On 30 September 2000, Mike and Gay Voss were boating in the northeast corner of Lewis Smith Lake (Cullman County), near Trimble, Alabama. There they observed a large, brown wading bird they later identified as a Limpkin (Aramus guarauna). Realizing the importance of their find, they quickly contacted a relative who is also a member in the Cullman Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Very soon word of this fantastic rarity spread throughout the state birding community. Over the next seven weeks, many birders traveled to view and enjoy the first documented occurrence of this species in Alabama.