Gwinnett 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.
Gwinnett County
1) Little Mulberry Park [N/A] 
PM, May-June for breeding birds
Text by Brandon Best
[DeLorme pg. 21, F-8]
3855 Fence Rd, Auburn, GA. From I-85, take Exit 120 (Hamilton Mill Rd). Coming from Atlanta, turn right onto Hamilton Mill, and going towards Atlanta turn left so you cross back over the interstate. Go through the traffic light at Braselton Hwy/GA Hwy 124 and from that light continue approx 1.8 miles to Hog Mountain Rd. Turn left to head east and go approx 1.3 miles to the parking lot on the right side of the road. This is the north parking lot for the park. There is also a south parking lot which can be accessed by returning to Hog Mtn Rd and continuing east for 0.6 miles to Mineral Springs Rd. Turn right to head south and go 1.7 miles to Clack Rd. Turn right on Clack Rd and go 0.4 miles to Fence Rd. Turn right/west on Fence Rd and go 0.75 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road. This is an 890 acre passive recreation park in eastern Gwinnett County. While it is heavily used by runners, bikers, and dog walkers, it offers good potential for birders. It is mostly forested, but does contain a number of other habitats, including several meadow areas, the sizeable Miller Lake and another small pond, and weedy/brushy areas in low lying areas around the two water bodies. The forested areas contain the most of the expected Piedmont avifauna in season. In summer 2007, two different Ovenbirds were heard singing in the vicinity of Miller Lake, and the park should also host such species as Hooded Warbler and possibly Louisiana Waterthrush. In early October 2007, a number of thrushes were found along the creek at the bottom of the Ravine Trail, as were several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Large sections of the meadow areas are left uncut and along with the weedy/brushy low lying areas should host sparrows and wrens in the winter. At the meadow visible from the north parking lot, several bluebird boxes have been installed. While the small pond at the south parking lot is too small and has too much foot traffic to attract many birds, Miller Lake holds decent dabbling duck potential in the winter and is known to have a couple pair of breeding Great Blue Herons in the summer. There is a paved trail going around Miller Lake along with several fishing piers, both of which provide easy access to scan this lake for birders of all abilities. Other trails within the park are dirt but are very well built and maintained, providing for generally easy walking. Visit the park website.
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Copyright 2008 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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