Atlanta and surrounding areas.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area—Cochran Shoals Unit (I-285 & Northside-Powers Ferry Rd exit.) are a series of protected areas along the Chattahoochee River corridor in the metro Atlanta area. The Cochran Shoals unit is one of the key Atlanta Audubon sites for spring and fall migration walks, second only to Kennesaw Mountain. All of Georgia's woodpeckers except the Red-cockaded are found here. Fernbank Forest, located behind Fernbank Science Center in the city of Atlanta, is the Atlanta area's only tract of uncut suburban woodland. The forest has a birdlist of 155 species. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Parkjust northwest of Atlanta and east of I-75, has always been known to have excellent birding habitat. While the mountain has always enjoyed the reputation of being the best Atlanta location for observing fall raptor migration movements, we now know that the treelines up and down the paved road to the summit can yield an exciting passerine display particularly during migration. The E. L. Huie facility, 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta, is one of the best inland locations for shorebirds and waterbirds in the state. There are five ponds inside the facility, and birders can drive the dikes for good views at each pond. The Newman Wetlands Center is farther down Freeman Road on the right, just beyond the bridge. The self-guided boardwalk tour through the wetlands can yield Prothonotary and Kentucky Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush during nesting season. Sweetwater Creek State Park is the Georgia state park closest to the metro Atlanta area. Seven miles of trails, shaded streams, and a lake, supports some interesting species during migration and in winter.
BATUMI BOTTLENECK
41°45’N, 41°45’E, Altitude: 0–200m.
This area is a most important birdwatching site. Migratory birds concentrate here en route to Africa and southern Asia. The bottleneck, near the large city of Batumi, is located where the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus, covered with humid relic forest, descend to the coast. Each fall thousands of raptors migrate through the site. These include Common Buzzard, Rough–legged Buzzard, Black Kite, European Honey–buzzard, Northern, Montagu’s, and Pallid Harriers, Western Marsh-harrier, Eurasian and Levant Sparrowhawks, Eurasian Hobbies, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Kestrel, Red–footed Falcon, Merlin, Osprey, Short–toed Snake Eagle, Lesser Spotted, Greater Spotted, Imperial, Steppe, Booted, Golden and White–tailed Eagles can be seen. Other species include storks and pelicans as well as a good variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Visitors can combine birding with swimming or trips to the mountain forests. The best time is September–October. Batumi can be reached from Tbilisi by train (departure every evening from Tbilisi railway station, arriving in the morning), or by bus and minibus. Travel by car takes 6–7 hours. Details concerning birdwatching can be obtained from the GCCW office.
There are hotels in Batumi, or less expensive accommodation can be arranged in private homes. The birdwatching station provides lodging as well. Restaurants and cafés are found in Batumi or on the road along the Black Sea coast.
ekyll Island.
This site, accessible from I-95 at Brunswick on the coast in southern Georgia, is one of the best birding spots in Georgia, worth visiting any time of year. The number of species that has been seen here is staggering, and includes rarities from almost every family. The location of Jekyll Island makes it wonderful for migrants as well as interesting permanent residents. Key birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Gray Kingbird, scoters, shorebirds, gulls, terns and passerine migrants. The south end of the island is probably the "birdiest".
inckney Island National Wildlife Reserve,
Near the famous resort of Hilton Head, the Pinckney NWR consists mainly of salt marsh and tidal creeks. There are more than 14 miles of trails for wildlife and bird viewing, and waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and raptors are all commonly seen. During spring and fall migration, good numbers of warblers and other migrants pass through.
KOLKHETI NATIONAL PARK
42°08’N, 41°45’E
Altitude: 0–5m.
The park is located in a wetland forest area west of the Black Sea coast, east of the town Poti and the salty Lake Paliastomi, and south of the mouth of the river Rioni (Phasis). The site is best visited in winter when the birds include Great Crested, Red–necked, and Black–necked Grebes, Great Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Little and Great Egrets, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Lesser White–fronted Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Marsh Sandpiper, Great Snipe, and many more species of ducks (including, rarely, White–headed Duck), waders, coots, gulls (including Great Black–headed) and terns (Gull–billed and White–winged). White–tailed Eagles also occur.
Birding the site will probably take four days. The site is accessible from the town Poti. Poti can be reached by train (every day from Tbilisi railway station), bus or minibus (Didube bus station in Tbilisi). Travel by car to Poti takes 6–7 hours. Wetlands along the eastern side of Lake Paliastomi can be reached in a boat rented in Poti from the administration of Kolkheti National Park. Local trips are possible with a motorboat from the park administration, which also manages several lodging places within the park. You must supply your own sleeping bags. There are also accommodations, as well as restaurants and cafes, in Poti. Entrance to the area requires a permit that can be obtained in the office of Kolkheti National Park in Poti.
LAGODEKHI NATURE RESERVE
41°N, 46°15’E, alt. 400 to over 3,000m.
Lagodekhi Reserve has a range of elevations and habitats, from primary deciduous mountain forest dominated by Chestnut and Oriental Beach, to alpine lakes and tundra. Since there are no automobile roads in the mountainous section of the reserve, a trip will take 5–6 days.
The forest is home four species of owls, seven species of woodpeckers, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, White–throated Dipper, various warblers and other passerines. Subalpine and alpine areas have large raptors including Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, and Lammergeier. There are also birds endemic to the Caucasus: Caucasian Black Grouse, Caucasian Snowcock, and Caucasian Chiffchaff. The best season is from late May through September.
Lagodekhi can be reached from Tbilisi by bus or minibus (departure every day from the Isani bus station). Travel by car takes 3 hours.
A permit obtained from the park administration is required for entry to the park. Entering the site by car is forbidden. Birding areas are reachable by foot or on horseback. The administration rents horses and also can supply guides and some lodging in cabins.
Accommodation is possible in the town of Lagodekhi. Within the reserve, lodging is possible at a meteorological station in the upper part of the forest belt. Camping is also permitted. Visitors to the uplands should bring their own food supplies.
MOUNT KAZBEK
Mount Kazbek, 5047m, one of the highest and most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus, located close to the village of Kazbegi on the Georgian Military Highway, is an ancient, heavily glaciated volcano near the Russian border. All the montane specialties can be seen here. Gergeti, near Kazbegi, is the trail-head for the path that leads up to the Gergeti glacier high on the slopes of Mount Kazbek.
The hike uphill passes through birch woodland where Caucasian Chiffchaff and Green Warbler are abundant before it emerges on the ridge overlooking Gergeti. Passing through a dry valley, where Alpine Accentor is possible, hikers reach a pass at about 3,000 m. At this altitude it becomes possible to hear the curlew-like calls of the Caucasian Snowcock. The Snowcocks, confined to the high reaches of the Caucacases in Russia and Georgia, inhabit meadows in the alpine and sub-alpine zones, and occur mainly on steep slopes with plenty of rock outcrops and stony sparsely vegetated areas. Caucasian Black Grouse also occur in the region, on moderately grazed slopes with Rhododendron and juniper scrub, but can be difficult to see after May/June. Bird the area south of the glacier's snout for the Snowcock. Scan the ridge tops for calling males. Twite , Wallcreeper, Snowfinch and Great Rosefinch occur in this area. The Rosefinches nest at 3,000-3,500m just below the snow and glacier line but feed in alpine and subalpine meadows at 2,500-2,700m in the summertime. Güldenstädt's Redstart breeds just below the snow-line between 2,800 and 3,700 m. Watch for Lammergeier overhead.
Kazbegi is about four hours north of Tbilisi. Getting there by taxi from the capital is not very expensive but prices will vary depending on your bargaining skills. Staying in a B&B is your best option for accommodation. To get to the face of the glacier at about 2,950m, the altitude where it becomes possible to see the montane birds, takes three hours of uphill walking from Gergeti. The best plan is to go up one afternoon and camp overnight at 3,000m, so that you can bird from dawn. Warm clothing is a must. Be wary of the effects of high altitude; altitude sickness can strike even at 3,000 m. Some people find it hard to sleep. Drinking sufficient water is important. Finally, pay attention to weather conditions.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
The largest National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S., Okefenokee is in southeast Georgia with parts extending into Northern Florida. The refuge contains 396,000 acres of magnificent swamp, one of the oldest and most well preserved freshwater areas in America. Sandhill cranes, hawks, ospreys, and woodland birds, including the elusive Red-cockaded Woodpecker are found here. The main entrance to the refuge is located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, off Highway 121/23. The west entrance is located 17 miles east of Fargo, GA off Highway Spur 177. Secondary entrances are located at Kingfisher Landing, off Highway 1 north of Folkston, and the Suwannee River Sill, accessed from Highway Spur 177 east of Fargo.
Savannah and surrounding areas.
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge. This popular birding spot, east of Savannah off I-95, is a great place to view wading birds and grassland species. Many different kinds of sparrows are found here, including Vesper, Grasshopper, Field, Song, and Savannah Sparrows. Actively managed reservoirs support rookeries of many wading birds including Great and Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Tricolored, Green-backed, and Little Blue Herons, Anhingas, Wood Storks, and White Ibis. The Savannah and Ogeechee Canal site, a few miles west of Savannah off I-95, consists mainly of the Ogeechee River flood plain. Here you can see Mississippi Kites and Swallow-tailed Kites if you are very lucky. Neo-tropical migrants common to large river flood plains such as the Swainson’s Warbler and the Prothonotary Warbler are also found here. Fort Pulaski National Monumentlocated 15 miles east of Savannah, is an all-round great birding area and historical site. Habitats include woodland forests, grassy fields and coastal marshes. The Savannah National Wildlife Refugebetween Georgetown, South Carolina and St. Mary's, Georgia, is on the Savannah River, making it the place to bird if you want to see wintering waterfowl.
TBILISI AREA
There are several good birding areas quite close to Tbilisi.
Satovle beech forest and lakes
41°50’N, 44°40’E, Altitude: 800–1463m.
This site is covered with primary deciduous mountain forest, with dozens of ponds located in meadows above the forest line. The area is close to Tbilisi (20–25 km west of the city center). The birding sites are reachable by foot (from village of Tsodoreti) or by four–wheel drive vehicles. Forest bird species include Peregrine Falcon, Goshawk, Egyptian Vulture, Long–eared, Scops, Tawny, and Eagle Owls, Greater-spotted, Lesser-spotted, Middle-spotted, Syrian, Green and Black Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Raven, Jay, various warblers and other passerines. Eurasian Woodcock can be seen in the spring. The best time to visit is late March through May and September–December. The easiest way to reach the birding sites is by four–wheel drive, through the village Tsodoreti east of Tbilisi (ca. 30 minutes from Tbilisi center), past Tsodoreti Lake and then up to the top of the mountain. Alternatively, Tsodoreti can be reached by bus or mini– bus, departing several times a day from the Saburtalo market area in Tbilisi, or by taxi, followed by a walk to the ridge, a trip that will take about 5 hours each way. Take lunch with you.
Shio– Mghvime limestone cave complex
41°53’N 44°40’E, Altitude: 800–1091m.
This site is an old monastery in a limestone canyon on the northern bank of the river Mtkvari (Kura), about 30 km. from Tbilisi. Egyptian Vultures nest in the caves carved by monks in the verticle limestone walls. A single–day excursion is possible. Other birds include Long–eared, Scops, and Tawny Owls, woodpeckers, Wryneck, Goshawk, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, various warblers, Hoopoe, European Bee–eater, Rose–coloured Starling, various wheatears, shrikes, larks, and buntings, and other passerines. The best time to visit is late March through May and September–December. The area can be reached by car or minibus.
Lake Lisi
41°41’N, 44°44’E, Altitude: 400–500m.
The landscape around this small lake in the vicinity of Tbilisi is rocky and arid with shrub vegetation and steppe. The lake has several duck species, Grey Heron, Little Bittern, and grebes. Raptors include Marsh Harrier and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Common Buzzard and Hobby. Arid landscape birds such as European Bee–eater, Hoopoe, wheatears, shrikes, Spanish Sparrow, Black– headed and Ortolan Buntings occur. The best time to visit is April through September. It can be reached by car (around 30 min. from Tbilisi center) or by minibuses, which regularly depart from the Saburtalo district of Tbilisi, so it is possible to bird in a day trip.
There is a restaurant in the lake area.
Kojori foothill deciduous forest
41°39’N, 44°44’E, Altitude: 600–900m.
This vacation area, about a half–hour drive from downtown Tbilisi, features primary hornbeam and oak mountain forest. Especially interesting birding sites can be found around ruins of the Kojori castle and along a small river, Kojoris–tskali.
Forest bird species include Peregrine Falcon, Goshawk, Long– eared and Scops Owls, Greater-spotted, Lesser-spotted, Middle-spotted, Syrian, Green and Black Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Raven, Jay, various warblers and other passerines.
The best time to visit is from April through September. Minibuses leave several times a day from Freedom Square in the center of Tbilisi. Travel by car takes about 30 minutes each way.