2) Kite foraging site [N/A]
late July-Aug
[DeLorme 52 E-2]
The pasture is located on the west side of the highway approximately 0.2 mi. south of the intersection of US 441 and State Highway 107 East.
3) Ocmulgee River Bridge and River Landings [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 52, E-2, 3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: This major river forms the extreme northern border of the county approximately 16 miles from Douglas. Highway 441 North is the most direct route.
Access: Multiple public access points. Try the Ocmulgee River Bridge south of Jacksonville, Georgia, and the several public boat landings like Jacksonville, Barr Bluff and Flat Tub. The latter is now part of a newly created Flat Tub Wildlife Management Area, reportedly a good area in which to see Wild Turkeys.
Highlights: This slow moving river is flanked by large wetland areas where various herons, egrets, and ibis can often be seen. The river is the best location in the county to have a chance to see Mississippi Kites and their scarce cousin, the Swallow-tailed Kite. The river edge is also the home of the Belted Kingfisher and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, while the surrounding forest is the realm of the Pileated Woodpecker, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and the Red-eyed Vireo. The river also acts as a channel and stop over point for several migratory species.
4) Broxton Rocks [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 52, G-3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: Seven miles north of Broxton on Rock Rd. There is a locked gate where the property starts. You must have permission to enter the property. Visit the Broxton Rocks website.
Access: Private. The site is a Nature Conservancy Preserve and access is limited. Tours can be arranged through the City of Douglas Welcome Center or the Georgia Chapter Office of the Conservancy in Atlanta. Tours are usually offered several times a year for a small entry fee.
Highlights: The wonderful sandstone rocks and the unique plant life they support are the true highlights at this special site. Upon visiting the Broxton Rocks, one will spend far more time looking down than up. Having said that, the average birder can still see and hear a variety of birds at the location, everything from Downy woodpeckers to Barred Owls to Red-tailed Hawks have been seen regularly there. During migration, the Rocks have been a stopover for huge flocks of American Robins, various warblers, and Eastern Towhees.
5) Coffee High School Campus / Douglas Municipal Park [N/A]
PM, W for waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 52, H-3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: Take Highway 441 North about one mile from Douglas, turn left on Van Davis Rd to enter the park area. There is a large sign on the highway.
Access: Highly accessible public park. No fee. Several parking areas next to two large ponds surrounded by both wooded and open areas, sports practice fields, baseball and softball fields, playgrounds, and picnic shelters.
Highlights: The mixture of birding micro-environments has caused this site to actually be one of the best places to go birding near the city. Waterfowl, waders, vultures, hawks, kestrels, shrikes, woodpeckers, and songbirds have all been repeatedly seen on the grounds of the park and high school campus.
6) Bay Meadows [N/A]
PM, late fall-winter for waders and waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 60, A-2]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: Several entrances on the south side of Highway 158. Approximately six miles southwest of Douglas
Access: Public roadways/Private home sites
Highlights: Bay Meadows is a large residential suburb that has managed to keep both areas of woodlands and wetlands relatively untouched, while also creating ponds and lakes. Bay Meadows is home to a variety of birdlife, from the standard backyard species to wading birds. Great Egrets, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Great Blue Herons are regularly seen along the shorelines of the many bodies of water and several raptor species, including the American Bald Eagle, have been viewed soaring above.
7) Douglas Greenway Trail (Rails to Trails Pathway) [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[Delorme pg. 60, A-3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: This paved path nearly runs the length of the city. It starts at the southern end of South Georgia College and heads northward to the Old Shop Pond / 20 Mile Creek wetlands at Chester Avenue.
Access: Free to the public. Open sunup to sundown.
Highlights: The trail follows the old Georgia and Florida Railroad rail line, and its depot (now a museum) and the foundations of the railcar repair buildings can be seen along its route. There are many micro-habitats with various trees, urban areas, low brush, and a swamp-like pond. The northern end of the trail, near the wetland known as the Old Shop Pond, is an excellent place to see a wide variety of bird life, including the Downy Woodpecker, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Northern Flicker, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and White Ibis. There is new construction on the northern end of trail through the wetlands.
8) City of Douglas Cemetery [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 60, A-3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: At the northern end of Gaskin Avenue inside the Douglas city limits.
Access: Public cemetery, so be quiet and respectful when visiting here. Closes at sundown.
Highlights: The cemetery has a variety of trees, including Italian Poplar, which it turn provides roosting and feeding locations for many birds. The oldest mausoleums in the county are also located here, including the Ashley mausoleum, the final resting place of the county’s first millionaire. Hawks have been seen here preying on rabbits. Birds like Chipping Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, and Northern Mockingbirds live here. Twenty-Mile Creek lies just through the trees to the north of the cemetery.
9) General Coffee State Park [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 60, A-4]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: East of Douglas off of the Nicholls Highway about 5 miles from the city.
Access: A public Georgia State Park, however, there is a parking free. Open daily. Visit the park website.
Highlights: GCSP opened in the early 1970’s and is home to the Heritage Farm, a group of historic farm buildings including the 1834 Meeks Cabin. The farm is located next to a large pond and bog site. The center of the park is dominated by a forested wetland area that features a boardwalk that links to a network of trails. The Park often hosts large groups of Canada Geese, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Eastern Kingbirds.
10) Douglas Municipal Airport / old WWII Airbase [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 60, A-3]
Text by Todd Womack
Location: Inside the city limits on the west side of Highway 441 South across from the Pizza Hut.
Access: The public may drive/walk around the old barracks buildings up to the fence that surrounds the tarmac. This is a working airport and a homeland security landing field; do not cross the fence line without permission. There is also a small roadside park/picnic area near the highway.
Highlights: The site is covered with a stand of mature pines coupled with the open fields around the runways. The white buildings are what remains of an important wartime flight school and now is home to the WWII Flight Training Museum. Many of the typical backyard birds can be seen here, like Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, and Blue Jays, as well as Downy woodpeckers, American Crows, Northern Mockingbirds, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and the occasional Loggerhead Shrike and Eastern Bluebird has also be recorded.
= 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.