Hall 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.
Hall County
1) Chicopee Lake / Elachee Nature Science Center [Jan 2007]
PM, W for waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 21, C-8]
Many trails in the area can be used to create a short or long loop. The West Lake and East Lake Trails can be used to make a good longer hike, which would be particularly nice in migration. Chicopee Lake is at the southern end of this trail if you are hiking from the Nature Center (PHOTO 4); it is about a 5.5 mile loop and takes your through nice mixed forest and creeks - great for migrants. In winter, you may wish to make a quicker stop and just park directly at Chicopee Lake (PHOTOS 2 & 3) for waterfowl, and make a short hike or loop through the surrounding woods for a winter flock; pick up a map at the Nature Center to make your way over to this area via several surface streets. Recent interesting birds seen here (2006) include Gadwall, American Black Duck (reliable), Green-winged Teal, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Yellow Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Orchard Oriole. Located at 2125 Elachee Drive • Gainesville, Georgia 30504 • Tel 770.535.1976; From Atlanta on I-85: I-85 N to I-985 toward Gainesville. Take Exit 16 – Oakwood. Turn left off the ramp and go under the highway. Take a right at the light onto Frontage Rd. and go to the end of the road. Turn left onto Atlanta Hwy. (Hwy 13). Pass the Chicopee Woods Golf Course Club House on the right. Elachee Drive is the next street to the right; it would help to start looking off the road to the right for the large sign (PHOTO 1). The actual turn is at either 1st St or G Ave, and then you make an immediate sharp right to head down Elachee Dr., through the golf course to the nature center. Visit the website for a map of trails and more information.
   
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4
Text and photos by KB.
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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