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.

1) Cobb Owl Fields          [Dec 2007]
late F-W
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme: pg. 50, B-2]
Here is another route you can take to do some birding as you head to this well-known (and perhaps only reliable) spot for wintering Short-eared Owls in Georgia. From I-75, get off at Exit 109 (GA Hwy 215 / Vienna) and head west into the town of Vienna. When you get to the intersection with US 41 / Hwy 7 turn left to head south. In less than a mile, look on the right for a water tower and industrial area and slow down, then turn left onto Georgia-Pacific Rd. Pass the paper mill on your left, then turn right onto Richwood Rd may not be signed, and is a packed-sand road). You can bird along this road for open habitat species and brush-relating birds. Species to look for include Loggerhead Shrike, blackbirds (Brewer's possible), Palm Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, other sparrows. The road will take a sharp left curve, follow it and turn right at the first available street. This will take you into a large pecan grove. Stop and listen for wintering Baltimore Orioles; you may wish to try playing their calls from your vehicle. Soon, you will take a right turn (or curve - you have to take it to keep going) and you will continue through the pecan orchard so stay alert for orioles. You will eventually get back to US 41 / Hwy 7. Turn left to head towards Cordele. When you get into downtown Cordele, turn right onto US 280 / Hwy 30. When you leave downtown, start looking carefully for Fish Hatchery Rd on your right. Turn here, and follow the birding description in Beaton's book. Return to US 280 and turn right to head west. Cross over lake Blackshear and continue for about a mile and half. Along this mile or so, you'll come through a large area of pecan trees. There is a side road on your left that you can turn on to stop and listen for orioles - don't stop on US 280 as it is way too fast-moving and dangerous. Head back to US 280 and turn left to continue heading west, and as soon as you notice the railroad tracks are getting close to the road on your left, slow down and look carefully for Cobb Cheek Rd on the right and turn here - it is very easy to miss. Continue until you get to a stop sign and go straight. You are now entering the "owl fields" area. In less than a mile you'll see expansive cotton fields on your right and overgrown fields on your left. A grove of young pines will soon block your view of the cotton fields (on the right); as soon as this pine grove ends, park on the right in a small pull-out area; you will be looking out across huge cotton fields (PHOTO 2). About 30 yards down the road on the opposite side from where you parked (the overgrown fields - PHOTO 1), climb the road embankment and scan across the weedy fields as far as you can see. This is the area where Northern Harriers by the dozens come to roost, and sometimes - if you're lucky - Short-eared Owls will patrol just before dark. Do not be tempted to walk any further into the fields for a better perspective, this is private property. Also along Cobb Cheek Rd while you're waiting for dusk, you may see American Kestrel, American Pipit, Eastern Meadowlark, and lots of sparrows including Savannah, White-crowned, Vesper, and Song. There is also a link to a short video of a Short-eared Owl [links to YouTube]. The video shows a bird flying over a field in Minnesota, and was taken by Rachel Cass in December 2006. Though it is grainy, you can appreciate the unique flight characteristics of this beautiful bird. Sibley describes it as "moth-like," but I think it's more like a large bat, mixing strong wing beats with sharp dips, turns, and dives. Note in the beginning of the video how it banks sharply just before diving into the brush - another good field mark for how this bird hunts. You should be able to click your "BACK" button to return here after viewing the video.
             
   PHOTO 1         PHOTO 2         VIDEO
Text and photos by KB.


2) "Field Pond"        [N/A]
SBM
[DeLorme pg. 41, H-8]
Good for waders and migrating shorebirds. Located 0.5 mile south of the intersection of GA 30 and Hart Rd (GA Hwy 45). From US 19 in Americus, head NW on GA Hwy 30 to its intersection with Hart Rd (GA Hwy 45), turn left and the pond should be on your left (east side of the road).