Georgia Birding Resources
Books, Guides, Publications Georgia Trip-Planning & Places to Bird GA Festivals & Events
Bird Photo Libraries Bird ID, Behavior, Migration, etc. GA Birder Websites, Blogs, etc.
Maps & Navigation GA Birding Organizations Nat'l Groups & Organizations
Outside GA Birding Resources Other GA Outdoor Activities
The links below are great on-line resources for Birding in Georgia and beyond. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Jim Flynn and Bob Zaremba, who are the webmasters of http://www.gos.org and http://www.georgia-birding.com, respectively. A great number of the links found below are also linked from the resource pages of their websites, some of which I only know about thanks to them. Also, thanks to Grant McCreary for providing thoughtful and useful book reviews in The Birders Library. If you have a favorite website that you have found helpful in your Georgia Birding adventures, or if you have a Georgia birding or nature Blog or Group to share, email me at wingsoverga@comcast.net.
A useful list of expressions often used in birding, in Georgia and across North America! Ever wonder what a "CBC" is, why someone would say "LBJ" in a non-political context, or what a "good county bird" is? Come peruse the Georgia Birding Dictionary and you'll be able to use and understand the jargon of this great outdoor activity!
Books, Guides, Publications
MAJOR UPGRADES FOR 2008! LOTS OF NEW BOOK REVIEWS!
How many bird books is too many? There's no such thing! But which ones to invest in, and which ones to avoid?
Georgia's own Grant McCreary has detailed, helpful book reviews and more in The Birder's Library!
GOS Publications
You can order Georgia-specific guides, checklists, and Georgia Ornithological Society merchandise here.
Bird Photo Libraries
Flickr
This extremely powerful online photo-sharing website can yield more images (and usually better quality) than several attempts on Google Images. Click the link, then type your species into the "Find a photo of..." box and click "GO." For example, I typed Northern Saw-whet Owl and it returned 168 stunning images!
Rachel Cass Flickr Page
Hundreds of photos of birds, insects, and more from Georgia and beyond by Rachel Cass of Marietta, GA.
Darlene Moore Flickr Page
Hundreds of photos of birds, insects, and more from Georgia and beyond by Darlene Moore of Decatur, GA.
Bill Schmoker Bird Photo Gallery
Simply incredible bird pictures from across the US by Bill Schmoker - 549+ species and counting! An awesome ID reference.
Bob Steele Bird Photo Gallery
More volumes of stunning photographs from around the US, by Bob Steele. Great for ID help.
Giff Beaton's Warbler Gallery
Extensive library of warbler pictures by Georgia's own birding expert Giff Beaton and other contributors (most taken in Georgia).
Giff Beaton's Shorebird Gallery
Extensive library of shorebird pictures by Georgia's own birding expert Giff Beaton and other contributors (most taken in Georgia).
Fitz's Nature Photography
A beautiful collection of nature photographs by Skidaway Island (Savannah) artist Fitz Clarke.
Field and Swamp: Animals and Their Habitats
A neat photo collection by North Carolina's Dorothy Pugh; birds, reptiles, nature, etc. (use the drop-down menus)
Maps & Navigation
"Wings Over Georgia" on Google Earth
This an amazing, on-going Google Earth Map project developed by Jared Fisher, which incorporates all the "Places to Bird" from the Wings Over Georgia database into a file that can be viewed on-line or downloaded into your navigation device. As the page states, it is still essential to print the birding description text from the website to use as well, as some GPS waypoints and/or directions that Google gives may not be accurate in rural areas, where road construction/re-routing has occurred, new reservoirs have been built, etc.
Google Maps
Google Maps - a great source of driving maps, satellite and aerial photography, street-level views, etc.
Georgia DNR Wildlife Management Area Maps
This is a new (2008) and incredibly valuable tool for exploring the many WMA's across Georgia. Each WMA has a line map (traditional format), a topographical map, and an interesting semi-color Infrared map!!! Print one of these before heading into the field to find a new gem for birding in the state.
Mapquest
Mapquest - also very useful for planning birding itineraries. In general, though, the satellite images tend to be more outdated than Google. It is always helpful to cross-reference these two sites, in combination with your DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer, if you really want to get an accurate picture of an area you wish to visit.
Georgia Trout Streams
OK, so these maps are "intended" to help anglers find trout waters in North Georgia. However, they are also extremely valuable for birders and other outdoor enthusiasts. You will find county-by-county links to Acrobat files of high-quality maps that show all waterways (from trickles to major streams). Perhaps most valuable, they accurately label small Forest Service roads to help you navigate in the mountains.
Georgia Trip-Planning and Places to Bird
Places to Bird on "Wings Over Georgia"
The definitive, on-going database of alphabetical, regional, and county-by-county lists of Places To Bird in Georgia which is the main focus of this website. Contains detailed directions, birding descriptions, photos, DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer grid coordinates, and much more.
Georgia's State Parks
Georgia State Parks official home page. This contains great information, including directions, accomodations (camping, lodges, etc.), available services, recreational activities, special events, phone numbers, and more.
Georgia's NWRs
Wildernet's List of Georgia's National Wildlife Refuges, with lots of helpful information including available activities, directions, phone numbers, nearby accomodations - even trip reports by visitors.
Weather Channel Online
Rain, sleet, snow, annoying wind? Visit The Weather Channel online - don't head out unprepared!
Georgia Tide Charts
This webpage will provide you with detailed tide charts for many locations on Georgia's coast. This can be especially important for finding certain species like Purple Sandpiper, Seaside and Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Roseate Spoonbill and other waders, many shorebirds, etc. Just select the location on the left side, scroll to the bottom, and enter the date(s) you will be visiting and click "get tides." Note that the main website, SaltWaterTides, can calculate tides at locations from coast to coast!
Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding Trail
Southern Rivers Birding Trail
Sherpa Guides
I have used this awesome research tool for many years of outdoor exploring in Georgia, since way before I got into birding. This is a powerful tool, with useful maps (cross-reference with www.Topozone.com and your DeLorme Atlas for greater detail), and lots of detailed information on history, flora, fauna, etc. Also very useful, it features addresses, phone numbers, and additional related links. It may take a couple combinations of search terms, but eventually you will find volumes of good stuff on the area you are researching.
Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center (Newton and Jasper Counties)
Chattahoochee Nature Center (Cobb County)
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park (Richmond County)
Elachee Nature Science Center (Hall County)
Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (Dekalb County)
Newman Wetlands Nature Center (Clayton County)
Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center (Muscogee County)
Fernbank Science Center Ornithology Web (Dekalb County)
Sandy Creek Nature Center / Sandy Creek Park (Clarke and Jackson Counties)
Georgia Outdoor Recreation and Adventure (State & County Parks, WMAs, NWRs, etc.)
Bird ID, Behavior, Migration, etc.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The "All About Birds" online guide. A wealth of information on many bird and birdwatching-related topics.
Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
Just what it sounds like; very in-depth accounts including photos, sound recordings, videos, maps, etc.
Audubon's Birds of America Bird Biographies LINK 1
Audubon's Birds of America Bird Biographies LINK 2
The bird biographies from Audubon's Birds of America. Each site has a slightly different format.
Birdzilla's Wild Bird Omnibus
You can look up basic information on any North American bird. But the best feature is each species has a link for the "Bent Life History," which is that species' entry in Arthur Cleveland Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds. Even though this work was done in the early half of the 20th century, it remained the definitive work until Cornell's recent Birds of North America series.
NEXRAD Doppler Radar
This site features an interactive map with links to active loops of radar activity from many locations around North America. What's awesome about this is that bird migration can be viewed in real time! When the weather is CLEAR in the area of the doppler radar (no precipitation), it is possible to view waves of migrant birds taking off or landing! Again, on a night when the station you are viewing has clear weather (cross-reference www.weather.com) look for a tell-tale "dough-nut" shape of radar echos to form around a station just at dusk or just before dawn, moving generally north (spring) or south (fall). Particularly interesting stations for Georgia birders to check out include Key West (BYX), Miami, FL (AMI), Eglin Air Force Base (EVX), Jacksonville, FL (JAX), and of course those inside the state itself.
Georgia Birding Groups & Organizations
GABO-L
Perhaps the most powerful information-sharing tool for Georgia birders!
The Georgia Ornithological Society
The Atlanta Audubon Society
The Albany Audubon Society
The Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society
Coastal Georgia Audubon Society (Brunswick, St. Simons Island)
Ocmulgee Audubon Society (middle Georgia; Macon area).
Oconee Rivers Audubon Society (Athens-Clarke County)
Ogeechee Audubon Society (Savannah Area)
http://www.gahummer.org/
Rusty Trump's Georgia Hummer Study Group.
http://www.gadnr.org/
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Georgia's Painted Buntings (Patuxent Wildlife Research Center)
Georgia Wildlife Web - Birds (Georgia Museum of Natural History)
Georgia Festivals & Events
Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival
Held annually in October, with incredible field trips and informative seminars.
Georgia Hummingbird Festival
Annual Hummingbird Festival at Gaither's Plantation May 31 & June 1st, 2008
Pinewoods Birding Festival
Held annually in April, with awesome field trips and seminars.
Georgia Birder Websites, Groups, Blogs, etc.
http://www.georgia-birding.com/
Bob Zaremba's website, with a special focus on Kennesaw Mountain
Georgia Listers Page
Bob Zaremba has compiled this great reference of Georgia birders and their lists, Georgia Big Day records by month, and much more. Because it's a webpage it can be updated any time; visit the page to see how you can submit your own list for publication!
http://www.giffbeaton.com/
Giff Beaton's website; great photos and information on birds, dragonflies, and much more.
Coastal Georgia Birding
Lydia Thompson's Blog, with a special focus on Jekyll Island
GA Bird Pix
Russ Wigh's Yahoo Group for sharing photos and photography techniques for birds and bugs.
Birding Notes
Birding and nature Blog by Sigrid Sanders of Watkinsville, GA
GA Birders
Sandy Pangle's Yahoo Group for old and new birders; ID help, sharing experiences, photos, etc.
Georgia and Florida Birds (Brad Bergstrom)
Georgia County Bird Lists (formerly Marion Dobbs; currently David Hedeen)
http://www.myimagehub.com/gallery/?a=Fotobirder
Steve Slayton's "Image Hub" photo sharing site.
Journey Through Grace
Birding and Nature Blog by Jayne
Birding Georgia and Beyond
A Blog by young Georgia birder and photography prodigy David Hollie
http://www.gregscott.com/
Greg Scott's home page, featuring many beautiful bird photos with a focus on hummingbirds.
National Birding & Conservation Groups
American Birding Association (ABA)
National Audubon Society
The Nature Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy
Earth Share of Georgia
Christmas Bird Counts (CBC's)
Outside of GA Birding Resources
Birding On The Net
This is the "Birdingonthe.Net" Home Page. You can find incredibly helpful links to active ListServs with up-to-date birding reports specific to the state, region, or country you are interested in. Below, I have created links to Georgia's bordering states' ListServs and primary birding organizations (Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota are here b/c I try to squeeze in a little birding while visiting family there).
Alabama Birds (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Alabama Ornithological Society
Florida Birds (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Florida Ornithological Society
The Carolinas Birding List (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Carolina Bird Club
Tennessee Birds (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Tennessee Ornithological Society
Minnesota Birding List (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Pennsylvania Birding List (compiled by "birdingonthe.net")
Louisiana Birding List (compiled by "birdingonthe.net.")
Colorado County Birding
In case I get back out there again... I hiked there for three days in late June '01 before I knew to look for birds!
Birding The Americas
Trip reports from North and South America.
Bird Links to the World
A collection of links to trip reports from around the world. Ever feel the "Big Lister Itch"? This site will stir the fire ;)
The Traveling Birder
Surfbirds
FatBirder
Other Georgia Outdoor Activities
North Georgia Trout Online (NGTO) (Fishing)
North Georgia Trout Online - an awesome group to help you learn about trout fishing in Georgia. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this website is the Message Board, with many categories for Q & A, discussion, event planning, etc.
Georgia River Fishing (GRF) (Fishing)
Georgia River Fishing focuses on fishing Georgia's warmwater streams (non-trout) for sportfish like Shoal Bass, Small-mouth Bass, Large-mouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Catfish (various species), etc. Again, the Message Board here is a powerful tool to learn about places to fish and to hook up and fish with other local enthusiasts.
Georgia Butterflies (Lepidoptery)
Jim Flynn's Georgia Butterflies website, with beautiful photos and information on the distribution of species in Georgia.
Georgia Clear Sky Clocks (Astronomy)
This is an awesome website that features an astronomical forecast. In other words, will the sky be clear? Will the atmosphere be stable enough for higher-power telescopic viewing, or better suited to simple binocular viewing? There is a vast database of Clear Sky Clocks on this Canadian-based website, not just in Georgia. Detailed information about the different forecast categories is easy to read and apply even for novice observers.
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Copyright 2009 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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