Birmingham’s Avondale Park is experiencing a baby bird boom [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Avondale Park is in the midst of a nice little baby bird boom!

This Spring, birders, nature-lovers and photographers have spotted several baby Green herons and Cooper’s hawks in the park.

Why baby birds in Avondale Park matter

We asked Alabama Audubon’s Conservation Director Lianne Koczar why it is important to see these beautiful birds nesting in one of Birmingham’s historic parks.

“Green herons are one of those species that have been declining over the past few decades, and we think a big reason for that is habitat loss. It’s been really interesting here in Birmingham to see them nesting in our city parks, including Avondale Park. They nest on that little island right in the middle of the pond there, and they seem to do really well.

There’s like maybe three to five pairs that nest out there, and they are successfully fledging young. It’s been really cool to see them thriving in this urban environment, showing us that these parks provide the resources for them to successfully nest there.”

Below are photos of the young birds that have recently “fledged.” Note, they look pretty awkward with messy hair.

The other sighting has been three baby Cooper’s hawks. According to Koczar, the adorable looking baby hawks thrive in all different environments. They are also a top predator, preying on small mammals and most notably — pigeons.

Below are photos and a video taken of the baby Avondale Cooper’s hawks.

Want to learn more about birds and their environment?  Connect with Alabama Audubon, which is headquartered in Birmingham’s Highland Park neighborhood.

Also, visit Avondale Park and look into supporting the “Friends” group. They are doing some impressive work.

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