Amazing Birds at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

The view was jaw-dropping, as good as it gets for bird-lovers, or for those who just appreciate an amazing sight when they see it.This morning I was at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, near Decatur, Alabama, at the peak of winter migration of the Sandhill Cranes, who began their journey in Wisconsin and southern Canada.

There were literally thousands of Sandhill Cranes, along with even more thousands of different types of ducks.

And four Whooping Cranes. In the following photo, you can see the four Whooping Cranes. They are white, and their legs are banded. The rest of the cranes are the Sandhills, which are gray:

The Whooping Crane is an endangered species, whose numbers at one time dropped to a perilous twenty-one. Careful management has increased their numbers to about 440 in the wild and 160 in captivity, still a very rare bird. There are actually five Whooping Cranes at the refuge, but number five was in another part of the refuge, which covers 35,000 acres.

The refuge offers diverse habitat types that provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering cranes and waterfowl, as well as nesting sites for migratory songbirds and many species of resident wildlife. In a share agreement, local farmers cultivate several thousand acres of cropland inside the refuge, and a portion of the crops is left in the field as a food source for wildlife.  

A trio of flying Sandhill Cranes.

White Pelicans fly over in formation.

Most of these photos were taken from within the comfort of an enclosed observatory, but there are a number of trails inside the refuge to accommodate birders and other wildlife lovers.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning to drive up to see all this. It was worth it!

Christmas at Arlington House

Arlington House is located on six acres in Old Elyton, the first County Seat of Jefferson County in Alabama. Judge William S. Mudd built this Greek Revival home between 1845 and 1850.Judge Mudd was one of the ten original founders of Birmingham in 1871, and the new city grew up around Elyton. Arlington is among the few antebellum-era homes to survive the American Civil War in the 1860s. It was occupied by Union troops toward the end of the war, and no one knows why the home was not burned when the troops left, which was the fate of most other estate homes. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.

Every year various decorators and clubs decorate the historic home for Christmas, and I looked forward to my visit this year.Fresh greenery is used in wreaths and swags throughout the home.
The Munger Parlor.

Charles S. Munger became owner of the property in 1902, and he was responsible for many renovations, including the addition of plumbing and electric lights.

The DeBardeleban Dining RoomThe Mudd Sitting Room

The Master Bedroom

"Grandmother's" Room - I am not sure if the elegant lady in the portrait would appreciate the theme from Red Riding Hood!

The Pine Room - This room was decorated by the Morning Glories Garden Club, a federated garden club for Jefferson County and surrounding areas.

The Children's Room

The following three images are of the kitchen, located in a separate building behind the house. The walk between the kitchen and the house was called the "Whistler's Walk," supposedly because the servants had to whistle while bringing meals to the main house. Since they could not chew and whistle at the same time, this prevented them from sneaking bites of the food!

You may also enjoy my previous posts : Holiday Decorating Ideas, Part I and Holiday Decorating Ideas, Part II, about a much more modern but beautifully decorated home. 

 Best wishes to you all!    Deb