Treutlen County
Birding Locations |
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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.
Treutlen
1) Treutlen County PFA [June 2007] 
PM, W for waterfowl, Sp-early Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 45, D-6]
From I-16, get off at Exit 78 (US Hwy 221 / GA Hwy 56) and head south for just 0.5 miles, and turn right to head NW on GA Hwy 86. In 3.1 miles, turn left onto Crooked Creek Rd (County Rd 166) and continue for 1.5 miles to a bridge that bisects the lake. Park well off the road on the shoulder and be extremely careful with traffic as you take your scope out to a raised concrete rail along the bridge to scope the lake (PHOTOS 1 & 2). The lake may have interesting waterfowl in winter; Common Loon has been seen. The surrounding woods may have interesting migrants in season, and interesting breeding birds include Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Osprey nesting in the cypress trees out on the lake, and Wood Ducks. The habitat looks right for Purple Gallinule so scan carefully in areas of lily pads and reeds. There is an unresolved question about whether the property is still owned and operated by the DNR as a Public Fishing Area and the road to the docks and boat ramps has been gated on some visits. However, you can still view the lake from the bridge and explore a few side roads in the area along Crooked Creek Rd but you must be extremely careful with traffic when you are on foot on the road shoulder or bridge.
  PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2
Text and photos by KB.
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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