SHORELINES

The Piedmont Plateau A trail for the birds – and bird watchers S wallow-tailed kites are rock stars of the bird world. The dramatic raptors are known for their cleft tail, four-foot wingspan, striking black-and-white plumage and showy aerobatics. They're considered rare, but you could see them on the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail. The trail is part of Alabama's expanding system of birding trails that is to bird lovers what the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is to golfers. Though it's one of many states targeting far-ranging birders, Alabama has a lot to crow about. While Alabama is 25th among states in land area, it ranks fifth in biodiversity (with more than 400 bird species sighted here), according to a report by NatureServe. "Alabama is a great outdoors state," says Grey Brennan, regional director of the Alabama Tourism Department. "We are geared to capture nature-based tourism. Birding trails are lower-cost, high-reward attractions. Ultimately there will be eight of them, in every part of the state." The Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail is the third fully operational one (after the with area businesses for contributions," says popular coastal and north Alabama trails). LWPOA member Barry Morris. "I don't Meandering across east central Alabama, think we approached anybody who said no." Donations included heavy equipment, it takes in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachians and numerous lakes and labor, gravel and materials to clear and grade the parking waterways. Launched in lot and build an 2008, the Piedmont trail information kiosk. numbers 34 sites in nine "It's a great program "The Fox Creek site counties, offering birders because it allows us to is classified as natural, a range of habitats enjoy the outdoors." undeveloped land and species (birders under our license," nominate and evaluate says Sheila Smith, all birding-trail sites). The trail's latest addition, Fox Creek, team leader for Corporate Real Estate at occupies a peninsula on Alabama Power's Alabama Power. "It's land we have for Lake Harris in Randolph County. Like the general public to use and we want to other sites on the trail, this one required a encourage them to do so. It's a good thing coordinated effort. It was led by the Lake for the community." Partners in the Fox Creek addition Wedowee Property Owners Association (LWPOA), which leases the Fox Creek site and supporters gathered in December to at no cost from Alabama Power. While the celebrate the opening of the Piedmont state tourism department helps plan and Plateau trail's new section. Alabama Power promote the trails, they only come into has another section of the trail, the 11-mile Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, which being with local initiative. "We put in money and man-hours and occupies a prime spot on the southeast took advantage of existing relationships shore of Lake Martin. Opposite: Birdwatchers enjoy the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail at the newly opened Lake Harris site. 5

• Cover