Wood Duck Nature Preserve

05/15/2026

Enjoy the wonderful weather, wildlife, and wildflowers this weekend at the Wood Duck Nature Preserve! We still have a good number of wood ducklings and other spring migratory birds at the preserve as well.

Photo Credit: Gabrielle Dunham

05/02/2026

Thanks for joining us today on our spring nature walk! We had a total of 47 bird species including around 60 wood ducklings, scarlet and summer tanagers, indigo buntings, orchard orioles, warblers, and many other bird species. We got a great look at a broad-winged hawk at the start of our walk. Check out the spring migrants this week at the preserve!

Photo Credit: Gabrielle Dunham

04/10/2026

This week at the preserve with the warmer weather, we have seen more wildlife activity. A ring-necked snake was found during one of our walks enjoying the sun. This small snake species mainly eats earthworms, slugs, small reptiles and amphibians. Many butterflies, beetles, and other pollinators are hard at work getting nectar and pollinating our wildflowers at the preserve. Birds are also very active this week feeding on insects. Come visit the preserve this weekend and enjoy the wildlife and wildflowers!

Information Source: https://www.oriannesociety.org/faces-of-the-forest/ring-necked-snakes/?v=f69b47f43ce4

Photo Credit: Gabrielle Dunham

03/26/2026

Join AOS and Friends of the Wood Duck Preserve for a morning bird walk!

Join on a trip to look for spring migrants this Friday in Opelika!

Details here: aosbirds.org/localfieldtrips

03/17/2026

Spring is here at the Wood Duck Nature Preserve! Come check out some of our lovely flowering plants this week.

03/06/2026

We have a Toyota automobile key that was found on the trail. DM us if this your key.

02/25/2026

One of our first trips of the AOS Local Field Trips program! A walk at the Wood Duck Nature Preserve in Opelika, led by Rodney McCollum on Thursday, February 26th at 9am. Come see a variety of winter songbirds, and ducks like this Blue-winged Teal!

Our field trips are free and open to the public. Check our field trips calendar for updates and find more information here:
www.aosbirds.org/localfieldtrips

photo by Greg D. Jackson

01/23/2026

Most of us don't enjoy this cold rainy weather, but the ducks enjoy it! This week a pair of ruddy ducks have been observed at the preserve. Yesterday the pair was very active during the rain constantly diving in the water. These diving ducks feed on aquatic invertebrates. A large number of wood ducks and other ducks were also very active yesterday. Come out to the preserve even on rainy days to see ducks and other wildlife at the preserve!

Photo and Video Credit: Gabrielle Dunham

01/20/2026

Our bird of the week is the Eastern phoebe. This is a common species you likely will see at the preserve. Eastern phoebes are flycatchers and have short thin bills that are used for catching insects, mostly flying insect species. They often make a clicking noise when they catch insects. Phoebes are very active, making short flights to capture insects and very often returning to the same perch. Most often seen perched with their tails wagging up and down. Phoebes make nests out of mud and grasses and typically place them in nooks on bridges, barns, and houses. This has allowed them to tolerate landscape changes made by humans and to expand their range. Phoebes also often reuse their nests unlike most birds. In 1804, the Eastern phoebe became the first banded bird in North America. Learn more about Eastern phoebes at the following link.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Phoebe/overview

Photo Credit: Marie Tan

01/20/2026