The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa celebrated National Fossil Day at Smith Hall on October 21 - a week late this year - all the paleontologists were attending the annual SVP meeting on National Fossil Day!  BPS was invited to set up an exhibit, along with a number of other exhibitors, including the Geologic Survey of Alabama, the Marine Science Club, the Alabama Museum of Natural History (who had spectacular specimens on display), geology classes, and the Evolutionary Studies Club.  There were a couple of paleontolgists giving lectures, and the opening of a new exhibit at Smith Hall later that evening.

A trip back to the gullies, not as hot as usual, actually very pleasant.  A number of shark vertebra and various fish fossils and jaws were found.  Several shark teeth and enchodus teeth were also found.

Weekend trip to a creek in Butler county, Alabama, with several members camping out for the long holiday.

Trip to a creek in Butler county, Alabama.  A good turnout for the hot weather.  Creek was good for cooling off while hunting fossils.

A beautiful Monday morning, with lots of clouds keeping heat to a bearable level.  We went to a new area this trip, where several crinoid heads and pieces, blastoids, archimedes, horned and other corals were found.  Just after moving to a new collecting location, the bottom dropped out, and though we were quite ok with collecting in the rain, the quarry managers said the roads would get slick, so we had to make an early exit.  The group enjoyed lunch at a very interesting Mexican restaurant.

Report to come.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural History in Jackson presents a "Fossil Road Show" each year.  The public is invited to bring their "mystery rocks" and have them identified.  It also provides a venue for local groups to showcase their rocks, fossils, and club activities.  BPS members Don and Jill Hill set up a fossil exhibit for BPS, and spent the day telling visitors about the Alabama fossils on our exhibit tables, visiting with other like-minded groups, and checking out the numerous exhibits.