Bibb County
Birding Locations |
|
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.
Bibb County
1) Central City Park and Lower Poplar Street (Macon) [March 2008] 
mid Sp-early Su
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme pp. 34-35, G 5-6]
This is not one of my favorite spots to bird, very urban... but yet, I am always drawn here by the amazing spectacle of both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles breeding in the large sweet gums, oaks, and magnolias that are along the road into the park and in the park itself. Another cool benefit is that the park is right off Exit 2 on I-16, meaning that you can make a brief foray here in no time at all. When you get off at Exit 2, head south (into town) for only 0.1 mile and turn left at the first light, just before passing under a RR overpass. In 0.2 mile, make a tricky left turn between two brick walls into the park. I usualy park on the left just after coming through rows of young oaks on either side of the road, at a building that says "Georgia State Fair" (PHOTO 1), this is also near a gazebo covered with jasmine vines. Take 15-20 minutes to walk around the park, listening carefully and looking for Orchard and Baltimore Orioles flying around, building nests, or feeding young (later in summer). The oaks along the approach road are good, as are the older, larger sweet gums and magnolias (PHOTOS 2 and 3). You may also encounter Easten Kingbirds, American Goldfinch, House Finch, American Robin, or even a Loggerhead Shrike. When done here, continue down the road past a minor league baseball stadium and over a RR crossing. At the first available road after this (you dead-end into it), turn left onto Lower Poplar St. In an area of low trees on your right, you may find Common Ground Doves, Mourning Doves, and other birds eating birdseed left out by local businesses along. If you keep going down this street (past a popular lunch diner on your left), you'll come through a nice low, swampy area on both sides of the road that may have Hooded Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, or Barred Owl. In April 2007 a rare Ross' Goose was found at the end of this road in a pasture (PHOTO 4), hanging out with Canada Geese.
   
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4
Text and photos by KB.
2) Ocmulgee National Monument mid Sp-mid F [Oct 2007] 
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme pg. 35, G-6]
3) Bond Swamp [March 2008] 
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 35, G-6 and H-6]
Located in both Bibb and Twiggs Counties just off I-16 just SE of Macon. Get off at Exit 6 (US Hwy 23 / Alt 129) and drive south on Hwy for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Bonds View Rd and in 0.3 miles the road will become gravel and enter the national wildlife refuge. Almost immediately you will be in great bottomland habitat near the Ocmulgee River (PHOTOS 1-3). Take your time, driving slowly with windows down and stopping to bird when you hear something interesting. Birds of note include Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, and more. The best areas for Swainson's Warbler feature very thick, brushy understory such as Chinese privet. Do not play any audio in this area; you will not need it - in spring and early summer you will easily hear several males singing on territory especially earlier in the day. After crossing a small creek, you will eventually reach the river itself. Park to the side near some metal posts - unless you have a pretty tough 4x4 vehicle the road is not passable from this point on but there is lots of great birding to do on foot. NOTE: A massive storm and tornados caused severe damage in this area and at the nearby National Wildlife Refuge of the same name in spring 2008. However, the roads should be cleared of downed trees and the disturbance may actually benefit Swainson's Warblers and other scrub-loving species of birds. You can get open views on the river (PHOTO 4) to check for waders or divers, and Mississippi Kites may be observed overhead in spring and summer. The area is reasonably popular with fishermen and people fooling about with ATVs and trucks, so early morning is best. Further south on Hwy US 23 / Alt 129, just past the county line (and so in Twiggs County), there are two parking lots for the NWR: first, for the Longleaf Pine trail on the left and, second, for the Beaver Swamp Trail on the right. Visit the refuge website to view a good map showing the location of both trails (and Bonds View Rd), a bird list, and details of when the trails are closed for firearm hunts. In spring and summer the Beaver Swamp trail is also good for a variety of bottomland forest breeders including Prothonatory Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Summer Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Duck, and Mississippi Kite. The NWR brochure describes the possibility of wintering wildfowl, but the trails do not seem to access appropriate areas.
   
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4
Text by KB & Steve Barlow; Photo 1 by SB, others KB
|
|
Copyright 2008 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
|
|
