ColumbiaCoBirdingSites

A Guide to Birding in Georgia

Columbia County
Birding Locations

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.

Columbia County
1) Reed Creek Park           [N/A]
PM
[DeLorme pg. 31, E-6]
Wet and dry habitat migrants, near Savannah River; Mississippi Kite, Waterthrushes, etc. Reed Creek Park is a fairly small (15 acre) fairly new (March 2005) park in southern Columbia County (i.e. suburban Augusta.) Although it contains some drier habitat, access is essentially limited to a small, well built boardwalk through swamp habitat (which makes up most of the park.) It would probably take about five minutes to cover the boardwalk if you were walking at a brisk pace, but it's better to take things more slowly. From I-20 (east of Atlanta) get off at Washington Rd/Hwy 28 (Exit 199) and head west. Split right onto Furys Ferry Rd (Hwy 28), and in about 1 mile look for West Lake Country Club on the right. The park is directly across the street on the left, turn left on Park Lane and go to the end and park.

2) J. Strom Thurmond Lake            [Oct 2006]
W for waterfowl and gulls
[DeLorme pg. 30]