Introductions and Orientation/Dinner in the hotel dining room/Evening class on birding

Afternoon: Registration and check-in to lodging at the hotel from 4:00-5:30 PM. Road Scholar check-in will be in the hotel Conference Center. From 5:30-6:00 Orientation and introductions in the classroom. University history and all handout materials (schedule, bios, etc.) will be discussed. Any questions about the schedule or the program will be answered at this time. (Classes and class times are subject to change based on weather conditions and instructor availability.

Dinner: Dinner in the Hotel.

Evening: Birds of the Gulf Coast. This class includes slides, instruction and discussion about the variety of migrants on the Coast of Alabama. You will also get a look at where you will be birding the next few days. Bring your binoculars for a quick lesson on how to best use them for viewing birds.

Lodging: Admiral Semmes Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast in the hotel/Field trip to Ft. Morgan/Picnic lunch/Field trip to Birding site/Dinner in the hotel/Evening class on Backyard birding.

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: Field trip to historic Ft. Morgan on Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan is an important stopover for fall neotropical migrants. We will also spend time looking at sea and shore birds in the area of the fort. On this visit you might see Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Palm Warbler, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Broad-winged Hawk, Merlin and American Kestrel. This trip has extensive walking in brush and sand. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.

Lunch: Box Lunch

Afternoon: Field trip to Daphne Bayfront Park. Birds typically are hard to spot during the afternoon hours, but we will take a look at shore birds and wading birds which seem to be out all day long. You might see brown pelicans, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Skimmer, Laughing Gull, Sandwich Tern, Herring Gull, and Great Blue Heron.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel.

Evening: Evening class on backyard habitat and attracting birds to your yard. Learn what to plant and what type bird houses will attract numerous species to your backyard setting. Also, discuss types of seed, and various ways to present the water element in your yard.

Lodging: Admiral Semmes Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast in hotel/Field trip to Dauphin Island/Picnic Lunch/ Free Afternoon/Dinner in hotel/Evening class

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Field trip to Dauphin Island. WildBird magazine calls Dauphin Island one of the "top four locations in North America for viewing neotropical migrations." We will visit the airport marsh, Shell Mound Park, and the rock jetties at Fort Gaines. We will search for Clapper Rail, Great Blue Heron, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Brown Pelican and Black Skimmer. Wear Closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray.

Lunch: Picnic lunch at historic Cadillac Square on Dauphin Island.

Afternoon: Free time to explore the area on your own. Enjoy a ride on the free trolley in downtown Mobile. Visit the Mardi Gras Museum, the City Museum, the Exploreum or Ft. Conde while you are downtown. There are several museum homes in downtown including an antebellum home. The Battleship USS Alabama is a 15 minute drive from the Admiral Semmes on the Mobile Bay Causeway. While you are on the causeway, you might want to check out one of our fine seafood restaurants that feature fresh gulf seafood.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel.

Evening: Birds of Prey this evening. Tonight's speaker will bring birds for you to see up close and personal, and will also talk about several Birds of Prey. Instructor brings birds which are being rehabilitated. In recent years we have had a Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Barn Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl and Red-Shouldered Hawk.

Lodging: Admiral Semmes Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast in the hotel/Morning class on bird habitats and photographing birds/Lunch in hotel/Discover 5 Rivers/Dinner at a local seafood restaurant.

Breakfast: Breakfast served in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Class with the director of a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the gulf coast. She will be bringing birds that are currently in the center for rehabilitation. She will discuss the damage to the gulf coast from hurricanes and the effect they have on the wildlife habitat. Learn what is being done on the coast to restore a habitat that has been destroyed. Enjoy a class with an expert on photographing birds. The pictures show so much detail and the beauty of birds. Whether you plan to start photographing birds, or just enjoy looking at what he has shot, you will learn so much for this class.

Lunch: Lunch served in the hotel.

Afternoon: Field Trip to 5 Rivers Delta. We will see a movie on Birds, explore the museum, and be introduced to some of the animals in the museum. This changing exhibit has included an Opossum, Snakes, Eastern Screech Owl and more. Next, enjoy a pontoon boat ride into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Keep your eyes open for resident and migratory birds, Alabama Red-bellied Turtles, American Alligators and more. We will be searching for Virginal Rail, Greater Yellowlegs, American Coot, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, American White Pelicans, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Boat Tailed Grackle, White Ibis, Wilson's Snipe, Belted Kingfishers, Tricolored Heron and Osprey

Dinner: Dinner at a local seafood restaurant. Try local favorites or more traditional seafood, it is all very tasty. Options available for those that do not like seafood.

Evening: Return to hotel

Lodging: Admiral Semmes Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast served in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Check out of lodging rooms.

Meals Included: Breakfast