| |
Weekends find members of Oconee Rivers Audubon exploring the beauty of our region. We visit local parks and private lands, and travel to more distant areas seasonally. In spring we visit the mountains to search for warblers and wildflowers and in fall we explore areas such as Phinizy Swamp. Non-members are always welcome. You don't need to be an experienced birdwatcher to join!
What's coming up next?
Click on any event below to learn more!
September 2nd ORAS Meeting
Ecological Effects of the Athens Chemical Spill
Ben Emanuel and Jessica Sterling will provide an update on the chemical pollution of Trail Creek in Athens at the September 2 Oconee Rivers Audubon Society meeting.
Jess Sterling, a graduate student in the Odum School of Ecology at UGA and Upper Oconee Watershed Network board member, has been studying Trail Creek and other urban Athens streams for two years. She will discuss baseline ecological conditions in the creek, the ecological damage done by the chemical spill, and the emerging ideas for remediation.
Ben Emanuel, the Oconee River Project Director for Altamaha Riverkeeper, has been working with state, local and federal officials on the issue since the time of the J&J Chemical Company fire and subsequent chemical spill. He will update ORAS on those efforts and ways we all can help with issues that have arisen in the aftermath of the spill.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the ENSAT Building at Sandy Creek Nature Center. For additional information, contact President Vanessa Lane. MAP
-------------------------------------------
Memorial Park Ecological Restoration Project Workdays
DONE UNTIL FALL! Please check back for updates! Thank you volunteers!
Join the recipients of the ORAS IBA Conservation Grant for a fun and rewarding morning of eradicating invasive species in Memorial Park. This is part of a long term project to restore native plant species in Athens. Ivy and privet beware! Wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Long sleeves are also recommended for occasional sightings of poison ivy. Bring work gloves and water, and your favorite tools (although we will have lots of tools on hand to share). The work is appropriate for all ages. Supervised children are welcome.
This project is a cooperative effort between citizens of Athens-Clarke County and the ACC Leisure Services Department. The Oconee Rivers Audubon Society are sponsoring the project, providing funds and plants to help in the restoration effort.
If you would like to be added to the project's mailing list, please contact Dorothy O'Niell.
-------------------------------------------
Bird Banding Opportunities
Learn how to mist net, measure, and band birds with Charlie Muise, Georgia's Important Bird Area Coordinator and his crew of banders! Charlie Muise runs two MAPS stations in the Atlanta area, including Panola State Park and Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area.
Meet HERE for Panola State Park banding dates. Please arrive on time or you will be locked out of the gate.
Bring water, food, cameras, sun screen, and sturdy shoes. Also, be aware that bird banding may be cancelled due to rainy or windy weather. If you would like to participate and need driving directions or more information, please contact Charlie Muise.
September 10: Joe Kurz, 0620
September 11: Panola, 0550
September 24: Joe Kurz, 0630
September 26: Panola, 0600
October 1: Joe Kurz, 0630
October 16: Panola, 0610
October 22: Joe Kurz, 0650
October 30: Panola, 0630
November 7: Panola, 0530
November 12: Joe Kurz, 0610
November 13: Panola, 0530
November 19: Joe Kurz, 0610
-------------------------------------------
Also, please note:
--Audubon Bags for sale, only $8!!--
Monthly Meetings
First Thursday of the month
7:00 p.m.
in the
ENSAT building
at the
Sandy Creek Nature Center
To get to the Nature Center
…take the Highway 441 exit off the north side of the perimeter, go north on 441 approximately 1 mile, and turn left at the Sandy Creek Nature Center sign...
Go left at the end of this short road and the new ENSAT building will be a short way down the road on your right.
See this map for more details.
|
Local Bird walks
Meet at 8AM!
We need a new Field Trip Chair! If you are interested in organizing the fall field trips (it's easy, we promise!)
please contact Vanessa Lane, our President.
Fall Bird Walk Schedule
Thank you to Ed Maioriello for organizing the fall bird walks for us! However, we need volunteer trip leaders. If you can lead one of our walks (or organize one of your own), please contact Ed at fieldtrip@oconeeriversaudubon.org.
All walks meet at 8:00AM!
August 28: Sandy Creek Nature Center
Meet at the Allen House parking lot across from the ENSAT building.
September 4: State Botanical Garden
Meet at the Chapel parking lot. Keep bearing left after you cross the cattle guard, the road will end at a parking lot.
September 11: Sandy Creek Nature Center walk and Cook's Trail Cleanup!
Meet at the Allen House parking lot. We will walk Cook's trail and pick up any trash we find, so bring a garbage bag or two!
September 18: Kennsaw Mountain Field Trip!
Meet at the Shoppes of South Athens Parking Lot at 6AM!! to carpool.
September 25: State Botanical Garden
Meet at the Chapel parking lot.
October 2: Whitehall Forest
Meet at the closed gate at 0800. We have a key to get in. Don't be late!
October 9: Sandy Creek Park
Meet at the gate at 0800, or drive across the dam to the last parking lot past the campsites.
-------------------------------------------
Atlanta Audubon Bird Walks
See the Atlanta Audubon website and click on the Field Trips tab for directions.
Sunday, August 29, 8:00 AM
Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, Decatur, DeKalb County
Lisa Hurt
Meet at the entrance to the preserve at the corner of Pine Bluff and Wood Trail Lane in Decatur at 8 AM.
Birding focus: Clyde Shepherd has a boardwalk over a pond and wetland, and woodland trails. Some early fall migrants and nesting species, including warblers, vireos, and tanagers may be seen. Raptors are commonly found, and the pond may have herons and wood ducks.
Note and Directions: Bring waterproof footwear, as trails can be wet. If it has rained recently, rubber boots are advisable. Directions:From I-285 N or S on the east side of Atlanta: Take Highway 78, Stone Mt. Freeway exit, west toward Decatur. Highway 78 merges with Lawrenceville Highway (also called US 29) and passes North DeKalb Mall, after which it changes name to Scott Blvd. Shortly, you will pass the QT station on your right. Just past this station, turn right at the next street, Harrington Road. Follow it for 0.6 miles and turn right on to Wood Trail Lane. Follow Wood Trail a short distance until it makes a 90 degree turn to the left and becomes Pine Bluff. The entrance to the refuge, where the group will meet, is at this corner. From I-75-I-85 N or S: From I-85 north or south, take North Druid Hills Rd. exit, east toward Decatur. After approx. 3 miles, you will see North DeKalb Mall on your right. At that point, turn right on to Lawrenceville Highway, which is also Highway 29. After 0.6 miles, right past the QT station, turn right on to Harrington Road and follow directions as above.
Saturday, August 28, 8:00 AM
Chicopee Woods, Gainesville, Hall County
Peter Gordon (cell phone 678-617-8826).
Meet at the Chicopee Lake Aquatic Studies Center parking lot at 8 AM.
Birding focus: Chicopee Woods has a diverse habitat of forest, streams, and wetlands.
Directions: Take I-85 north from Atlanta to I-985 (exit 113), which is a merge from the left lane. Follow it about 20 miles to Exit 20. Turn right at the end of the ramp and go to the first traffic light. Turn right at the light onto Calvary Church Road. Stay on Calvary Church Road for 3-4 miles. Look for Chicopee Woods Elementary School on the left. Chicopee Woods Aquatic Center and the entrance into the preserve will be about 0.25 miles farther on the right. We will meet in the parking lot.
Sunday, August 29, 8:00 AM
Bartow County loop
Mark McShane
Meet at the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn, Cartersville, GA, at 8 AM
Birding focus: The timing of this trip coincides with the southward migration of many species of shorebirds, and Bartow County is an excellent area to find sandpiper species. This loop also traverses good grassland habitat.
Notes and directions: The group will carpool from the Fairfield Inn. Much of the route through Bartow County is described in the wingsoverga.com website. (Click on GA Birding Locations tab.) Most of it will involve driving to ponds, fields, and a sod farm area. The leader will bring a scope to share and participants are encouraged to bring theirs so that everyone can get excellent views. Directions: From Atlanta, take I-75 to exit 288 (about 40 miles north of downtown Atlanta). Turn left at the end of the ramp and park at the Fairfield Inn, 20 Canyon Parkway, Cartersville, GA 30120.
"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.
Living in the world without insight into the hidden laws of nature is like not knowing the language of the country in which one was born."
-Hazrat Inayat Khan
|
|
