Prairie Creek Campground is located in northern Lowndes County, Alabama, between Holy Ground Battlefield Recreation Area and the Henry Dam. The campground is an excellent midway point for birding in the region. Visitors can expect to see meadowlarks, bluebirds, sparrows, raptors, and shorebirds, among others. The mature hardwoods along the main road are especially bird-rich, with numerous migrants in spring and fall and mixed-species feeding flocks in winter. The campground loop road is closed to day-use visitors, but a broad trail continues northward to and through a primitive camping area, providing excellent birding in all seasons, particularly in winter. The Alabama River to the east provides a look at egrets, herons, osprey, and bald eagles.
What to Expect
Prairie Creek Campground lies along the southern bank of the Alabama River in northern Lowndes County. It is situated between Holy Ground Battlefield Recreation Area and the nearby Henry Dam, making it a convenient midway point on a birding loop through Lowndes County.
Consider spending a short half day (2 to 3 hours) at the park to survey the birdlife comprehensively.
Begin by checking the grassy fields on both sides of the paved entrance road. Expect to see meadowlarks and bluebirds here in all seasons, with various sparrows in the cooler months. Check the shade trees lining the entrance road for Eastern Kingbirds in the warmer months, and raptors throughout the year. Look for a few shorebirds in spring and fall following periods of heavy rain.
Among the mature hardwoods along the main road, you should see numerous migrants in spring and fall and roaming mixed-species feeding flocks in winter. The dense understory away from the main road is particularly bird-rich. You will find Hooded Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Wood Thrushes, Pewees, and Indigo Buntings. The woods here are full of Summer Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles, and Red-eyed and Yellow-throated vireos. Follow the paved road northward, and as you near the water, Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, and Acadian Flycatchers are common. There are multiple sites to look out over the Alabama River to the east from along the road; check for egrets and herons most of the year along the river banks. Look for Osprey, too; Bald Eagles nest in the vicinity and winter in the area. Check the banks, brush piles, and root balls for Winter Wrens from late September through April.
The campground loop road is closed to day-use visitors, but at the northern terminus of the paved park road, a broad trail continues northward to and through a primitive camping area. Hike along the level trail through the open canopy and moderate understory for excellent birding in all seasons, particularly in winter.
