Birmingham Paleontological Society

This month BPS spent our field trip exploring road cuts along a new highway, which included 10+ stops to survey various likely looking areas. Though rain was widely predicted, it didn't happen, and the weather was perfect for being outside. The fossil collecting wasn't as prolific as expected, but everyone found quite a few nice specimens, including brachiopods, tracks, and ferns. We also discovered an upright hole that appeared on first glance to be a blasting hole, but on closer examination one could see the impression of a lycopod, perhaps a lepidodendron.

Tonight's presentation will be "Southeastern Dinosaurs", by James Lamb, Curator of Paleontology at McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Alabama. For a great dinosaur and fossil day, check out the current McWane exhibit on Alabama Dinosaurs, catch the Dinosaurs Alive IMAX movie, take a supper break, then head on back down to hear the lecture!

A new exhibit "Alabama Dinosaurs" opened on March 14, 2008 at McWane Science Center showcasing fossil skeletons and other remains of dinosaurs found in the Eastern half of the United States, primarily from Alabama. It is the largest showcase of eastern US dinosaurs in the world. Associated with the new exhibit is the IMAX presentation "Dinosaurs Alive".

McWane Science Center Press Releases:

A large crew of BPS members and guests headed to northwest Alabama this month, in hopes of finding crinoid heads and trilobites. Well, we found both! We left Birmingham expecting a high of 50, however, that must have been in the wee hours of the morning, as the temperature hovered in the mid-30's all day. Brrr!! But that didn't keep the fossils inside, nor did it deter detemined fossil seekers.

Our first stop was a roadcut where numerous specimens of coral were found, many too large to carry home.

BPS regular monthly meetings are held on the 1st Monday of each month at the McWane Science Center. Park in the deck on "Level C", go through doors marked Special Event Center, and follow signs to meeting. The business meeting begins at

NOVA will be presenting a program on the latest chapter in the debate over the origin of flight. "The Four-Winged Dinosaur" will be shown on PBS (Birmingham, AL area) at these times:

Nova: The Four Winged Dinosaur (Alabama Public Television)

McWane has posted some "behind the scenes" pictures of the upcoming dinosaur exhibit.  Enjoy!

The Wetumpka Riverfest will be coming March 8, 2008 to Wetumpka, Alabama. Along with the Crater 5k Run, arts and crafts, food and music, there will be lectures and tours of the Wetumpka meteor crater. Dr. David T. King Jr., an Auburn University professor of geology, will share information about the astrobleme. There is a free

Fossil hunters say they have discovered bones of two massive meat-eating dinosaurs in Africa.

ABC News reported that a tiny pterodactyl with curved toes has been found in the Liaoning region of China.