Where: Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Townsend, Georgia.
What: Summer nesting songbirds, including Painted Buntings as well as the rookery extravaganza at Woody Pond.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water, bug spray, sunscreen.
Leader: Larry Carlile (l.carlile259@comcast.net)
Speaker: Matthew Emmer, president of Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges.
Where: Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center (340 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., on the corner of Jones and West Charlton Streets). The center is surrounded by ample street parking, as well as a lot just north of the building that is $3 for two hours. Please note, this lot is separated into two halves — the eastern side of the lot is labeled “West Broad Tenants and Guests Only” on an oversized white sign and reserved for Ogeechee Audubon members; the western side of the lot is reserved for SCAD and is clearly marked “SCAD Parking Only” on a small sign. Another option is the Savannah Visitor Center parking lot, a block away, where the first hour is free and then costs $1/hour thereafter.
Where: Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive at Savannah NWR.
What: We hope to see summer residents, including Least Bitterns, Purple Gallinules, Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites, Common Nighthawks, and more.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water, bug spray, sunscreen, hat.
Leader: Matt Tozer (mctozer@yahoo.com)
Where: Sterling Creek Park in Richmond Hill. Meet in the parking lot at the end of the gravel driveway (near the white restroom building) at 8:00 a.m.
What: Spring migrants and summer nesters such as Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Northern Rough- winged Swallows, Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites, and more.
Rigor: Moderate, with two or more miles of walking.
Bring: Water, bug spray, sunscreen.
Leader: Steve Fox (sfox573@gmail.com)
Where: Tybee Island North Beach. Meet at the end of Polk Street. Be prepared to pay for parking with the Park TYB app.
What: Survey to count migrating shorebirds, though we will count all birds seen.
Rigor: Moderate, with two miles of walking on sand.
Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
Where: Savannah Christian Preparatory School, 1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408
What: Ogeechee Audubon continues to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is likely the most reliable location in the area for observing these birds, which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century. If you would like
to join the survey team, please contact Stan Gray at least one day in advance. To attend, please meet a team member at the school’s front gate precisely at the stated time. Birders are not authorized to be on campus unless as part of the OAS count team.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water.
Leaders: Stan Gray (graysirisgarden@comcast.net)
Where: Frank O. Williams Lake, located on Sallie Mood Drive across from the Chatham County Aquatic Center.
What: Ducks, gulls, wintering songbirds, and more.
Rigor: Moderate, with one mile of walking. Alternatively, the rigor can be easy, if you wish to sit and scope.
Leaders: Rose Talbert (rtalbertsav@gmail.com) and Doug Morrison (dj.morrison@live.com)
Where: Tybee Island North Beach. Meet at the end of Polk Street. Be prepared to pay for parking with the Park TYB app.
What: We will be looking at all the birds, with particular attention to migrating shorebirds.
Rigor: Moderate, with two miles of walking on sand.
Leader: Mark Woodruff (woodruffmj@aol.com)
Where: Savannah Christian Preparatory School, 1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408
What: Ogeechee Audubon continues to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is likely the most reliable location in the area for observing these birds, which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century. If you would like to join the survey team, please contact Stan Gray at least one day in advance. To attend, please meet a team member at the school’s front gate precisely at the stated time. Birders are not authorized to be on campus unless as part of the OAS count team.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water.
Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net)
When: Saturday, March 7, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Where: Sterling Creek Park in Richmond Hill — for sparrows, rails, ducks, and more. Meet by the restrooms at 8:30 a.m.
Rigor: Moderate, with two miles of walking.
Leader: Pam Smith, (pavercel@gmail.com)
Where: Savannah Christian Preparatory School, 1599
Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408
What: Ogeechee Audubon continues to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is likely the most reliable location in the area for observing these birds, which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century. If you would like to join the survey team, please contact Stan Gray at least one day in advance. To attend, please meet a team member at the school’s front gate precisely at the stated time. Birders are not authorized to be on campus unless as part of the OAS count team.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water.
Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net)
When: February 13–16.
Where: Tybee Island.
For more information: Visit gos.org.
When: February 13–16.
For more information: Visit birdcount.org on how to participate in this annual exercise in citizen science.
Where: Fort Pulaski National Monument — a great place to find shorebirds, sparrows, wrens, and raptors. Meet at 9:20 a.m. at the back of the Visitor Center parking lot (near the paved path).
Entrance fee is $10 per person or pass. (A pass admits passholder plus three others.)
Rigor: Moderate, with quite a bit of walking.
Leader: Pam Smith (pavercel@gmail.com)
Where: Savannah Christian Preparatory School, 1599, Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408
What: Ogeechee Audubon continues to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is likely the most reliable location in the area for observing these birds, which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century. If you would like to join the survey team, please contact Stan Gray at least one day in advance. To attend, please meet a team member at the school’s front gate precisely at the stated time. Birders are not authorized to be on campus unless as part of the OAS count team.
Rigor: Easy
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water.
Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net)
Times and Locations Vary
What: We need volunteers (advanced and beginner) to participate in one of the oldest bird population surveys in the United States. The Christmas bird counts occur annually at specific sites all over the United States. The data provides information on bird population trends over time.
Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.
Contact: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
Times and Locations Vary
What: We need volunteers (advanced and beginner) to participate in one of the oldest bird population surveys in the United States. The Christmas bird counts occur annually at specific sites all over the United States. The data provides information on bird population trends over time.
Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.
Contact: Susan De Rosa (susanderosa55@gmail.com)
Times and Locations Vary
What: We need volunteers (advanced and beginner) to participate in one of the oldest bird population surveys in the United States. The Christmas bird counts occur annually at specific sites all over the United States. The data provides information on bird population trends over time.
Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.
Contact: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net)
When: Saturday, December 13, 8:00–11:00 a.m.
Where: Lake Mayer Community Park. Meet at the far end of the right side of the main parking lot.
Rigor: Moderate with 1–2 miles of walking on paved track.
Leader: Larry Carlile (l.carlile259@comcast.net)
Where: Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the entrance to the drive to carpool for the 4.5-mile drive through the refuge.
Rigor: Easy.
Leaders: Rachel Green (delgreen@comcast.net) and Karen Seminary (k.seminary@gmail.com)
Where: Savannah Christian Preparatory School, 1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408
What: Ogeechee Audubon continues to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is likely the most reliable location in the area for observing these birds, which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century. If you would like to join the survey team, please contact Stan Gray at least one day in advance. To attend, please meet a
team member at the school’s front gate at 3:00 p.m. sharp.
Rigor: Easy.
Bring: Water.
Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net)
Where: Wormsloe State Historic Site. Meet at the Visitor Center
Center at 8 a.m. for a one-hour walk, followed by birding
around the Visitor Center. Ogeechee Audubon will donate to
Friends of Wormsloe to cover the usual $9 per-person
group fee.
Rigor: Easy.
Leaders: Gretchen Greminger, (Gretchen.Greminger@dnr.ga.gov) and Larry Carlile(l.carlile259@comcast.net)
When: Saturday, November 8, 8:30–11:00 a.m.
Where: Fort Pulaski National Monument. Meet at the entrance at 8:30 a.m. to carpool into the park.
Entrance fee is $10 per person or pass. (A pass admits passholder plus three others.)
Rigor: Moderate.
Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 8:30–11 a.m.
Where: Onslow Island, Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the entrance.
Rigor: Challenging with 2–3 miles of walking on grassy dikes.
Bring: Hat, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and scope, if possible.
Leader: Rachel Green (delgreen@comcast.net)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 8:00–9:30 a.m.
Where: Forsyth Park. Meet at the Forsyth Fountain (currently removed for repair) at 8:00 a.m.
Rigor: Easy.
Leaders: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com) and Mark
Woodruff (woodruffmj@aol.com)
When: Saturday, September 27, 8:00–11:00 a.m.
Where: Tom Triplett Park. Meet at the entrance at 8:00 a.m.
Rigor: Moderate
Leader: Pam Smith (pavercel@gmail.com)
When: Thursday, September 18, 6:00–8:15 p.m.
Where: Tybee Island North Beach. Meet at the end of Polk Street near the recycling bins at 6:00 p.m. Be prepared to pay for parking with the Park TYB app.
What: We hope to find returning shorebirds as well as a great assortment of terns, gulls, and even a few songbird migrants.
Rigor: Moderate with 1–2 miles of walking on sand.
Bring: Hat, water, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
The next public meeting for the Ogeechee Audubon will be on Tuesday, September 16. Our speaker will be Stephen Schabel, the vice president and director of education for the Center for Birds of Prey. Stephen overseas the care, husbandry, and training of the Center’s educational resident bird collection as well as the design and implementation of the conservation education programs offered by the Center throughout South Carolina and beyond. This special event will be held at One Hundred Miles, 1702 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401
When: Tuesday, September 9, 8:00–9:30 a.m.
Where: Forsyth Park. Meet at the Forsyth Fountain (currently removed for repair) at 8:00 a.m.
Rigor: Easy.
Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
Where: Tybee Island North Beach. Meet at the end of Polk Street near the recycling bins. Be prepared to pay for parking with the Park TYB app.
What: We hope to find returning shorebirds as well as a great assortment of terns, gulls, and even a few songbird migrants.
Rigor: Moderate with 1–2 miles of walking on soft sand.
Leader: Contact Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com)
Where: Glennville farm fields. Meet at the Love’s Travel stop at Exit 90 off I-95 at 8:45 am to carpool to Glennville.
What: We’ll be looking for feeding flocks of Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites.
Trip rigor: Easy with a good deal of standing to observe the birds but not much walking. Bring hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water and a folding chair if you prefer.
Leaders: Diana Churchill ( dichurchbirds@gmail.com ) & Mark Woodruff (woodruffmj@aol.com)
Where: Meet in the parking lot of the Skidaway Island Methodist Church at 8:30 a.m. to carpool to Skidaway Island State Park. After the state park, there will be an option to continue to Priests Landing.
What: We will look for Painted Buntings, as well as summer nesting songbirds and wading birds. At Priests landing, we may see Roseate Spoonbills .
Rigor: Medium with 1-2 miles of walking on flat trails.
Leader: Rachel Green (delgreen@comcast.net)
Where: Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, Hardeeville, SC 29927. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive entrance off Alligator Alley.
What: Summer specialties such as Least Bitterns, Purple Gallinules, Common Nighthawks, and Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites.
Rigor: Easy
Leader: Leader: Matt Tozer (mctozer@yahoo.com)