Barton's Beach on the Cahaba River Dr. Thomas Wilson helps his ornithology students identify an unfamiliar bird on a recent trip to the Barton's Beach area of the Cahaba River near Marion, Alabama. This part of the Cahaba River has been proposed to Forever Wild as a new Perry County Park. (top to bottom: Dr. Wilson, Elizabeth Kirk, Audrey Branham, and Alison Goolsby; digital image by DenDros, April 13, 1998)

On March 3, 1998, Dr. Wilson, Amber Bailey, a Biology major, and Tera Powell, an Environmental Science major, attended a meeting of the Cahaba River Coalition. The Coalition is a grass-roots collaboration of the AEC, the Cahaba River Society, and many other organizations devoted to the conservation of the environment of the Cahaba River. To our surprise, the honored guest at the meeting was Mary Burks. Mrs. Burks almost single-handedly established the Alabama Conservancy which later changed its name to the Alabama Environmental Council (AEC). She is presently working on the Alabama Wildflower Watch which is an attempt to preserve the wildflowers of the Blackbelt Prairie. Mrs. Burks was very influential in the establishment of the Sipsey Wilderness, where a granite monument was erected in her honor.

Pat Byington, director of the AEC and member of the Forever Wild Board of Directors, was at the meeting to brief the group on the progress of the Barton’s Beach Cahaba River Park. Dr. Wilson gave his computer presentation of the park and showed the members present the Cahaba River Coalition Web page. Lastly, motions were made concerning the organization of the political system of the Coalition. Dr. Wilson, Dr. Tishler, and Linda Derry were elected to lead the coalition. The next meeting was scheduled for March 17, at Judson College.