Twiggs 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.
Twiggs County1) Farm Ponds [Aug 2007] 
SBM, W for waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 43, B-8]
A group of Cackling Geese was found here in Feb. 2006 along with some interesting wintering ducks, including Redheads, and wading birds. In spring or early summer you may have White Ibis, Green Heron, Wood Duck, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, etc. Be very careful on the shoulder - the road is very busy. In the area there is also good open farm habitat with breeding species like Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, and Northern Bobwhites may be heard calling from the fields. The levels of the ponds fluctuate quite a bit with weather and the northern pond in particular often has lots of exposed mud for shorebirds in season. From I-16 heading east from Macon, get off at GA Hwy 96 (Exit 24), and head south on Hwy. 96 for 4.1 miles to 2 large ponds on either side of the road (PHOTOS 1 & 2). The owner, B.C. Padgett, is very protective of his land and may approach you... once he realizes you are a bird watcher, he turns out to be a really nice guy and may also be very talkative so be prepared!
 
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2
Text and photos by KB.
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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