Today the system boasts 550 refuges and contains over 150 million acres. Many are rugged, wild places, boasting a great diversity of wildlife, with the primary goal of conserving many of these species. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, located in Decatur, AL, was established in 1938 for the purpose of providing habitat for migratory and wintering birds. It is located on the Tennessee River, and in the winter hosts tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl and cranes. Ten species listed as endangered or threatened can be found on the refuge.
What to See and Do
Upon entering the refuge (off of Highway 67) one will wind through some cornfields where deer skirt the edges for browse and buteos soar overhead looking for a meal. Eventually the visitor’s center comes into view. Inside is a display of some of the refuge’s native wildlife, an information desk staffed by a friendly volunteer, and a small gift shop. A small mew houses a Red-tailed Hawk, Hawkeye, a permanent resident due to injury and used for educational purposes. Bird feeders outside the center afford the chance to see some common birds of the area. A short trail leads to an observation building overlooking a wetland area that is often chock full of waterfowl. Northern Pintails, American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Bufflehead and Mallards are a few of the frequent visitors.
Tom Ress, a Wheeler refuge volunteer, said "The number of Sandhill Cranes overwintering at the refuge has been slowly increasing over the years and Wheeler now hosts over 4000 cranes through the winter." He also said that there is at least one active Bald Eagle nest on the refuge. Northern Harriers regularly patrol the marsh for rodents and amphibians, and American Kestrels frequently hover over the surrounding fields. In winter the waterfowl viewing from the observation building is spectacular. Wheeler hosts the state's largest wintering duck population.
Noteworthy Visitors
Now and then wildlife watchers receive a treat at the refuge. The American Alligator, listed as a federally endangered species in 1967, has made a comeback and is no longer a rarity at Wheeler or in north Alabama, as mentioned in a 2008 Times Daily article. Among the thousands of Sandhill Cranes that gather on the refuge in winter have been spotted Whooping Cranes, an endangered species (in 1937 there were fewer than 20 birds in existence). From time to time a bird species unusual to this area is reported (Red-throated Loon, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Red-necked Grebe are a few of the species of interest that have shown up in recent years) and birders flock to Wheeler to get a glimpse.
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