Baker County Birding Locations |
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Legend Su = summer F = fall W = winter Sp = spring YR = year-round
[July 2005] = Most recently checked by KB [N/A] = Not yet checked by KB
= Location is within +/- 10 miles of the indicated interstate highway. This is especially helpful for out-of-town birders who may be passing through Georgia while travelling and would like to get a quick birding fix. This is also helpful for birders planning a "Big Day," where staying close to a major interstate corridor is essential for covering the greatest diversity of habitats in 24 hours.
= Location is a "Georgia Birding Hotspot." Though this designation is subjective, it generally means that the area should be given high priority when planning a birding trip to a region. Some Hotspots offer incredible, productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island), while the best birding of the year may be more seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).
SBM = Shorebird Migration; this very generally refers to mid-March thru May in spring and mid-July thru mid-October in fall. Fall is the prime shorebird season. Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers likely only in fall. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable. PM = Passerine Migration; this very generally refers to April and May in spring and August thru mid-October in fall. This includes all songbirds - wood warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, flycatchers, etc. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable. Spring migration is much more concentrated and birds are often in colorful breeding plumage. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or even impossible to determine sex), with numerous juveniles which do not exhibit the same obvious field marks as adults. IBA = Important Bird Area; the aim of the IBA Program is to identify and conserve key breeding and feeding sites for birds. An Important Bird Area is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, whether in breeding season, winter, or during migration. These sites are considered to be exceptionally important for bird conservation; see Georgia's IBA Webpage. Baker County 1) Elmodel WMA [N/A] PM, W for sparrows[DeLorme: p. 57, grid C-7] This extreme SW Georgia site is a great spot for tromping around for sparrows in winter. Lots of Vesper Sparrow, good numbers of White-crowned Sparrow, and has hosted more rare spp. like Clay-colored and LeConte's Sparrow; also Sedge Wren, raptors, Northern Bobwhite, etc. From the town of Camilla, take Hwy 37 NW to the town of Elmodel, the WMA is on the left side (south) of the road.
2) Open Field [N/A] PM, W for sparrows, late Sp-Su for breeding birds [DeLorme pg. 57, E-6] The edges of this field are often productive for winter sparrows, including White-crowned and Vesper, Clay-colored possible but rare; also a winter Dickcissel record. The field is located about a quarter of a mile north of where GA 253 dead ends into GA 91. From this intersection go north on an unnamed paved road to the first field on the right.
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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