SHORELINES

For t he birds, and birders ALABAMA POWER, WORKING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, HELPS PROTECT OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS. e sight of an eagle coasting on an air current, its massive wings extended but motionless, will stop a lot of folks in their tracks and hold their gaze skyward. We've long been fascinated by birds and their ability to soar through the air. But birders' appreciation for our feathered friends goes much deeper, and these enthusiasts routinely venture outdoors with one purpose: to find and observe birds of all shapes, sizes and colors. Suzanne Langley, executive director of the Birmingham Audubon Society, said the state's most recent census numbers show 600,000 people identify as bird-watchers and birders in Alabama. And they spend more money on their recreation (equipment and travel) than any other group except hunters. "Birding has a pretty significant economic impact on our state," Langley said, "more than groups like golfers." e number is high for several reasons. First is the wide variety of birds that can be seen in Alabama. "We are such a biodiverse state, ranked sixth in country, and we have a lot of unique habitats that birds are attracted to, so we offer a broader range of species than many states," Langley said. Boasting long periods of mild weather in which to see birds plays a role, too. "Avidity refers to the number of days you can 'bird' in a state, and we offer more days here than a lot of other states," Langley said. But perhaps most important are the stewardship efforts of individuals, organizations and businesses that are preserving and rehabilitating key bird habitats and providing access to prime bird-spotting sites. Alabama Power's conservation activities, while not limited to birds, have benefited the state's avian populace for years, Alabama Power biologist Chad Fitch said. "ere are many common plant and animal species that live on company lands and in the waters around our facilities. However, a few species are rare enough to warrant some level of state and federal protection, and conserving these natural resources is a commitment that we have made as a company," Fitch said. Alabama Power works with agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) monitoring species of flora and fauna to ensure they are not adversely affected. Fitch pointed to Alabama Power's work on behalf of the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW), an endangered species that lives and nests in mature, longleaf pine forests like the ones found around Lake Mitchell, one of the company's management areas. "We have a monitoring program and wildlife management plan for the RCW that includes using wireless cameras to check on them about once a week during nesting season," he said. "We look in the cavities they create in trees. ese cavities are where they live and lay their eggs, and so protecting this specific habitat is crucial." Fitch and his team count the eggs and check to determine gender once the eggs hatch. ey note the number of chicks that leave the nest and the number of adults in each family group, which occupies its own cluster of cavity trees. is data is submitted to the USFWS and ADCNR each year. "is year, we documented 10 active clusters that include 46 RCWs," Fitch said. Alabama Power enhances RCW habitat with prescribed burns and mid-story clearing to remove hardwood trees that crowd out the pines, as well as remove flying squirrels that sometimes invade and try to take over RCW cavities. "We will install artificial cavities in trees if, and when, the number of birds at the end of a nesting season exceeds the number of cavities available. at way, we know they have a place to live and to reproduce," Fitch said. Other bird-related efforts include Alabama Power's participation in the annual, nationwide bald eagle survey. Fitch, along with cmopany survey crews, observed 19 total bald eagles at the following reservoirs: Martin (five), Henry (two), Smith (six) and Weiss (six). By Jennifer Kornegay 19 www.apcshorelines.com

• Cover