SHORELINES

"ese are significant conservation tools that contribute a great deal to the recovery of eagles in Alabama," Fitch said. In addition to its close working relationships with state and federal agencies, Alabama Power partners with local groups that share the company's dedication to conservation. In 2008, when the Alabama Tourism Department wanted to create trails to fill in the gaps between birding trails in north Alabama and the coastal Alabama trail, it reached out to chambers of commerce across the state for help. In Alexander City, Joanne Ninesling, who's now the project manager for the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail (PPT) in central Alabama, was tapped to lead the charge in her area. She turned to Alabama Power. "When we were forming the PPT, Alabama Power was so gracious with their consent and assistance in accessing some of the 34 designated sites on the PPT," she said. Sheila Smith, land supervisor with Alabama Power's Shoreline Management, and her team helped Ninesling and others identify several promising bird-watching sites around Lake Harris and Lake Martin. "We were able to grant them access, and they cut the trails," Smith said. "Any time we get requests like this, we do our best to accommodate them as they fit into the mission for our natural and undeveloped lands and our commitment to give back to the communities around our lakes. It's been a great partnership with this group. ey do some maintenance, we do some mowing, and we've provided some signage. It's really a win-win." Today, places like Holly Hill in Dadeville, which is accessible only by an Alabama Power maintenance road, can be reached by birders. By granting access to the Cherokee Ridge Association for hiking trails along Lake Martin, the company made this area of the PPT available for birders, too. e Smith Mountain summit in the Cherokee Ridge area – which Alabama Power recently deeded to the Cherokee Ridge Association – is one of Ninesling's favorite spots. "It's amazing, and it is not yet one of the official sites on the PPT, but it should be soon," she said. "APC also updated the PPT birding site at Fox Creek and made it more handicap-accessible. We are really excited to be partnered with APC." One of Ninesling's favorite birds is the pileated woodpecker, also called the "OMG woodpecker" due to its large size. While it is prevalent all along the PPT, and people oen hear it, seeing one is a rare treat. "ey are very skittish, so if you get to see one, you're lucky," she said. Most birders appreciate every sighting, and as nature lovers, simply like being outside. Folks like Ken Hare, who's based in Montgomery but enjoys observing birds well beyond his backyard, count themselves fortunate to live in a state with such a wealth of natural resources. "Just getting in the great outdoors is definitely part of the appeal for me," he said. "Birding is a great way to get involved in nature." His interest has become a part of his work life; a political column that he was writing for WSFA-TV's website has turned into a column called Natural Alabama, which has a focus on birding. Hare praises the opportunities Alabama offers birders. "We have 440-plus species of birds that can be seen here, ranging from all sizes and types," he said. "And every season brings a different birding experience." 20 | 2017 Vol:3

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