The Alexander City Sportplex consists of 212 acres of attractively wooded grounds surrounding athletic fields and parking areas. There are hiking trails that originate from the rear corner of a large parking lot on Arena Drive. The understory is quite open through much of the property, and sight lines into the trees are very good ' this should be a highly-productive stop for migrant songbirds in spring and fall migration. There is ample understory and midstory cover toward the back (southwest) portion of the Sportplex. This offers habitat for Indigo Buntings, Yellow-breasted Chats, Field Sparrows, and Blue Grosbeaks in the warmer months, along with kinglets, winter Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Palm and Orange-crowned Warblers in the colder months. Brown-headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers prowl the pines all year.

You'll find Killdeer year-round at the open athletic fields, and American Kestrels will be present September through March. Look for Eastern Meadowlarks here, too. Watch for Loggerhead Shrikes, particularly near the fencing around the ball fields. It is possible to find almost any raptor here, with Red-shouldered Hawks and Barred Owls most likely. You'll spot vultures, Mississippi Kites, Broad-winged (April to September) and Red-tailed Hawks soaring above the Sportplex. Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks (mostly winter) chase songbirds in the more open woodlands, and this is a good site for Great Horned Owls.

The hiking trails are populated by the common woodland birds of the region throughout the year, and are joined by Yellow-rumped Warblers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Winter and House Wrens, and Purple Finches from late September through April.

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Listed in:

• Ecotourism