BullochCoBirdingSites

A Guide to Birding in Georgia

Bulloch County
Birding Locations

Legend
Su = summer
F = fall
W = winter
Sp = spring
YR = year-round

[Sept 2009] = Most recently checked by Ken Blankenship (webmaster)
[N/A] = Not yet checked by Ken Blankenship

= 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 out in the field.

= 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 productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park), while the best birding of the year may be seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).

= Habitat and/or access at location is subject to change according to mixed land use or changes in ownership, such as cattle operations, agricultural fields, pine plantations (logging), and so on. Always adhere to good birding ethics concerning private property, and if the habitat at a location has experienced major changes or is no longer accessible, please email the webmaster.

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 and singing. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or 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.

Bulloch County
'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.1) Titan Turf Farm (formerly East Georgia Turf Farm) [April 2006]
SBM
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme pg. 46, grid E-3]
Read about Birding Georgia's Sod Farms
Updates... in addition to the name change, it appeared in spring 2006 that part of the farm had been sold to a residential developer. Birding the area should still be pretty much the same but there is less good sod, and if you haven't been there since the construction, you may be surprised to see a small neighborhood occupying a previously sodded area.

'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.2) Pecan Groves [Feb 2007]
W for orioles
[DeLorme pg. 46, C-3]
Orioles are known to winter in south Georgia, though in small numbers. They are the subject of John Parrish's winter oriole surveys. They tend to roam around a fairly large area, often in pecan orchards, so while the directions that follow will take you a an exact spot that has been good for Baltimore Orioles, and even a rare Bullock's Oriole in winter 2005 and 2006-07, you should spend some time in the general area, and listen for oriole call notes to locate groups of Baltimore Orioles, which may (rarely) contain a Bullock's. From I-16 SE of Macon, get off at Exit 116 and head north on Hwy 301/25 for 9.2 miles. Here at a light, turn left onto the US 25 Bypass. In exactly 2.6 miles, turn left onto Westside/Main St. After 1.2 miles, you'll see Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church on your right; turn right here onto Banks Dairy Rd. Follow the road for 3.1 miles, and turn right onto a packed sand road called J.R. Chester Rd. You'll pass an older pecan grove on your right, a pasture and pond on your left, and shortly you'll notice a small white house on your right and a much younger pecan grove on your left. Park on the shoulder and scan this younger pecan orchard for both Baltimore Orioles and the rare Bullock's Oriole. You may see the birds all along this stretch of road, until it intersects PB Brannen Rd about 1/2 mile down the road.

Text and photo by KB.