Bob Sargent and members of the Hummer/Bird Study Group (HBSG) are ready to present bands to all birds visiting the HBSG's fall bird banding site at historic Fort Morgan. The HBSG will set up camp October 4-18 and be ready to greet the migrating neo-tropical birds as they hit the flyway to Central and South America for the winter.

The HBSG, a volunteer group founded by Bob Sargent and wife Martha, are dedicated to the preservation of hummingbirds and other neo-tropical birds. The group of more than a dozen trained banders will once again open their Fort Morgan station to the public. Come watch as they capture, retrieve, weigh, measure, band and release these winged travelers. The population levels, general health of the birds and effects of the weather on bird migration are also studied in this educational/research program.

Sargent and his crew will begin checking nets at dawn and close the nets mid-afternoon, depending on the activity of the birds. Early morning is usually the best time to visit. The HBSG invites you to bring a folding chair, water and insect repellent and spend time with them. Get all your bird questions ready-the group will have an answer. Don't forget your camera and the opportunity to get up close and personal with many beautiful birds.

As an added bonus, Sargent will lecture on the Birds of Fort Morgan on Saturday, October 11, at 2 p.m. at the fort. Sargent will focus on the indigenous birds that inhabit the Fort Morgan Peninsula year round, the vast species of migratory birds that stop on the peninsula on their way to and from Central and South America, and the significance of this landmass to the migration of these birds.

There is an admission charge to Fort Morgan but the banding site is free.

For more information on the bird banding, contact the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau 251-968-7511, 800-745-SAND, or visit the CVB website www.gulfshores.com. Pick up your free Alabama Coastal Birding Trail Guide at the Gulf Shores or Orange Beach Welcome Centers or download a copy from www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com.

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Media Contact: Bebe Gauntt +1 251-974-1510 bgauntt@gulfshores.com