Forsyth 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.
Forsyth County
1) American Proteins settling ponds [May 2007]
SBM (See note)
[DeLorme pg. 21, C-6]
Go North on GA 400 and get off at Exit 17, GA Hwy 306 (Keith Bridge Rd). Turn right (east) on GA 306 towards Gainsville, and continue a total of 3.1 miles (go through a major light with GA Hwy 369 along the way). At 2.9 miles from GA 400, start to look closely for a sign that says "American Proteins" on your left, and turn left on Leland Dr. The settling ponds are 0.5 miles down the road on the left hand side. Be mindful of the warning signs. This is a busy road, make sure to pull well off the road. You'll need a scope to identify shorebirds, waders, or waterfowl that are far off the road. You WILL smell some very unpleasant odors in this area, so be prepared. NOTE: It is important that cameras are strictly forbidden here and if the security folks don't recognize you or your car, you will probably be approached. Just be pleasant and let them know you are a birdwatcher and you shouldn't have any problems. American Golden Plover mid-Sept 2006; White-rumped Sandpiper fairly reliable in spring, Semi-palmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, both Yellowlegs, peeps, breeding Mallard and Wood Duck, and several other migrating shorebirds.
2) Buford Fish Hatchery [May 2007]
PM
[DeLorme pg. 21, E-6]
Another nice area for a walk during migration along the Chattahoochee River. Migrant and breeding pecies seen since May 2006 include Kentucky Warbler, Green Heron, Wood Duck, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak. In May 2007, both a rare Connecticut Warbler and a Warbling Vireo were found. From the intersection of GA 400 and GA Hwy 20 south of Cumming, go east 3.9 miles on GA Hwy 20. Turn left here into the Chattahoochee River Subdivision (onto River Club Dr) and continue 0.5 miles to Trout Place Rd. Turn right on Trout Place Road and follow it into the hatchery (PHOTO 1); open hours are 7:30am-4:30pm. The river bank is forested with walnut, birch, oak, and tulip poplar trees. The tangled understory along the river at this site and others along the Chattahoochee are the best areas to listen for Connecticut Warblers from mid to late May. The hatchery grounds include old fields, a fishing pond, and constructed raceways for rearing trout (PHOTOS 2 & 3). Just south of the trout raceways is the trailhead of the Lincoln's Sparrow Trail (PHOTO 4) in an area of young pines. This is a short loop trail, with a small sign showing the simple route (PHOTO 5). The trail goes through an area of pines and deciduous trees with a few open areas (PHOTO 6) before breaking out into an open area where the kids fishing pond is located (PHOTO 7); this is where the WAVI was found. There is an active Purple Martin colony here as well (PHOTO 8). Kentucky Warblers breed in the surrounding low thickets in the woods, and Connecticut Warbler may be found closer to the river in mid-late May. Along with the birding, this is an excellent opportunity to see thousands of young rainbow and brown trout (and a few token broodstock brook trout) being raised for release into the trout streams of the North Georgia mountains, and into the Chattahoochee itself. You can usually toss a handful of trout chow from a bucket into the raceways to produce a feeding frenzy. A lesser-known phenomena in this tailrace section of the Chattahoochee River (close to Buford Dam, which forms Lake Lanier), is that there is a reproducing population of Brown Trout. Seasoned fly fishermen from the Atlanta area (AKA "Hooch Rats") have learned that the best fishing is to be had by using float tubes to access stretches of the river between the various recreation areas, which are also stocking points and thus usually have more fish (but they are mostly "stockers") and there are certainly more people. You may catch more "hold-overs," which are stockers that have survived one or more season and tend to be larger, and of course more stream-bred fish, by using this method. Just get a fishing buddy, park your vehicles at either end of your float and have a blast. You should wear neoprene waders or several layers underneath light-weight waders because the water is extremely cold. Unfortunately for us warm-blooded types, this is why the trout like it so much. You must wear a personal flotation device when fishing the river upstream of the GA 400 overpass. Also, you will need to call the hotline to see if they are releasing water to generate electricity, when you are forbidden to fish the river and it can be downright dangerous even to be close to the edge - (770) 945-1466. Read more about the hatchery and stocking program.
       
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7 PHOTO 8
Text and photos by KB.
3) Coal Mountain Rd Pond [N/A]
W for waterfowl
[DeLorme: p. 21, grid C-6]
Wintering waterfowl; Bufflehead, American Wigeon, etc.; has hosted Snow Goose on more than one occasion in recent years. Take GA 400 north to GA 369 (first light on GA 400 north bound); turn left (west) on GA 369 to GA 9 (first light); right (north) on GA 9 a short distance to Coal Mountain Dr. The pond is on the northwest corner of GA 9 and Coal Mountain Dr. This is private property; you'll need to scope the lake from the road.
4) Ivy Manor Nature Preserve [N/A]
PM, Jan-Feb for Woodcocks
[DeLorme pg. 20, D-4]
This preserve is a 10 acre track of land left undeveloped within the Ivey Manor subdivision. It consists of mixed deciduous vegetation, with a few pines, bordering a small creek. Due to the small size, there is never an abundance of birds in either diversity or sheer numbers. However, there always seems to be something different (especially during migration), and some really surprising birds have shown up (with the best being an Alder Flycatcher in May, 2007). In terms of birds breeding in the refuge, in addition to the common ones (cardinals, chickadees, etc) the following either definitely or probably breed there: White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos; Wood Thrush; Hooded and Kentucky Warblers. Over winter you can find Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, and sparrows such as Song, Swamp, White-throated, White-crowned (one record), and Fox. The Fox’s can sometimes be seen foraging on the paths. A pair of Barred Owls is also resident in the neighborhood and you have a good chance of hearing them, and even seeing them (usually flying away as you unknowingly flush them from their roost). American Woodcocks are likely resident and breeding, but you have to be extremely lucky to see one unless you come during evenings in February when they perform their display flights. In 2007, at least one male used a clearing in the middle of the preserve as his display site. During spring and fall, just about any land bird that migrates through the state is possible. Of the just over 100 species recorded here, a surprising 31 of them are warblers, including Blue-winged, Cerulean (only one), Canada, Prothonotary (once), Wilson’s (one), and Yellow-breasted Chat. However, you’re unlikely to see more than 6 species of warblers on any given visit. Other regularly seen migrants are Yellow-billed Cuckoo, thrushes (Swainson’s, Gray-cheeked, Veery), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore Orioles. During the last week of September Philadelphia Vireos are likely. Fall is also a good time for empidonax flycatchers, including Acadian, Yellow-bellied and Least. Directions: Take GA 400 North to exit 12b McFarland Rd West. Continue 1.3 miles, and turn right onto Union Hill Rd. Next, at a light, turn left on Mullinax Rd. In another 2.1 miles you will cross GA Hwy 9. You are now on Post Rd, and 2.8 miles after crossing GA Hwy 9, turn left on Bentley Rd. Continue one mile, then turn right into Ivey Manor Subdivision. Go through one stop sign, then turn right on the first road (Brook Mill Way) after the stop sign. Immediately on the left will be a small gravel parking lot with a "Blue Heron Nature Preserve" sign. In Google Maps the approximate spot to get directions to would be "34.197907,-84.23707". After parking, take the gravel path to the left from the parking lot. This path goes downhill, paralleling the main road until turning right into the preserve. The main trail will dead-end at a creek in about 100 yards. The only side-trail leading to the left will rejoin the main trail after a short distance. The first trail to the right is a short dead-end. The second to the right will meet up with the main trail at the end. Access: The only posted restrictions state foot traffic only. As far as I know, non-residents are welcome to use the preserve.
Text by Grant McCreary.
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Copyright 2008 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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