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

Catoosa County
1) Chickamauga National Battlefield Park           [Dec 2008]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[See Walker County]
[DeLorme: pg. 12, grid B-4]

2) Shookville Pond       W for waterfowl          [Dec 2008]    
[DeLorme pg.13, B-6]
There is a pond in this community just east of Ringgold on US Hwy 41. It is not a major destination by any means, but is very close to I-75 so if you are passing through in winter it may be worth a quick check for waterfowl. Canvasback has been seen here before, along with good numbers of Ring-necked Duck. From Exit 345 on I-75, head north on US Hwy 41 for just 1.6 miles and you will reach a cluster of buildings comprising the community of Shookville; turn right (north) here onto Cherokee Valley Rd. Almost immediately, turn right onto Rogers Dr and you will drive alongside the pond where you can scan from your vehicle or briefly park on the shoulder to have a look around. Interestingly, this rural area has been thoroughly treated by Google and you can get street-level interactive views of the entire pond.

Text and photo by KB.