Lowndes 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. Lowndes County 1) Langdale Park [N/A]  PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds [DeLorme pg. 67, A-8] Woodland and wet habitat migrants in season; American Woodcock, waders, Mississippi Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite (Apr 2005). From I-75 (south of Atlanta), get off at Exit 22 (Shiloh Rd) and head east on Hwy 41 towards downtown Valdosta. The park is off Hwy 41 where it crosses the Withlacoochee River, look for signage. Trails, picnic tables, boat ramp.
2) Grand Bay WMA (Lanier and Lowndes Counties) [N/A] IBA, YR See Beaton's Birding Georgia. [DeLorme pg. 67, A-10]
3) Ocean Pond [N/A]  mid Sp-mid F [DeLorme p. 67 D-10] Least Bittern, Purple Gallinule summer 2004. A quick stop right off I-75, lake is viewable from the south side.
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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