North Alabama Birding Trail November 2003, Public Meeting Notes

North Alabama Birding Trail logo and highway sign. The Belted Kingfisher was selected as the signature species to identify the North Alabama Birding Trail. Belted Kingfishers are unlikely to be confused with any other bird. Their huge bill, large head with shaggy crest, and blue-gray and white coloring are distinctive. Belted Kingfishers, as their name suggests, subsist mostly on fish; and are often found near rivers and lakes, fishing. Therefore, the Belted Kingfisher makes a perfect icon for the north Alabama birding habitats that include many beautiful lakes and rivers.

A series of public meetings, hosted by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries' Nongame Wildlife Program, took place throughout north Alabama during the week of November 10. The purpose of the meetings was for the ADWFF to provide information about the project to members of the region's communities and to seek input from individuals and organizations about the ADWFF's plans for developing the North Alabama Birding Trail.

Notice of these meetings was sent to all participating CVBs for distribution to their members and others; and was posted on the project website. In addition, a press release announcing these meetings was prepared by FERMATA, Inc. and distributed by ADWFF staff and CVBs to local media outlets. Copies of the meeting notice and press release are attached.

Dates, times, and meeting locations were:

Mon. Nov. 10, 4 p.m., Jackson Co. Chamber of Commerce Bldg ., 407 East Willow Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768. Local contact: JP Parsons, Jackson Co. Chamber of Commerce, 256-259-5500.

Weds. Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m., Colbert County Complex , 1101 E. U.S. Highway 72, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. Local contact: Susann Hamlin, Colbert County Tourism & Convention Bureau, 256-383-0783.

Thurs. Nov. 13, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (two meetings) Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road (Hwy. 67) . Local contact: Pam Swanner, Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 256-350-2028.

Fri. Nov. 14, 10 a.m., Moulton Recreation Center , 13550 Court Street, Moulton, AL 35650. Local contact: Vicki Morese, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 256-974-1658.

Fri. Nov.14, 2 p.m., Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau Office , 200 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, AL 35957. Local contact: Lisa Socha, Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 256-582-7015.

Attached are a list of the names and addresses of the people who attended each of these meetings. In addition, all meetings were attended by the project leaders from ADWFF, Mark Sasser and Keith Hudson, and the project consultant, Mary Jeanne Packer, from FERMATA, Inc.

A similar presentation was made at each meeting that outlined the FERMATA deliverables, the ADWFF approach to site nomination and assessment, and a status report including the names of the sites already nominated and tentatively recommended for inclusion in the trail. A copy of the presentation is available to download from the project website.

The following comments and questions were received, and as appropriate notes as the resulting discussion are included. This is a compilation of all comments received at the various locations and as such duplicates have been eliminated.

1. Consider Gorham's Bluff as a NABT site . A site nomination form was received and the ADWFF assessors visited this site. They have determined that there are good opportunities to link this site with the previously nominated Coon Gulf WMA and with the adjoining TVA wild area. There are trails that connect the three; and together the sites provide a wide variety of habitats, bird species, and visitor services and experiences.  
2. Each site should have a "theme". Part of FERMATA's consulting contract with the ADWFF is to create an interpretive plan for the NABT. In this plan, an overall theme or series of themes for the trail will be developed. From this, individual storylines that support the trail theme(s) will be recommended for each of the sites along the trail. Interpretive themes and stories help to unify and connect the sites and provide a continuous experience for visitors to the trail. Given that most visitors are expected to be casual experiential tourists, these people need stories to help explain the natural world and encourage them to get involved in nature exploration.
3. Who will provide additional infrastructure development needed at some sites to support anticipated increased visitation? ADCNR? Presently the ADWFF's budget is strictly for planning and developing and installing interpretive signs, informational kiosks, highway directional signage, and site wayfinding signs. Infrastructure improvements such as restrooms, parking areas, viewing platforms, and trails are not included. It is expected that many site managers will seek to undertake these developments using regular operating funds or through grant funding from private foundations or TEA-21 (Federal transportation enhancement initiatives). According to FERMATA, this is typical of how infrastructure improvements have been accomplished on other birding trails in other parts of the country.
4. Will there we a ribbon cutting ceremony or kick-off event upon the trail's completion? Yes. FERMATA has been involved with several similar debut events including most recently the Mountain section of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Events such as these are a good way to attract local and media attention to the new opportunity.
5. Could these trails serve as a catalyst to establishing a local birding festival (for example – the Shoals Kingfisher Festival) to further aid local economies and further conservation education efforts? Yes. FERMATA has worked in several states, including Texas, where one or more annual birding festivals are an important part of the mix of nature tourism offerings.
6. Could there be windbreaks (plastic) on kiosks ? Yes.
7. Need to make sure that the NABT guide contains detailed information on the bird species that visitors can expect to see at each site and in which seasons there may be birding activity at the site. Also, each site needs GPS coordinates as well as driving directions. This information all needs to be listed on the NABT website as well as in the printed guide.
8. Consider listing the phone number of a local birder or other contact person such as the local CVB or Chamber of Commerce for each site in the NABT guide.
9. Make sure the NABT site for the Bankhead National Forest is in Lawrence County.
10. Consider including one or more sites from Franklin County (such as Bear Creek, Cedar Creek, etc.) in the NABT.
11. Who will distribute the map/guide and informational brochure? Participating CVBs, Chambers of Commerce, and the individual sites.
12. How will ADWFF decide if a site will have a kiosk, an interpretive sign , or no interpretation? The budget calls for 6-8 kiosks to be constructed at Gateways to the NABT. Ideally, kiosk sites would be staffed, have parking and restroom facilities, and in general, provide a spot where visitors to the area could be ushered into the natural world of North Alabama. Many of the other sites on the NABT will have one or more 24”x36” interpretive signs designed and installed at them. However, there are some sites, that either have interpretive signage already or where there would be no good place to install such a sign; and at these sites, there will not be any new NABT interpretive signs – just wayfinding signs.
13. Consider Huntsville Botanical Gardens as a NABT site.
14. When will the final site list be determined? By the end of 2003; based upon assessments by ADWFF staff.
15. Will there be any follow up funds for NABT maintenance ? Not from the current one-time federal grant and matching funds. However, in other states, there have been funds received for on-going trail operations from a variety of private and public sources. ADWFF in selecting sites for inclusion in the trail considered as a criteria whether the site managers had the capability to maintain the sites in the event that no additional outside funding became available.
16. Choose loops' names carefully to avoid confusing visitors with place names. Presently the ADWFF is considering three loops: northeast, north central, and northwest.

Contact FERMATA project manager: Mary Jeanne Packer

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