Birding Takes Flight at the Kreher Preserve

Birds are increasingly dependent on human created habitats to survive because their native habitats are being destroyed and their predators are growing in number. Funds for the birding program at Kreher Preserve & Nature Center (KPNC) will help our feathered friends continue to thrive and allow KPNC visitors to have the educational resources to better understand and enjoy them. 

Nesting boxes are needed for purple martins, wood ducks, bluebirds, screech owls, and barred owls. These boxes will increase the biodiversity of birds breeding and nesting in the preserve. These boxes will allow birds to nest in a quiet and safe habitat while also serving as a learning opportunity for the public. Signage mounted near the nesting boxes at the base of the tree or pole will display the name of the bird species and other educational information. 

Manmade nesting units are used in nature centers around the country for educational purposes. With a clear plastic viewing area and binoculars for monitoring, the nesting boxes provide children and other visitors an unobtrusive window into a bird’s world—providing a valuable opportunity to learn about habitat, nesting, fledgling, migration and other behavioral aspects of birds.

Cameras installed inside the nesting boxes will allow visitors to connect the camera to any video compatible device, such as a laptop, for up close viewing.

The KPNC has recently become a designated site along the Alabama Birding Trail and is now attracting many birders to monitor a variety of bird species. Interest in birding locally is growing substantially, along with a growing community of active birders in Lee County. 

Located just north of Auburn, KPNC’s 120 acres features five miles of well-marked trails which traverse seven natural bird habitats—providing food and shelter for 80 different species of native and migratory birds throughout the year.