Welcome back! Herons have returned to Birmingham’s favorite parks [PHOTOS]

If you’ve spent time around The Magic City’s local parks recently, you might have noticed the presence of some famously long-legged, long-necked birds. According to various sightings on Facebook, herons have returned to nest in some of Birmingham’s city parks.

Heron sightings in Birmingham parks

As Spring begins to bloom, herons return to the South to raise their young. Over the past week, various species of heron have been spotted in Railroad Park, Avondale Park and East Lake Park.

Herons nest in Alabama every Spring

As Alabama Audubon science and conservation director Lianne Koczur told Bham Now, there are three primary species of heron that breed in Birmingham’s parks–green herons, yellow-crowned night herons and black-crowned night herons.

“They eat things like small fish, frogs and insects, so having wetland areas to hunt for food near their nest site is important. You might see green herons out on the shorelines of lakes or streams, but we are lucky here in Birmingham because we can see them at a few of our city parks.”

Dr. Lianne Koczur, Science & Conservation Director at Alabama Audubon

Although our local parks become an outdoor hot spot for activities, concerts and sports, herons don’t seem to be bothered by human activity.

“It’s a great thing to have these urban parks for people to enjoy, that also provide habitat for nesting birds. It’s fun to visit the park over the course of the Spring to watch the progression from nesting to young birds leaving the nest, and eventually flying.”

Dr. Lianne Koczur, Science & Conservation Director at Alabama Audubon

Did you know?

• According to Railroad Park, more than 115 species of birds have been spotted in the park since it opened in 2010.
• In 2020, Alabama Audubon launched the Green Heron Project, in which they banded and tracked three green heron fledglings born in Avondale Park as they grew up and migrated to Florida and Mexico.
• East Lake Park, part of the Alabama Birding Trails, is one of the best places in the Birmingham area to see birds, because it has a variety of natural features that provide food, water and shelter for a wide range of species.

Have you spotted a heron anywhere in Birmingham? Tag us @bhamnow and let us know!