With Thanksgiving dinners turning into lunchtime leftovers, and another Christmas shopping season under way, the need to trim the tree is just around the corner.

To make it a bit easier, and to bring attention to area estuaries, the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation has released the fifth in its series of brass Christmas tree ornaments.

Executive Director Walter Ernest said the new commemorative ornament illustrates a scene on Weeks Bay, with a three-dimensional speckled trout, a reflective water background and birds flying in the distance.

All funds raised from the sale of these ornaments will go toward foundation projects.

“We chose this scene because speckled trout are found in estuaries,” Ernest said. “We had always done birds in the past, but had never done fish. Each year we try to emphasize something different about the watershed or the reserve.

“We really wanted to promote the estuary. If you went out on Weeks Bay right now, you’d probably catch a speckled trout.”

The speck stands out from the rest of the ornament because it is cast in a silver tone. All previous ornaments were a gold color, he said, while pointing out its design is based on photographs found on the foundation Web site, www.weeksbay.org.

The limited edition (500) ornaments, which sell for $10 each, are available at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on Highway 98, west of Fish River. They are also for sale at Christmas ‘Round the Corner in Fairhope, and may be purchased by calling the foundation office at (251) 990-5004. You may also e-mail the foundation at weeksfoundation@bellsouth.net.

Ernest said, “One reason we do the ornament is so people will go to the reserve. It raises awareness of the foundation and the reserve. Whether you’re a birder or a fisherman, it’s all for the reserve.”

Another way to help the reserve through the foundation is by making a donation in memory of someone. The donor will receive a pitcher plant card in return, Ernest said, adding, “It goes toward protecting estuaries.”

Estuaries are places where the rivers meet the sea, he said. For Weeks Bay, those primary feeds are the Fish and Magnolia rivers. Both have been the subjects of previous ornaments, and they are still available.

“When I was growing up, you appreciated estuaries because your parents took you outdoors,” Ernest said. “Now kids can come to the reserve.”

The Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation is the 501(c3) nonprofit friends group of the reserve. The organization serves as a land trust and protects ecologically sensitive property. It also raises money for education, research, public outreach and protection of the natural resources within the Weeks Bay watershed.