[TN-Bird] Fort Morgan, Alabama Report

Fellow Tennessee Birders
 
This past weekend, the crew of banders of The Hummer/Bird Study  Group and 
friend Harry Anderson had a cleanup session at our banding sites  at Fort 
Morgan.  With a full crew, the cleanup went off without a  hitch.  The joint is 
lookin' fine guys, so come on down!
 
We saw no snakes at all this time.  Dead or hiding out?  There  was no 
problem with mosquitos or no-see-'ums during our work sessions.   This was a 
welcome 
surprise.  Local breeding birds were on the Fort, but  seemed in reduced 
numbers.  
 
Best bird seen during the cleanup was an immature Peregrine Falcon perched  
on the roadside just 30 yards east (north side of the road in the  dunes) of 
the entrance gate in the middle of the road.  Also seen were  several Gray 
catbirds, lone White-eyed vireo, Common ground-dove, Blue-gray  gnatcatcher, 
Yellow-throated warbler, unidentified  hummingbird, White-throated sparrow and 
lots 
of American kestrels.   Gulls and terns were scarce.  Lingering Eastern 
Meadowlarks were along the  runway.
 
Brief meetings with Fort officials revealed nothing new to report on the  
Dauphin Island/Fort Morgan ferry situation.  It seems apparent that the  ferry 
will not be operational until well into the future.  Cleanup  activities by the 
Fort Staff continues and these guys have the place looking  good considering 
the mess that was there after Hurricane Ivan.
 
Of note is the ongoing investigation of the condition of the  batteries.  
Officials have cleaned and removed the vegetation from the  top of the battery 
directly across from the Stable Area.  This is the first  step in determining 
the approach that will be used by the  Alabama Historical Commission 
contractors 
to stabilize, repair and  preserve these special structures.  As birders and 
banders, we can  expect this work to continue as funding permits over the next 
several  years.  
 
I do not have a fee schedule for admission to the Fort.  I hope to  have that 
soon.  One thing seems apparent with the ferry no longer running,  there will 
be a fee charged for entry onto the Fort property.  I do  not know the hours 
that the "guard shack" station in the middle of the highway  will be attended. 
 For those of you that visit the Fort regularly, you may  wish to do what we 
do as banders and birders.  We purchase the annual  pass for our crew.  You 
can inquire at the gate for details.
 
The birds will come as they have always done.  I hope to see many  of you at 
this very special stopover site as we document the travels of these  long 
distance travelers.   Bless All.
 
Bob and Martha Sargent  and Crew. 


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