Ogeechee Audubon will continue to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is most likely the most reliable location in the area for observing Rusty Blackbirds which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century.

If you would like to join the survey team please meet a team member at the front gate of the school at 3:00pm sharp. (1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408).

Leaders: Stan Gray (graysirisgarden@comcast.net) & Pam Smith (pavercel@comcast.net)

Trip Rigor: Easy

Go to Christmas Bird Count to sign-up

Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.

Go to Christmas Bird Count to sign-up

Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.

Ogeechee Audubon will continue to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is most likely the most reliable location in the area for observing Rusty Blackbirds which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century.

If you would like to join the survey team please meet a team member at the front gate of the school at 3:00pm sharp. (1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408).

Leaders: Stan Gray (graysirisgarden@comcast.net) & Pam Smith (pavercel@comcast.net)

Trip Rigor: Easy

Go to Christmas Bird Count to sign-up

Trip Rigor: varies according to birding site, but mostly moderate, with some walking.

Our December meeting will be our annual holiday gathering featuring fellowship, refreshments, and games/activities.

This meeting will be a great opportunity for everyone to start getting excited about the upcoming CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT season!

Ogeechee Audubon will continue to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is most likely the most reliable location in the area for observing Rusty Blackbirds which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century.

If you would like to join the survey team please meet a team member at the front gate of the school at 3:00pm sharp. (1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408).

Leaders: Stan Gray (graysirisgarden@comcast.net) & Pam Smith (pavercel@comcast.net)

Trip Rigor: Easy

Targeting will include songbirds, wading birds, raptors, and more.

Leader: Rachel Green delgreen@comcast.net 912-660-8217

Difficulty: easy to moderate.

Meet in the parking lot of Skidaway Island United Methodist Church at 8:00am. From there we will carpool (if you like) into the park ($5 parking fee in the park will be in effect).

Meeting address: 54 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, GA 31411.

Meet at the eastern end of the large parking lot on Montgomery Crossroads entrance at 8:00 am. We will be looking for ducks, wintering songbirds, and more.

Leader Larry Carlile (l.carlile259@comcast.net) 912-224-1796.

Trip rigor: Easy to moderate with 1-2 miles of walking.

Ogeechee Audubon will continue to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is most likely the most reliable location in the area for observing Rusty Blackbirds which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century.

If you would like to join the survey team please meet a team member at the front gate of the school at 3:00pm sharp. (1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408).

Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net) & Pam Smith (pavercel@comcast.net)

Trip Rigor: Easy

We’ll be targeting shorebirds, sparrows, ducks, raptors and more. Sturdy shoes, hat, water and bug spray recommended. Scopes are very helpful.

Meet in the small parking lot near the Houlihan Bridge at 8:30 am.

Leader: Lynn Hodgson hodgson.lynn@aol.com 808-282-5218

Trip rigor: moderate with a lot of walking.

Ogeechee Audubon will continue to monitor use of this site as a pre-roost staging area for Rusty Blackbirds. This restricted access site is most likely the most reliable location in the area for observing Rusty Blackbirds which have undergone massive population declines over the past half century.

If you would like to join the survey team please meet a team member at the front gate of the school at 3:00pm sharp. (1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408).

Leaders: Stan Gray (grayirisgarden@comcast.net) & Pam Smith (pavercel@comcast.net)

Trip Rigor: Easy

Life would be impossible without the planet we live on. Join Skidaway Island State Park for a day focused on ways we can protect our environment, whether it be as individuals or groups working together. The event will have tables set up by organizations dedicated to environmental protection and vendors offering eco-conscious products. Be sure to stop by the Ogeechee Audubon table.

All ages are welcome for a fun and educational day focused on a truly worthwhile endeavor.

Parking fee: $5

Event Phone: 912-598-2300

Please join Bob Sargent for his presentation: Ecology and Conservation of Bald Eagles in Georgia

Bob will speak about the ecology and conservation of bald eagles in the U.S. and specifically in Georgia. He will talk about how and why the species came perilously close to extinction in the Lower 48, how that crisis was reversed, the recent avian influenza outbreak, and the status of eagles in Georgia today.

Bob Sargent badgered his major professor into letting him take an ornithology class while doing his master’s research (a deer study). That class changed his life, as he has been consumed by a passion for learning about and conserving feathered creatures ever since. He studied the ecology of migratory songbirds for his Ph.D. (UGA), and then worked 20 years as the natural resources manager of Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. Bob was an adjunct teacher at three universities and served as president of the Georgia Ornithological Society. In 2015, he was hired by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as program manager of the Wildlife Conservation Section office in Forsyth. He leads a team of biologists and technicians, participates in songbird and shorebird surveys, teaches an ornithology camp for teenagers, and is the agency’s lead for the conservation of raptors, especially bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

Targeting migrating warblers and other passerines, waterfowl, and other marsh birds. Bring plenty of water and bug spray. Entrance fee into Ft. McAllister State Park is required. 3894 Fort McAllister Road, Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Leader: Steve Fox sfox01@hotmail.com 912 596 4685.

Trip Rigor: moderate with extensive walking.

Mark your calendars for October Big Day—14 Oct 2023! Like Global Big Day, October Big Day is an opportunity to unite around our shared love of birds. Last October, nearly 35,000 people from 185 countries submitted 80,000 checklists with eBird, demonstrating the power of birds to bring people together.

Wherever you are on 14 October, take a few minutes to join in this global celebration. Participate from anywhere—even from home! By taking part in October Big Day you’re also celebrating Global Bird Weekend and World Migratory Bird Day. Be a part of the global team and help set a new record for October birding.

Searching for gulls, terns and returning shorebirds. Meet at Polk Street at 9 am.

Trip rigor: moderate with 2 miles walking on soft sand.

Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com) 912-604-7539

Be prepared to pay for parking.

The Richmond Hill Christmas Bird Count (RH CBC) may be just a bit over 3 months away (Wednesday, December 20 to be exact), but it is not too early to start planning for this year's CBC. In that vein, Shannon Matzke, Naturalist at The Ford Field & River Club (FF&RC), has invited Count Coordinator/Compiler Stan Gray to give a presentation on the history and future plans for the RH CBC. Stan’s presentation will be open to anyone who are considering joining the RH CBC this December. Registration is required for entry into FF&RC (see below) Following the presentation, the group will break up into small teams and bird the 1800-acre Ford property until noon.

Meet in The Ford Visitor Parking Lot, 48 Ford Way, Richmond Hill by 9:00 AM, after which we will convoy to the site of Stan's presentation at the Deepwater Marina.

Leaders: Stan Gray and Shannon Matzke
Pre-registration required to gain access to FF&RC. Register at this event by September 27 at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0944AEA62EA2FA7-ford

For more information about or to sign-up for the Ogeechee Audubon supported CBCs, visit our CBC page here.

We’ll be searching for wading birds and fall migrants. Meet at the entrance gate at 9:00 am. (711 Sandtown Road Savannah, GA 31410).

Rigor: Moderate with 1-2 miles walking.

Leader: Eric Swanson ericgreggswanson@gmail.com 309-721-4357.

Note: This field trip starts prior to the opening of Oatland Island, therefore the fee gate will not be open. Please email Eric so that he knows you are coming and he can help you get in.

Please join Richard Hall, who is joining via Zoom, for his presentation: Creating Bird-Friendly Backyards

Watching birds in our backyards brings us cheer and a sense of connection to nature, and as the human footprint on the landscape increases, our backyards may become vital habitats for declining species. This talk will provide lessons learned from a decade of converting a small heavily-invaded, in-town yard into a pocket nature reserve, highlight native plants and other landscape features that attract wildlife, and showcase the surprising diversity of birds that have shown up since.

Born in England, Hall developed a lifelong fascination with birds from a young age. His enthusiasm for the natural world led him to pursue a career in Ecology. He has been on the faculty of the Odum School of Ecology and the Dept. of Infectious Diseases at UGA since 2009, where his research focuses on changing patterns of animal movement and wildlife diseases. He also serves on the board of Oconee Rivers Audubon Society.

ORK (Ogeechee Riverkeepers), The Ford Field & River Club, and OAS (Ogeechee Audubon) are joining forces to provide a bird walk and litter cleanup and one of our favorite birding locations, Chatham County Wetlands!

This beautiful site offers a mix of habitats, featuring wetlands and river setting. Ogeechee Audubon & Ogeechee Riverkeeper co-leaders will help locate and identify birds, educate us about the southern part of the Ogeechee watershed while we cleanup the waterways.

We will search for wading birds, raptors, woodpeckers and more! Please bring your binoculars if you have them. Litter collection supplies will be provided. A limited amount of loaner binoculars will be available.

Meet at the cul-de-sac of the Al Bungard Conservation Area at 9AM. Use driving directions from HWY 17.

Trip Rigor: Easy, with paved path and varied terrain. Estimated walking distance 2 miles. ADA accessible; no public restrooms on site.

Registration is individual and will be handled by Ogeechee Riverkeepers. Each person in your party must register separately. If you are interested, register here. Please direct questions to ogeecheeaudubon.help@gmail.com.

*All participants will be required to adhere to all COVID-19 mandates and protocols in effect at the time of the event.

Searching for gulls, terns and returning shorebirds. Meet at Polk Street at 6 pm.

Trip rigor: moderate with 2 miles walking on soft sand.

Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com) 912-604-7539

Be prepared to pay for parking.

Searching for gulls, terns, and returning shorebirds. Meet at the end of Polk Street at 6PM.

Be prepared to pay for parking. So either bring quarters for meters or use the Park Tybee App.

Leader: Diana Churchill (dichurchbirds@gmail.com) 912-604-7539

Trip rigor: moderate with 2-3 miles walking on soft sand.

We will be monitoring Mississippi & Swallow-tailed Kite feeding locations to choose an appropriate location. Exact location is to be determined. 

We will be limiting the trip to 12 people. You must register to participate!

Leaders: Diana Churchill and Mark Woodruff.

Please email Diana Churchill dichurchbirds@gmail.com to register.

Ogeechee Audubon will return to this famed local site after an extended period of closure to repair and protect against storm damage and rising sea levels. Highlights at this time of year should include Common and Purple Gallinules, Black-necked Stilts, and wading birds.

We will be limiting the trip to 20 people and 5 vehicles so as not to overwhelm the pull-offs on the Drive. You must register to participate!

Leader Matt Tozer.

Rigor: Easy, will stay close to the vehicles.

Registration is required – email Matt Tozer (mctozer@yahoo.com). Please be willing to carpool during the trip.

We’ll take a look at the rookery at the first pond which should feature heron, egret and ibis nests with chicks approaching fledging size.

Meet at the Refuge entrance at 8:00 am Rte 278, Bluffton South Carolina 29910 (32.228562, -80.785860).

Rigor: Moderate with 1-2 miles of walking; could be hot.

Leader Matt Tozer mctozer@yahoo.com 845-596-4662.

eBird for Beginners and Experts with Yve Morrell

Whether you have been using eBird for years or are not sure about how the platform works, the June OAS public meeting is for you. Yve Morrell, from St. Simons, will be our presenter. She is an eBird reviewer for the counties south of Chatham and will dive into why one should post their sightings on eBird plus what to focus on for rare bird verifications.

Additionally, being intimately aware of all the data available on eBird, Yve will show us how to access the information, how to use it when you are in unfamiliar or familiar places to locate birds, and how that data contributes to the overall understanding regarding the status of bird species.

Yve, who did a Big Year in 2017 ending up with 813 birds in the U.S. and Canada, has travelled world wide, and has such an enthusiasm for all birds from the rare to the well known. Usually she is out and about catching glimpses of those feathered buddies.

If you have questions about eBird before the meeting or want a topic discussed, send your queries to OAS via the help line, ogeecheeaudubon.help@gmail.com , beforehand. Be sure to bring your laptops or tablets to the meeting so Yve can walk you through any frustrations you may be having