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.

2) Cypress Swamp        [N/A]
mid F-mid Sp      
[DeLorme pg. 70, A-1]
Located just a few miles north of the town of Folkston on US 1, at the junction with Macks Island Creek bridge (formerly one of the Spanish Creek bridges), is a small cypress "swamp" that is on the NE side of the road. Just north of Mattox Junction, DeLorme. It's quite an open area and has been clear-cut all around. This is often a good spot for Wood Ducks, Anhinga, Wood Storks, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, etc.

3) Okefenokee Swamp NWR       [N/A]              
IBA, mid F-mid Sp          
See Beaton's Birding Georgia for more details on birding the refuge itself and more surrounding sites. A massive forest fire moved through the area in spring 2007, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the birds and other wildlife. Fire has played a historic natural role in this swamp habitat so in the long run it could be beneficial. If you have visited Okefenokee since the fires, please send an update to the online ListServ GABO-L or email me with updates.