the important role that trees and plants play in that life cycle. The Garden serves an important role in bird migration and that’s something we want to highlight during this time of year.”
The Huntsville Botanical Garden officially launched in October of 1985 with the planting of a Southern Magnolia tree. Planning for the Garden was the result of a five-year effort on the part of local volunteers, board members and public support. It opened to the public in 1988.
Camping is available at Monte Santo State Park, a MobileRVing preferred property. In Spanish, Monte Sano means “Mountain of Health.” In the late 1800s, visitors from across the United States came for “the season” to experience and enjoy Monte Sano’s fresh air, spectacular views and mineral springs.
Alabama, Destinations, Environmental Issues, Hiking Trails, Nature, Open Road, Outdoors, Wildlife