Alabama Wildlife Center facts for kids
The Alabama Wildlife Center (AWC) is a special place in Pelham, Alabama. It's located inside Oak Mountain State Park. This center helps sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals. It's the biggest and oldest center of its kind in Alabama. The AWC is a nonprofit group, which means it relies on donations and volunteers. Even though it's in the state park, it works on its own.
The Alabama Wildlife Center focuses on helping wild birds from all over Alabama. They rescue, heal, and then release these birds back into nature. They care for over 100 different kinds of birds. Every year, the AWC helps almost 2,000 birds. This shows how much they care about protecting Alabama's amazing bird life.
The AWC also teaches people about nature. Their programs help us understand how important we are to the environment. They show how our actions affect animals and the world around us. These programs help people in Alabama connect with wild birds. They also teach why it's so important to protect wildlife. Each year, the AWC holds over 500 events. These events teach the public about native birds and why we need to save them.
You can visit the Alabama Wildlife Center any time of the year. They offer a self-guided tour. This lets you explore and learn at your own pace.
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What the AWC Does
The Alabama Wildlife Center has a clear goal. They want to protect and save Alabama's native birds. They do this by helping injured birds get well. They also teach people about these birds and why they are important.
AWC's Big Dreams
The AWC dreams of a future where Alabama's wild animals are healthy and happy. They want a community that cares about nature. This community would work to keep our planet healthy. They would also protect wildlife for kids in the future.
How AWC Reaches Its Goals
- Learning and Sharing: The AWC teaches everyone to treat wildlife kindly. They help us understand how different animals and plants work together. They also show how to live in a way that helps nature.
- Helping Birds Get Better: The AWC works hard to be the best at rescuing birds. They help them heal and then return them to the wild. This helps Alabama's bird populations stay strong.
- Protecting Nature: The AWC wants Alabama's natural homes for animals to be safe. They work to protect these places. This helps all wildlife thrive.
A Look Back: AWC's History
The Alabama Wildlife Center started small in 1977. A woman named Anne Miller began it from her home. It was run by volunteers back then. Since those early days, the AWC has grown a lot. It is now the biggest wildlife rescue center in Alabama.
In 1980, the AWC officially became a nonprofit group. By 1981, it was recognized as a 501(c) nonprofit. For many years, the AWC helped over 2,000 animals each year. They cared for many different animals. This included foxes, deer, bats, turtles, and even alligators. They also helped many kinds of birds, from big birds of prey to small songbirds.
In 1987, the Alabama Wildlife Center moved to Oak Mountain State Park. They set up their new home in a building that used to be a restaurant. This move helped them care for even more of Alabama's wildlife.
Today, the AWC focuses only on wild birds. This is because bird populations face many challenges. The Alabama Wildlife Center is very special. It is one of only three places in Alabama that can care for birds protected by federal laws. These are birds that travel long distances. This shows how important the AWC is for saving wildlife.
Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk
The Treetop Nature Trail is a fun path. It connects the Alabama Wildlife Center to the Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk. It's a short walk, about a quarter-mile long. This trail takes you through the beautiful nature of Alabama. If you don't want to walk, you can drive there in about two minutes.
The Boardwalk is home to some special birds. These are birds of prey from Alabama that the AWC helped. Sadly, their injuries mean they can't go back to living in the wild. Now, they help teach people about their species. The Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk has six different areas. Each area has a bird and tells its unique story.
