Birds, y'all!  As Georgia's largest bird and nature festival, Georgia Bird Fest features a full month of activities, including guided field trips to Georgia's best birding hotspots, nature-based workshops, and guest speakers. Events are tailored to all levels of bird, nature, and outdoor enthusiasts—there's something for everyone during Georgia Bird Fest!

Your participation in Georgia Bird Fest supports Birds Georgia's conservation, education, and community engagement programming. Thank you for helping us build places where birds and people thrive!

Schedule of Events:

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Birding at Pole Bridge Creek
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leader: Patrick Maurice
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Lithonia, GA (DeKalb County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate; no restrooms

The mixed habitat surrounding Pole Bridge Wastewater Treatment Facility has become a highly popular birding location among local birders in South DeKalb County, thanks in large part to a few rarities and several surprises that have been found here over the years. Although public access is limited, over 150 species of birds have been identified at this single location in the metro-Atlanta area. Join Patrick Maurice, one of the current Georgia Big Day record-holders, as we look for grassland birds such as Wild Turkey, Eastern Meadowlark, and possibly Bobolink. This is also a great opportunity to possibly find breeding American Kestrels, an uncommon sight in metro Atlanta. We will also look for migrating shorebirds, warblers, thrushes, and sparrows.

Raptor Walk at Chattahoochee Nature Center
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

1:00 to 2:30 PM
Leader: Kathryn Dudeck
Limited to 10 participants
Cost: $35/person(includes admission to Chattahoochee Nature Center
Location: 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Easy

From owls to hawks, eagles to vultures, join Chattahoochee Nature Center for a guided tour of their Wildlife Walk, home to rehabilitated, non-releasable birds of prey. Get an up-close look at species of raptors found across Georgia with wildlife director and rehabilitator, Kathryn Dudeck, who will share their natural history, personal stories that brought them into CNC’s care, and introduce you to a special avian ambassador. Afterward, feel free to explore the 127 acres of Chattahoochee Nature Center’s property and the variety of birds that call it home.

Bird Banding at Oglethorpe University
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

Time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM
Event Leader: Roarke Donnelly
Limited to 20 participants
Cost: $35
Difficulty: Easy

This learning adventure will explore Oglethorpe University’s Nature Trail to discuss bird banding and the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship Program (MAPS). Faculty and students completed their inaugural MAPS banding season last summer and will discuss their findings.

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Guided Bird Walk at the Atlanta History Center
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

9:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader: Jamie Vidich
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35
Location: Atlanta History Center, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
Difficulty: Easy

We are heading back to the Atlanta History Center’s Goizueta Gardens for a guided bird walk through this 33-acre birding hotspot. A member of the Gardens team will point out major collections and gardens as you go through the site – from our 1860s farm, the 1920s Swan House and formal gardens, our preserved Piedmont forest, the native plant gardens and more. Whether this is your first time using binoculars or you are a seasoned pro, we hope to see you there! Open to birders of all levels and families with children over 10. Please note that no dogs are allowed. The walks will cover one to two miles of mild hiking terrain, including mulched and gravel paths and some stairs. Hiking shoes, insect repellant, sunscreen and water are recommended; bring binoculars if you have some.

Teens & Feathers: Teen Birding Trip to Piedmont Park

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Alex Stach
Limited to 15 participants between the ages of 13-17 and their parents
Cost: Free/ there may be a fee for parking
Location: Piedmont Park

Join us as we bird Piedmont Park! This is a trip for teens ages 13 to 17 to explore the world of birds together in a safe space where curiosity is encouraged. First time birding? That's okay! Beginners and intermediate level birders are welcome to attend, and binoculars will be provided for those in attendance to use. We will be on the lookout for backyard birds and migrant species. Parents are welcome to attend as well.

Butterflies, Fire, and Red-Headed Woodpeckers
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leaders: Phil Delestrez, Sebastian Hagan, Logan Jones
Cost: $35
Limited to 25 participants
Difficulty: Easy. The trip will involve walking on old golf cart paths and dirt trails. Volunteers should bring water, a hat, and binoculars.

Join the Habitat Team and Phil Delestrez, the Northern Resource Manager at Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, for an educational tour of our Panola Mountain State Park restoration site. The Habitat Team is restoring over 50 acres of grassland and woodland habitat for birds and other wildlife through various methods, including prescribed fire. We will discuss the many benefits of prescribed fire for habitat restoration and grasslands, as well as the many beautiful birds and plants found at Panola Mountain State Park.

Habitat and History at Lyon Farm
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Gabe Andrle and Jennifer Dickie
Cost: $35
Limited to 30 participants
Difficulty: Easy

Join Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance Assistant Executive Director and historian Brigette Jones, Alliance Program Manager, Jennifer Dickie and Birds Georgia Habitat Program Manager, Gabe Andrle on a habitat and history tour of the historic Lyon Farm property and South River riparian forest. Participants will begin the day with a 2 mile walk from the historic farm site down to the South River to look for warblers, flycatchers, vireos and other migrants. Upon returning to the historic site, they will learn the story of people who lived at Lyon Farm, free and enslaved, as we visit the existing structures and imagine the historic landscape. We'll consider how the landscape alteration over 200 years changed everything for the humans, plants, and animals who lived here. What was lost? What was gained? Where are we today?

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Birding Cochran Shoals with Adam Betuel

8:00 to 10:00 AM
Leaders: Adam Betuel
Cost: $30 (note that there is also a $5 daily parking fee per car that will be payable on-site, or you may display your annual National Park Service pass)
Limited to 20 participants
Location: Marietta, GA (Cobb County)
Difficulty: Easy

The Cochran Shoals unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) is a favorite metro Atlanta birding spot due to its location along the Chattahoochee River that attracts a healthy mix of birds, especially during migration. During the height of migration, the species totals here reach the high 60s, with the highlight being a great variety of migratory warbler species, including Canada Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Blackburnian Warbler that forage in the trees alongside the river. This guided trip will be led by Georgia Audubon’s Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, and is an opportunity not to be missed

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Birding at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

3:00 to 5:00 PM
Cost: $35
Limited to 15 participants
Difficulty: Easy, wheelchair accessible

Explore the birds at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for a fun and relaxing afternoon in the city. With such lovely curated flora, the fauna can be just as beautiful. We will take a full tour around the gardens, including the Kendeda Canopy Walk, a great place for raptors, and the Conifer Garden.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Phinizy Swamp
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

(Note: There is a second non-patron event for Phinizy on May 4)

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Peter Stangel and Kathy Harte
Location: Augusta, GA (Richmond County)
Limited to 20 participants
Cost: $35/person
Difficulty Level: Easy – walking on grassy or gravel berms and hard-packed paths. No wheelchairs or strollers (we do have one staircase to go down)

Minutes from downtown Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers you the chance to see wetland and forest-dwelling species, such as Great Blue Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Painted Bunting, and American alligator, in their natural habitats. This trip will take you on a 2.5 mile loop to explore a diversity of birds and their habitats!

This trip is co-hosted with Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society.

Birding at Nash Farm
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

2 spot remains!

8:00 to 11:30 AM
Leader: Malcolm Hodges
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Nash Farm Battlefield Park, 100 Babbs Mill Rd, Hampton, GA 30228 (Henry County)
Difficulty Level: Easy walking is along old farm roads or through mowed pasture.

The old farm is now mowed pastures with scattered trees and edges of forest. We will see birds of grass and shrublands such as hawks, sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeak, Prairie Warbler, and hopefully Sedge Wren and an arriving Yellow-breasted Chat or two, as well as a smattering of forest birds.

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Guided Bird Walk at Oakland Cemetery
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Becca Dill and Carrie Harper
Location: Oakland Cemetery (Fulton County)
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Difficulty Level: Easy

Join Becca, Carrie, and residents of the neighborhood, exploring historic Oakland Cemetery and the birds that call it home. We will also be joined by a guide from Oakland cemetery so will learn about the history and human residents in between looking at birds. Cemeteries are excellent urban birding locations with protected habitat over many years. We will be looking for our local Georgia birds and migrants taking a break as they head north.

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

(Note: There is a second non-patron event for Harris Neck on April 28)

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Trip Leader: Chad Popsick
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Townsend, GA (McIntosh County)
Difficulty Level: Easy, driving the wildlife drive and stopping for short walks on packed dirt trails to view ponds.

Harris Neck has served as a premier nesting, foraging, and wintering habitat for many species of wildlife.  Signature species include Wood Storks, which nest in a large colony on Woody Pond, and the colorful and uncommon Painted Bunting, which favors nesting habitat in the refuge's maritime scrub areas.
 
The refuge encompasses six man-made freshwater ponds, as well as extensive salt marsh, open fields, forested wetlands, and mixed hardwood/pine forest.  This diversity of habitat makes the refuge an important resource for migratory birds (342 species of birds have been seen on the refuge and 83 species breed here).

We will drive the wildlife drive through the refuge, stopping along the way to view birds and other wildlife (including alligators!) at the various ponds.

College Birders Unite!

10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Kiana Leveritte
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: Free
Location: Cascade Springs
Difficulty Level: Easy walking

Calling all college birders! Join us at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve as we hike the trails looking for woodpeckers, backyard birds and passing migrants. Binoculars will be available for all attendees

Incorporating Habitat Restoration into your Backyard Landscape

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Sebastian Hagan and Logan Jones
Cost: Free
Limited to 25 participants
Location: Panola Mountain State Park - Alexander Lake & Archery Range
Difficulty: Moderate

Join the Habitat Team for a restoration workshop at Panola Mountain State Park. During this workshop, we will explore the various sections of our restoration site and discuss the methods and considerations that go into restoring native habitats. We will then dive into how participants can restore their land by removing invasive plant species and introducing native species. Participants will see up close examples of various invasive and native plants and learn what makes our native species much more beneficial for wildlife.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Webinar: Avian Response to Heavy Mineral Surface Mine Reclamation in Southeastern Georgia

7:00 to 8:30 PM
Leaders: Dan Watson, Virginia Tech
Cost: $12
Via Zoom Webinar

Loss of habitat across the southeastern Coastal Plain has contributed to declines in disturbance-dependent birds, such as Bachman’s sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis). This has compelled research in bird habitat created by varying land-use and management practices, such as timber production and prescribed fire. However, reclaimed mining sites following heavy mineral sands surface mining have garnered little attention as potential habitats for disturbance-dependent birds, nor has any study assessed the effects of this type of mine reclamation on birds within the region. Our study uses bioacoustic methods to explore possible differences in bird diversity across various site treatments (mine reclamation vs. timber production vs. prescribed burning) in upland pine habitats in southeastern Georgia.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Fernbank Herp and Bird Walk
For Georgia Bird Fest Patrons Only

6:00 to 7:30 PM
Leader: Gabe Andrle
Limited to 15 participants
Cost:  $35
Location: Fernbank Forest (DeKalb County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate - uneven forested terrain

Join Birds Georgia Habitat Program Manager, Gabe Andrle on an evening adventure exploring the 65 acre old-growth forest of Fernbank Museum to look for reptiles, amphibians, and birds. The walk will take participants from the museum, through Wild Woods, and into the Forest as the sun goes down. We will hope to encounter an evening chorus of bird song along with salamanders, snakes, lizards, and frogs. Participants will learn more about the array of reptiles and amphibians that call Georgia home and how to look for them and observe them responsibly.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Webinar: Raptor ID with Georgann Schmalz

7:00 to 8:30 PM
Leader: Georgann Schmalz
Cost per device: $12 per device
Location: Online webinar via Zoom

From their hunting prowess to their majestic soaring, raptors captivate our attention with their gracefulness and power—be it from the trail or from the highway. More than a dozen species of raptors rule the skies over Georgia, but they can be difficult to distinguish at a distance. Learn the basics and the secrets to making raptor identification easy with ornithologist Georgann Schmalz. She will focus on behaviors, habitats, and enough general information that will make recognizing these birds in the field a “no-brainer.”

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Georgia Bird Fest Summit

8:30 AM to 2:00 PM, with pre-summit field trips

Pricing:
Early Bird Registration, March 5 to April 5:  $100
Regular Registration, April 6 to 19: $125
Early-Bird Student rate, March 5 to April 5: $50*
Regular Student rate, April 6 to May 12: $62*
*If you are choosing the student rate, you must use student (.edu) email address to register.

Location: The Classic Center, Athens, GA

This year, we’re excited to premiere a new addition to the Georgia Bird Fest lineup of event. The Georgia Bird Fest Summit is designed to bring people from the state-wide birding community together to share knowledge and inspiration about what organizations are doing in Georgia's conservation, education, and community engagement programming.

Register For This Event

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Birds and Lichen of Palm Creek

8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Malcolm Hodges and Nathan Griswell
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Gwinnett County, GA
Difficulty Level: Moderate with variable terrain, sloping paths, possible slick rock, and a couple of stream crossings

This protected granite outcrop is a fascinating conjunction of high-energy creeks, nestled in patches of mature pine and oak forests. Join Birds Georgia friend Malcolm Hodges for a truly special experience at the as-yet-undeveloped "Palm Creek Park" (proposed name) outcrop in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Malcolm will lead a walk on county property (he’s recently retired as The Nature Conservancy's state ecologist); participants will see a very different-looking outcrop with odd outcrop-endemic plants and rich surrounding forests, and discuss the unique features of this special place. Birds will of course be on the menu, as will all aspects of natural history. Optional: bring lunch for a picnic on the shaded rock following our hike.

Birds of Serenbe

7:30 to 11:30 AM
Trip Leaders: Gus Kaufman and Vinod Babu
Limited to 15 Participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Palmetto, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Strenuous with approximately 4 miles covered over uneven terrain; no restrooms on the trail

Always a fan favorite and consistently boasting a species list of 60+, this trip is sure to book quickly. Bird the private trails of Serenbe, a planned community focused on sustainable agriculture, the arts, and well-being located in south Fulton County. Trails meander through a mix of habitat, including pine and hardwood forests, open meadows, and shrub/scrub. We can expect a big species count for this walk, including good numbers of birds like Kentucky Warbler, Prairie Warbler and Blue Grosbeak, which can be hard to find within Atlanta itself.

Birding by Bicycle

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Leaders: Ranger Jonah P. McDonald, Joy Carter, and Ken Boff
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: Free
Location: Begins in Historic Washington Park (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate, must have biking equipment and ability

Join Ranger Jonah, Joy Carter, and Ken Boff for a “Birding by Bicycle” adventure. Your trip leaders are avid birders and Jonah and Ken are also long-time bicycle commuters. They invite you to join them for 6-miles of biking and 1.5 miles of walking. The route is entirely on PATH trails and quiet neighborhood streets and allows us to visit 4 very different habitats in which to view birds. Please arrive with a well-functioning bicycle, helmet, water bottle, snack, binoculars, bike lock, and backpack for valuables. Helmets are REQUIRED on this trip. Participants are responsible for their own safety while on their bicycles.

Bird Banding with the GGC Bird Lab

6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leaders: Maribel Fernandez, Instructor of Biology at Georgia Gwinnett College and Dr. Mia Malloy
Limited to 20 participants
Cost: $35
Location: Harbins Park
Difficulty Level: Easy

Join the Georgia Gwinnett College Bird Lab for a banding day starting at 6:00 am for banding or starting at 8:00 am for point counts (birding on a system). This is part of a project to evaluate the effect of urbanization on bird diversity. Participants will be able to aid in important research and choose whether they would like to do both banding and point counts or 1 of the 2.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Webinar: How to Identify Warblers & Enjoy Them More, Too
A Holistic Approach to Bird Identification

7:00 to 9:00 PM
Instructor: Andrew Dreelin
Cost per device: $12 per device
Location: Webinar via Zoom

Love watching warblers but struggling to identify those fast-flitting beauties? Get excited because this webinar is for you! Together we'll walk through the warblers of Georgia, teaching you how to go beyond identifying birds by color and pattern alone, to applying subtle but powerful field marks like shape, contrast, behavior, call, and even posture to confidently identify warblers from combinations of small details. Georgia birder Andrew Dreelin learned these techniques while rapidly counting songbirds in "morning flight" during fall migration in Cape May, NJ, one of the world's best migration hotspots. However, these skills can be applied by anyone in any place and during any season, whether you’re in Georgia in fall, Costa Rica in winter, or Québec in spring.

By attending this webinar, you will not only acquire some fancy ID tips, but in learning to identify birds *holistically* by taking in each individual as a whole, you’ll also enhance your appreciation of these colorful migrants as you learn the unique aspects of each species. We'll even talk a bit about the best places to go if you want to revel in warblers during migration. Whether you’ve been looking at warblers for many seasons or just a few, there's something for birders of all skill levels to learn and apply in the field this fall and beyond.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Webinar: Gardening for Birds & Building Your Backyard Sanctuary

7:00 to 9:00 PM 
Instructor: Ellen Honeycutt, Georgia Native Plant Society
Cost per device: $12 per device
Location: Online webinar via Zoom

Do you enjoy attracting birds and other beneficial wildlife to your yard? Do you know which types of plants will attract hummingbirds or which plants are the top producers of fruits for other birds? Do you have invasive plants you want to rid from your yard? Join Ellen Honeycutt from the Georgia Native Plant Society for this workshop on how to create a Wildlife Sanctuary on your own property. You’ll learn which plants give the biggest bang for your buck in terms of food production, shelter, and nesting sites and which plants you may want to avoid. Learn how to manage your Wildlife Sanctuary without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides and where to go within north Georgia to source native plants for your own landscaping needs.

Friday, April 26, 2024

City Nature Challenge Bird and Plant Walk at Fernbank Forrest

6:00 to 7:30 PM 
Leader: Gabe Andrle
Limited to 20 participants
Cost: Free
Location: Fernbank Forest (DeKalb County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate - uneven forested terrain

Join Birds Georgia Habitat Program Manager, Gabe Andrle on an evening hike through the 65 acre old-growth forest of Fernbank Museum to look for and document a wide array of bird and plant life in addition to anything else we find along the way. The City Nature Challenge is a global effort to document biodiversity while connecting people to nature using iNaturalist. The hike will take participants from the museum, through Wild Woods, and into the Forest where we will encounter giant tulip poplars and oaks, a variety of pollinator friendly plants, and everything in between.

Birding Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park with Adam Betuel

7:30 to 10:00 AM 
Leader: Adam Betuel
Limited to 10 participants
Cost: $30 (note that there is also a $5 daily parking fee per car that will be payable on-site, or you may display your annual National Park Service pass)
Difficulty Level: Moderate - uneven forested terrain

This guided trip will be led by Georgia Audubon’s Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, and is an opportunity not to be missed! Kennesaw Mountain is the premier migrant hotspot in the southeast. We'll be looking for migrating flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, tanagers and grosbeaks. The walk is about 3 miles total, restrooms are available in the Visitor Center; restrooms are open beginning at 7:30 am. All levels are welcome. There is a free bird checklist specifically for the park available upon request in the Visitor Center.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Raptor Walk at Chattahoochee Nature Center

1:00 to 2:30 PM
Leader: Kathryn Dudeck
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Chattahoochee Nature Center (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Easy

From owls to hawks, eagles to vultures, join Chattahoochee Nature Center for a guided tour of their Wildlife Walk, home to rehabilitated, non-releasable birds of prey. Get an up-close look at species of raptors found across Georgia with wildlife director and rehabilitator, Kathryn Dudeck, who will share their natural history, personal stories that brought them into CNC’s care, and introduce you to a special avian ambassador. Afterward, feel free to explore the 127 acres of Chattahoochee Nature Center’s property and the variety of birds that call it home.

Eufaula NWR - Bradley Unit

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Wes Hatch
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Florence, GA (Stewart County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult; approximately 3-5 miles walking with no shade; no restrooms

Eufaula NWR, straddling the Georgia/Alabama state line, was established in 1964 to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl and other migratory and resident wildlife. The Bradley Unit of Eufaula, an Audubon Important Bird Area, adjoins the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia side and contains several ditched impoundments, weedy fields, as well as hardwood and floodplain forests.

Eufaula NWR hosts a number of resident and migratory birds, including a multitude of hard-to-find species in Georgia. As such, we'll hope to find King Rail; Barn Owl; Purple Gallinule; migratory and breeding warblers including Prothonotary; shorebirds; Least Bittern; wading birds such as Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret; Common Ground Dove; and lingering and resident waterfowl.

Exploring Nature at Chattahoochee Bend State Park

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Malcolm Hodges
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Chattahoochee Bend State Park (Coweta County)
Difficulty: Moderate

Chattahoochee Bend State Park showcases a spectacular tract of wilderness in northwest Coweta County. Located in a graceful bend of the Chattahoochee River, the park is a haven for all types of recreation.

We'll explore everything from granite outcrops and pine woodlands down to the bottomlands of the Chattahoochee River, looking for birds, plants, lichens, or anything animal, plant, or mineral we can find at this relatively new and underused state park.

All flavors of spring migrants and resident Piedmont birds can be expected this time of year here, including Wild Turkey, tanagers, vireos, and an assortment of warblers.

Birding by Canoe along the Chattahoochee River

5:30 to 8:30 PM
Trip Leaders: Roseanne Guerra and Dottie Head
Limited to 14 participants
Cost: $50/person
Location: Roswell, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Moderate, must be able to sit in a canoe for several hours and must be able to paddle a canoe. 

Commune with nature and join birding canoe guides as you explore the hidden backwaters along the Chattahoochee River. This trip is a treat for birders of any skill level. Canoeing equipment, including personal flotation devices, is provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. Please note that participants must be at least 14 years old.

Guided Tour of the Birds of Zoo Atlanta I

1:15 to 3:15 PM
Leader: Zoo Atlanta Avian Conservation Staff
Limited to 10 Participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Atlanta, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level:  Easy, walking along paved trails at Zoo Atlanta.  Ages 10+

Join a guided tour of Zoo Atlanta’s avian collection with members of the bird program staff. You’ll learn about the conservation programs they are working on and get the insider’s scoop on fascinating birds such as the Kori Bustards, Kookaburra, Chilean Flamingos, and more. Guests are invited to stay after the tour to enjoy the other attractions at Zoo Atlanta but early admission will not be available (Zoo rides and food are not included). Due to COVID restrictions, the guided tour will take place on the guest pathway. We will be unable to access portions of the Zoo that are not open to the public.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Bouckaert Farm

7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leaders: Nathan Farnau
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Fairburn, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Easy with mostly driving between spots with a few short walks on flat ground not to exceed 1/2 mile each.

The 8,000-acre Bouckaert Farm is the brainchild of Olympian (equestrian) Carl Bouckaert. It is private land in south Fulton County bordered on the west/north by the Chattahoochee River. "Chatt Hills Eventing" is used primarily for high-level equestrian events, but is also a frequent site for movie making. Portions of Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Panther were filmed on the Farm. Netflix, HBO, Fox, and Paramount have also filmed on the property.
 
Bouckaert Farm has only been birded a handful of times and just once during peak migration with a species total in the mid-70s including a half dozen sparrows and more than a dozen different warbler species. Join us as we look to add to this property's species list and explore the varied habitat of riparian woodlands, grassy meadows, mowed fields, ponds, and streams.

Mud Creek Farm

8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Leader: Wes Hatch
Limited to 20 participants
Location: Mud Creek Farm, Albany, GA (Dougherty County)
Cost: $35/person
Difficulty Level: Moderate with over 3 miles of walking

Mud Creek Farm in Albany, GA, has been owned by the Fowler Family for the last 100 years. The late host to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Jim Fowler grew up on this property and later turned it into an Ostrich Farm with a number of other exotic species that still call the farm home. The farm is now taken care of by his children and nieces and nephews. This a unique property that hosts southern specialties such as Northern Bobwhite, Bachman’s Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and so much more. Plan to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the farm!

Blue Heron Nature Preserve

8:00 to 10:30 AM
Leader: Rob McDonough
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: Free to attend, but registration required
Location: Atlanta, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level: Easy, walking on packed dirt trails

Discover the urban bird habitat at Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Our focus for this walk will be migratory species and year-round residents, including songbirds, woodpeckers, and waterfowl. This is an excellent field trip for beginning birders. Families are welcome.

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Trip Leader: Chad Popsick
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Townsend, GA (McIntosh County)
Difficulty Level: Easy, driving the wildlife drive and stopping for short walks on packed dirt trails to view ponds.

Harris Neck has served as a premier nesting, foraging, and wintering habitat for many species of wildlife.  Signature species include Wood Storks, which nest in a large colony on Woody Pond, and the colorful and uncommon Painted Bunting, which favors nesting habitat in the refuge's maritime scrub areas.
 
The refuge encompasses six man-made freshwater ponds, as well as extensive salt marsh, open fields, forested wetlands, and mixed hardwood/pine forest.  This diversity of habitat makes the refuge an important resource for migratory birds (342 species of birds have been seen on the refuge and 83 species breed here).

We will drive the wildlife drive through the refuge, stopping along the way to view birds and other wildlife (including alligators!) at the various ponds.

Birds and Bikes Westside Tour

8:00 to 10:00 AM
Leader: Sandra Murray and Ken Boff
Limited to 15 participants
Cost: Free
Location: The group will meet at Historic Washington Park
Difficulty Level: Moderate. Participants must provide their own cycling equipment, including helmets (required to participate.)

Join Birds Georgia and Trees Atlanta for a guided biking tour of West Atlanta to explore our local species of birds and trees! Starting at Historic Washington Park, we will look for migrating birds and learn about the trees they depend on as we travel south down the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Along the way, we will make several stops, including Trees Atlanta’s Westside Azealia Collection and Persimmon Woods. We will travel approximately 1.3 miles in each direction on the BeltLine trail, starting and ending in Washington Park. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing for the weather and for biking. You must bring your own bike and safety equipment; no equipment is provided on this trip. Washington Park is hilly, so please anticipate inclines as you are biking.

Sunday to Monday, April 28 to 29, 2024

Birding the Hike Inn Trail & Overnight at the Hike Inn

10:00 AM on Sunday, April 28, to 3:00 PM on Monday, April 29
Trip Leader: Jay Davis & Carrie Harper
Limited to 14 Participants (assuming double occupancy - only 7 rooms available)

Cost:
Double Occupancy (shared room, 2 attendees): $280 per room

Location: Dawsonville, GA (Dawson County)
Difficulty Level: Strenuous, 5-mile hike with significant elevation change

If you haven't been to the Len Foote Hike Inn, you are in for a treat. Nestled in the mountains north of Amicalola Falls, the location is beautiful, the stars at night are bright, and the best part is that after a challenging 5 mile hike, you have the opportunity to shower and eat a family-style meal. After dinner, a cozy game and puzzle room beckons. Accommodations are bunk beds (2 per room), with bathrooms and hot showers in a separate bathhouse.

We will meet at 10:00 AM at the Hike Inn parking lot at the top of Amicalola Falls in Amicalola Falls State Park. We will bird our way to the Hike Inn, which will take us 4-5 hours along a 5-mile trail. Birds we will likely see include Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Black-and-White Warbler and Hooded Warbler. The hike crosses small streams, traverses scenic ridges, and ambles through stands of mountain laurel and rhododendron.

Backpacker magazine included the trail as one of 36 “Best American Hikes” and the Inn is included on National Geographic Traveler’s “Stay List.”

After spending the night at the Hike Inn, we will bird our way back to the Hike Inn parking lot the following day, arriving back to the parking lot by 3:00 PM.

Register For Hike Inn

Wenesday, May 1, 2024

Birds and Brushes with Henry Adams

7:00 to 8:30 PM
Instructor: Henry Adams
Cost: $12 per device
Location: Online via Zoom webinar

Henry Adams (they/them) is a wildlife ecologist, educator, and illustrator currently living in Chicago, Illinois, the traditional homelands of the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi and many other Indigenous peoples. They seek to use education, art, and intersectional ecological research to empower and create space for Queer BPOIC joy and community in nature. Join them virtually for a guided drawing lesson on the Brown Thrasher!

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Bird & Sit with the Feminist Bird Club

5:30 PM to Sunset
Leader: Feminist Bird Club of Atlanta
Cost: Free
Limited to 30 participants
Location: Legacy Park, Decatur (DeKalb County)
Difficulty: Easy

Join the Atlanta Feminist Bird club for a bird sit! Bring a chair or blanket, snacks if you got 'em, and your binoculars (we'll have some extras to share). This event is a great opportunity to connect with fellow bird lovers, celebrate the beauty of birds, and support the Feminist Bird Club's mission. This event is for all ages and experience levels. All are welcome! The Feminist Bird Club is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in birding while fundraising and providing a safe opportunity for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks to connect with the natural world. Please contact us if you have access needs or questions!

Webinar: Beginning Birder 101

7:00 to 9:00 PM
Instructor: Melanie Furr
Cost: $12 per device
Location: Online via Zoom webinar

Birds are fascinating, familiar, and accessible–their colors and songs add beauty to our everyday lives. If you’d like to get started with birding or improve your birding skills, join Birds Georgia's Director of Education, Melanie Furr, for a how-to class that will help you develop your skills and enhance your enjoyment of our feathered friends. In addition to learning key identification techniques, we’ll share information on choosing the best optics, field guides, and smartphone apps to enhance your birding experience, as well as how to participate in community science projects like eBird and grow your life list. Your newfound skills are sure to enrich your enjoyment of the outdoors and keep your mind active!

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at Piedmont NWR

8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leader: Jim Ferrari
Limited to 16 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Round Oak, GA (Jones County)
Difficulty: Moderate, with driving on dirt roads through the refuge and short walks; no restrooms

In 1999 Georgia became the first state in the nation to develop a statewide conservation plan to provide management options and protection of suitable habitat for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Historically widespread in the southeast, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker suffered severe population declines due to the loss of mature pine forests. Today, approximately 1% of the woodpecker’s original population can still be found across the southeast.

We’ll caravan through several areas of the refuge to look for some of the 57 family groups that call Piedmont NWR home. Other key species we’ll keep an eye (and ear) out for during the trip are Northern Bobwhite, Bachman’s Sparrow, Wild Turkey, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and plenty of other spring migrants.

Birding the Restricted Treatment Wetlands of Clayton County Water Authority

8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Danielle Bunch and Anne McCallum
Limited to 18 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Hampton, GA (Henry/Clayton Counties)
Difficulty Level: Easy

Special Note: The majority of the treatment wetlands must be birded by car.

Newman Wetlands Center’s Senior Conservationist, Danielle Bunch, and Anne McCallum will guide us on a tour of the restricted-access Treatment Wetlands area. Participants on past trips have observed lingering and resident waterfowl such as Wood Duck, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler; American Bittern; rail species such as Sora, Common Gallinule, and American Coot; vireos; Marsh Wren; swallows; Osprey; nesting Bald Eagles; and more. This is your chance to check out a typically-restricted access site with recent unusual-for-the-area sightings, with a small chance for Limpkin and night-herons. This trip is not to be missed!

Phinizy Swamp

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leader: Peter Stangel and Kathy Harte
Location: Augusta, GA (Richmond County)
Limited to 20 participants
Cost: $35/person
Difficulty Level: Easy – walking on grassy or gravel berms and hard-packed paths. No wheelchairs or strollers (we do have one staircase to go down)

Minutes from downtown Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers you the chance to see wetland and forest-dwelling species, such as Great Blue Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Painted Bunting, and American alligator, in their natural habitats. This trip will take you on a 2.5 mile loop to explore a diversity of birds and their habitats!

Birding at Cooper's Furnace

One spot remains!

8:00 to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Shannon Fair
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35
Location: Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area, Cartersville,
Difficulty Level: Easy but lots of walking.

Coopers Furnace is one of North Georgia’s most popular day use areas. Nestled on the Etowah River, this park features rolling hills, waterfront tree lines and hardwood forested trail. Join us as we explore this lush space in search of woodpeckers, warblers and water birds.

Birding at Cannan Farms

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Trip Leaders: Malcolm Hodges and Hal Avery
Limited to 12 participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Pine Mountain (Harris County)
Difficulty: Moderate, 2-mile walk

Join us for a unique educational opportunity to look for birds among a variety of habitats including longleaf pine stands, early successional uplands, hardwood uplands, riparian hardwoods, and a spring fed lake. Birder Malcolm Hodges will point out birds in each habitat and landowner Hal Avery will accompany us sharing his management techniques in converting his family dairy farm into this extensive wildlife habitat.

Guided Tour of the Birds of Zoo Atlanta II

1:15 to 3:15 PM
Leader: Zoo Atlanta Avian Conservation Staff
Limited to 10 Participants
Cost: $35/person
Location: Atlanta, GA (Fulton County)
Difficulty Level:  Easy, walking along paved trails at Zoo Atlanta.  Ages 10+.

Join a guided tour of Zoo Atlanta’s avian collection with members of the bird program staff. You’ll learn about the conservation programs they are working on and get the insider’s scoop on fascinating birds such as the Kori Bustards, Kookaburra, Chilean Flamingos, and more. Guests are invited to stay after the tour to enjoy the other attractions at Zoo Atlanta but early admission will not be available (Zoo rides and food are not included). Due to COVID restrictions, the guided tour will take place on the guest pathway. We will be unable to access portions of the Zoo that are not open to the public.

Saturday and Sunday, May 11 and 12, 2024

Warbler Weekend in the North Georgia Mountains

2 spots remain!

Pre-trip Orientation & Warbler ID Webinar via Zoom: Tuesday, April 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Weekend Birding Trip: 7:30 AM on Saturday, May 11, to 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 12
Leader: Theresa Hartz
Limited to 11 participants
Cost: $175/person
Location: Clayton, GA to Blairsville, GA
Difficulty Level: Moderate with full days of birding along different terrains

Stretch your neck and warm up those ears. It's time to prepare for spring migration! Theresa Hartz will lead participants to various hotspots in the North Georgia mountains, where it's possible to find more than 20 species of warblers, many of which will be singing on their breeding grounds. The group will visit some mountain hotspots as well as some new warbler-rich locations. This guided trip will be preceded by a classroom session on a date Tuesday, April 30.  Registration fee does not include food, transportation, or lodging.

Date: April 6-May 4, 2024

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