Controlled burn angers bird enthusiasts

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Some bird enthusiasts said they are angry about a recent controlled burn at Fort Morgan.

We received an e-mail from a viewer and bird watcher stating the burn at Fort Morgan was "out of line," and would disrupt migratory bird behavior.

"It was control burned because of recent wild fires we had at the Gulf State Park that burned over 1,000 acres, and then we had the Dauphin Island bird sanctuary catch fire as well, which completely decimated the forest land, killing thousands of trees and putting many homes and businesses in danger," said Ricky Fields, a county forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Fields said the state forestry commission reviewed the area in 2012 and suggested clearing out two of three tree and brush filled sections of Fort Morgan. He said the commission had a small window in which to execute the burn before bird season starts in April.

"Because the fuel load in this area is extreme, we needed the cooler temperatures of the winter months to keep it contained and keep it from devastating the health of the forest and the overall endangered species that migrate to this area," said Fields.

He said if the brush were left alone, a potential for wild fire would exist.

"This two lane road is the only escape route off of this peninsula. So you can imagine if we were to have a catastrophic wild fire in this site that would be a problem trying to get people evacuated," said Fields.

The Alabama Forestry Commission estimates after two months and two good rains the burned area will all be grown back.  There's already some new growth sprouting up in less than a week.

Our viewer e-mail was directed toward the Fort Morgan Director Brian Hill. Hill said he wants everyone involved to be on the same page next time.

“Any future burns will be taken into consultation with a bird expert," Hill said.

Hill said a photo of a dead bird posted online was actually found before the burn and that no birds were killed because of the fire. Park officials did, however, found some lost treasures afterward.

"One of the results from this burn is we uncovered two cisterns, we uncovered a foundation we did not know was here and we uncovered actually a dangerous situation - a well that is active that we did not know was here," said Hill.

Hill said visitors will be back, both by wing and foot.