Date: 9/2/25 6:39 am From: Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] TVA Wetlands Trails -NO PUBLIC ACCESS
I may have accidentally figured it out. Someone check this Hotspot and see if it has officially been renamed indicating no public access. Let me know if I was successful.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:36 AM, Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io<tnbarredowl...> wrote: I haven't figured out the Hotspot review process in eBird yet (and may not be the Hotspot reviewer). I will work to try to get the site renamed to indicate no public access, but until I can get this done, I just wanted others to be aware of the situation. Also, kudos to Mason for changing his eBird location.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:24 AM, Duncan, Scot via groups.io<scotduncan99...> wrote: Good to have the heads up now, though a little late. When lands become private or are private, flagging it as such should be a top priority for eBird reviewers to prevent unfortunate outcomes (arrests, confrontations with police/security/land owners, hazardous conditions) for well-intentioned birders from outside the area who have no way to know the lands are private if they are unmarked as such on eBird or with on-site signage. I've birded there recently, without knowing any better.
As for the eBird users, we have a responsibility to notify eBird reviewers if there are similar conditions that future birders should know about. In Mason's case, he quickly and responsibly removed his eBird list from this location when he learned that the land was private and before RBA alerts went out.
Scot
R. Scot Duncan, Ph.D.Conservation biologist, author, advocate, and birder.https://www.rsduncan.com/ Author of Southern Wonder and Southern RiversExecutive Director, Alabama AudubonFor Alabama Audubon matters, please use <Scot...>
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> wrote:
Just for clarification, Mason, as have other birders, birded this area because it is an eBird Hotspot. No intentional trespass was involved. I will work to remove this Hotspot since the property is no longer publicly accessible. I just wanted to make sure others did not trespass after receiving eBird rare bird notifications. Yesterday was a holiday and luckily the area was not being patrolled. I want to help other birders avoid any legal problems. This was always a great fall birding location and I definitely miss spending time there. I wish it was still publicly accessible.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Mon, Sep 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM, Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io<tnbarredowl...> wrote: Earlier today Mason Currier birded the TVA Wetlands Trails area and posted results on eBird, including some nice finds. I just wanted to remind other birders that TVA sold this property several years ago and we (local birders) have not been able to secure permission for public access. Therefore, DO NOT go birding in this area. It was always a great place to enjoy fall migration, but it is now off limits. Future plans include possible industrial or residential developments.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Date: 9/2/25 6:37 am From: Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] TVA Wetlands Trails -NO PUBLIC ACCESS
I haven't figured out the Hotspot review process in eBird yet (and may not be the Hotspot reviewer). I will work to try to get the site renamed to indicate no public access, but until I can get this done, I just wanted others to be aware of the situation. Also, kudos to Mason for changing his eBird location.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:24 AM, Duncan, Scot via groups.io<scotduncan99...> wrote: Good to have the heads up now, though a little late. When lands become private or are private, flagging it as such should be a top priority for eBird reviewers to prevent unfortunate outcomes (arrests, confrontations with police/security/land owners, hazardous conditions) for well-intentioned birders from outside the area who have no way to know the lands are private if they are unmarked as such on eBird or with on-site signage. I've birded there recently, without knowing any better.
As for the eBird users, we have a responsibility to notify eBird reviewers if there are similar conditions that future birders should know about. In Mason's case, he quickly and responsibly removed his eBird list from this location when he learned that the land was private and before RBA alerts went out.
Scot
R. Scot Duncan, Ph.D.Conservation biologist, author, advocate, and birder.https://www.rsduncan.com/ Author of Southern Wonder and Southern RiversExecutive Director, Alabama AudubonFor Alabama Audubon matters, please use <Scot...>
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> wrote:
Just for clarification, Mason, as have other birders, birded this area because it is an eBird Hotspot. No intentional trespass was involved. I will work to remove this Hotspot since the property is no longer publicly accessible. I just wanted to make sure others did not trespass after receiving eBird rare bird notifications. Yesterday was a holiday and luckily the area was not being patrolled. I want to help other birders avoid any legal problems. This was always a great fall birding location and I definitely miss spending time there. I wish it was still publicly accessible.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Mon, Sep 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM, Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io<tnbarredowl...> wrote: Earlier today Mason Currier birded the TVA Wetlands Trails area and posted results on eBird, including some nice finds. I just wanted to remind other birders that TVA sold this property several years ago and we (local birders) have not been able to secure permission for public access. Therefore, DO NOT go birding in this area. It was always a great place to enjoy fall migration, but it is now off limits. Future plans include possible industrial or residential developments.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Date: 9/2/25 6:24 am From: Duncan, Scot via groups.io <scotduncan99...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] TVA Wetlands Trails -NO PUBLIC ACCESS
Good to have the heads up now, though a little late. When lands become
private or are private, flagging it as such should be a top priority for
eBird reviewers to prevent unfortunate outcomes (arrests, confrontations
with police/security/land owners, hazardous conditions) for
well-intentioned birders from outside the area who have no way to know the
lands are private if they are unmarked as such on eBird or with on-site
signage. I've birded there recently, without knowing any better.
As for the eBird users, we have a responsibility to notify eBird reviewers
if there are similar conditions that future birders should know about. In
Mason's case, he quickly and responsibly removed his eBird list from this
location when he learned that the land was private and before RBA alerts
went out.
On Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Just for clarification, Mason, as have other birders, birded this area
> because it is an eBird Hotspot. No intentional trespass was involved. I
> will work to remove this Hotspot since the property is no longer publicly
> accessible. I just wanted to make sure others did not trespass after
> receiving eBird rare bird notifications. Yesterday was a holiday and
> luckily the area was not being patrolled. I want to help other birders
> avoid any legal problems. This was always a great fall birding location and
> I definitely miss spending time there. I wish it was still publicly
> accessible.
>
> Damien Simbeck
> Killen AL
>
> Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
>
> On Mon, Sep 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM, Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io
> <tnbarredowl...> wrote:
> Earlier today Mason Currier birded the TVA Wetlands Trails area and posted
> results on eBird, including some nice finds. I just wanted to remind other
> birders that TVA sold this property several years ago and we (local
> birders) have not been able to secure permission for public access.
> Therefore, DO NOT go birding in this area. It was always a great place to
> enjoy fall migration, but it is now off limits. Future plans include
> possible industrial or residential developments.
>
> Damien Simbeck
> Killen AL
>
> Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/2/25 6:09 am From: Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] TVA Wetlands Trails -NO PUBLIC ACCESS
Just for clarification, Mason, as have other birders, birded this area because it is an eBird Hotspot. No intentional trespass was involved. I will work to remove this Hotspot since the property is no longer publicly accessible. I just wanted to make sure others did not trespass after receiving eBird rare bird notifications. Yesterday was a holiday and luckily the area was not being patrolled. I want to help other birders avoid any legal problems. This was always a great fall birding location and I definitely miss spending time there. I wish it was still publicly accessible.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Mon, Sep 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM, Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io<tnbarredowl...> wrote: Earlier today Mason Currier birded the TVA Wetlands Trails area and posted results on eBird, including some nice finds. I just wanted to remind other birders that TVA sold this property several years ago and we (local birders) have not been able to secure permission for public access. Therefore, DO NOT go birding in this area. It was always a great place to enjoy fall migration, but it is now off limits. Future plans include possible industrial or residential developments.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Date: 9/1/25 7:11 pm From: Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> Subject: [ALbirds] TVA Wetlands Trails -NO PUBLIC ACCESS
Earlier today Mason Currier birded the TVA Wetlands Trails area and posted results on eBird, including some nice finds. I just wanted to remind other birders that TVA sold this property several years ago and we (local birders) have not been able to secure permission for public access. Therefore, DO NOT go birding in this area. It was always a great place to enjoy fall migration, but it is now off limits. Future plans include possible industrial or residential developments.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Date: 8/18/25 6:42 pm From: Kittle, Paul D via groups.io <pdkittle...> Subject: [ALbirds] Northwest Alabama Sinkhole Ponds
The various sinkhole ponds (Sinks, Marthaler, Chicken Ranch, Gnat, Church) and the Cypress Creek (Florence) sewage treatment plant in Lauderdale and Colbert counties are providing excellent habitat for a real assortment of shorebirds, waterfowl, herons and relatives, etc. Check out the latest eBird checklists from these two counties for examples.
