Bird-watchers say the eagle-spotting is good now that large predator birds are experiencing a come-back
Orlando Montoya
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BRUNSWICK, Ga.
Georgia is high into bald eagle nesting season and bird-watchers say, the outlook is good for eagle-spotting on the Georgia coast.
There were no known eagle nests anywhere in Georgia as recently as the 1970's.
In a sign of how the birds have come back, last year, the state had 126 nests.
A third of Georgia's nesting pairs settle on the coast, with the salt marsh providing abundant food.
Brunswick birder Debbie Mumford says, she's spotted several on roadsides.
"It's the first time I've really noticed an increase in them," Mumford says. "A couple of years ago, I never saw many eagles."
Jim Ozier of the state's Wildlife Resources Division says, what bird watchers on the coast have seen is mirrored in all parts of the state.
"During the earlier years, these nests were fairly isolated," Ozier says. "But what we're seeing more lately is they're starting to settle into areas fairly near some human development, right in people's backyards."
Ozier says, nests should have eggs by mid-December.
Eagle nesting season lasts through April.
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Bald eagle nesting season is underway on Georgia's coast. (photo NASA Gary Rothstein)
Human development has crowded out much of our native wildlife habitat, but the good news is that you can make a difference without leaving the house. On this episode we’ll show you how to make your yard more wildlife friendly.
Description:
Our world is becoming increasingly urbanized and as we pave our way across the land, native ecosystems are affected. Habitat loss is the number one cause of wildlife population declines, and over the years, commercial and residential development have pushed a number of Georgia’s species to the brink of extinction. But, there are a few things you can do around the house to make a difference by making your yard more wildlife friendly: providing food, water and shelter for birds, and planting native plants helps attract more wildlife to your backyard.
First, we take the The Audubon Society wildlife sanctuary tour. The Atlanta Audubon Society is one of the most active organizations in Georgia helping to encourage people to create wildlife sanctuaries right in their backyards. In fact, in Atlanta residents can have their yards certified as a wildlife habitat.
Another place that’s making a difference is a unique housing development on coastal Georgia. It is a place that rises above and beyond the “typical” golf community. It is home to lush coastal woodlands, a variety of wildlife, an Audubon Certified Golf Course and an environmentally active community.
Bird watching and gardening are great ways to experience the joys of nature right in your own backyard during the day, but the enjoyment doesn’t have to stop just because the sun sets. Backyard campouts are another way to experience outdoor adventure in your very own yard. Each June, the National Wildlife Federation sponsors the Great American Backyard Campout, a nation-wide event designed to make kids aware of the wilderness right outside their door. We joined Sustaining Urban Villages at the Outdoor Activity Center as they hosted their own backyard campout.
Web Resources
Atlanta Audobon Society
Since 1972, Atlanta Audubon Society has been the region’s primary education and conservation organization dedicated to birds. Their mission is to promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them. The Atlanta Audubon Society hosts many activities—monthly meetings with featured speakers, weekly bird walks during migration, field trips to local birding hotspots, and other special events.
Georgia Native Plant Society The Georgia Native Plant Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing the native plants of Georgia. They host many activities to promote the appreciation and conservation of Georgia's plants and their habitats. Some activities include plant rescues, annual native plant sale, field trips and garden tours.
Great American Backyard Campout Join thousands of neighbors, friends, and families across the country for National Wildlife’s Annual Great American Backyard Campout.
This program visits points on the new Coast Birding Trail from a historic canal to Jekyll Island Beach. We join the Jekyll Island Bird Banding club and help band migratory songbirds. The program also includes a kayaking trip along a beautiful coastal marsh.
Description:
This program visits points on the new Coast Birding Trail from a historic canal to Jekyll Island Beach. We join the Jekyll Island Bird Banding club and help band migratory songbirds. The program also includes a kayaking trip along a beautiful coastal marsh.
Always a crowd pleaser, this show will highlight the many ways you can turn your backyard into a welcome habitat for wildlife. Locations include Calloway Gardens Victory Garden South, a blue bird trail and a nursery where special guest host Robin Russel joins Michael Skinner and they explore water gardens and native plants.
Description:
Always a crowd pleaser, this show will highlight the many ways you can turn your backyard into a welcome habitat for wildlife. Locations include Calloway Gardens Victory Garden South, a blue bird trail and a nursery where special guest host Robin Russel joins Michael Skinner and they explore water gardens and native plants.
Georgia's beautiful coast is home to a rich variety of wildlife. It's wind-swept beaches and salty marshes attract visitors from around the world...including the painted bunting.
Description:
Georgia's beautiful coast is home to a rich variety of wildlife. It's wind-swept beaches and salty marshes attract visitors from around the world...including the painted bunting.
These striking birds nest and breed along the coast in the spring and summer. It's not hard to see why this little finch is a favorite among bird watchers. The male painted bunting is one of the most striking birds in North America. It's plumage is bright blue, red, green and yellow – a common finch rolled in the palette of a visionary painter.
Join host Michael Skinner in search of this elusive and beautiful neo-tropical migrant on Georgia's Sapelo Island. The program also explores the island's cultural and natural history including the story of the Sapelo Island Lighthouse and the historic Hog Hammock settlement.
We share our coast with many animals and many birds. Humans have many islands of their own – islands that are too developed for nesting shorebirds. Now these birds have islands of their own! Islands that are protected giving the birds a chance at survival. They are called "The Bird Islands"
Description:
We share our coast with many animals and many birds. Humans have many islands of their own – islands that are too developed for nesting shorebirds. Now these birds have islands of their own! Islands that are protected giving the birds a chance at survival. They are called "The Bird Islands"
The Bird Islands are nesting locations for a variety of colonial shorebirds. These birds nest in large numbers, side by side, on isolated beach and dune areas. These islands maintain a delicate balance with Mother Earth, a bad storm could wash an entire island away. If that happened where would the birds go? The Georgia Outdoors crew will visit one of these islands, just before nesting season, to find out what is so special about The Bird Islands.
We'll also visit the Altamaha Wildlife Management Area, a very popular place for birding of all kinds. From the great blue heron to the tiny yellow rumped warbler, from the american bald eagle to the swamp sparrow, we'll see these facinating birds and more!
Audubon Society
The mission of the Audubon Society is to help people understand and preserve the natural world, with a particular focus on birds and wildlife and their habitats.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The charge to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia's natural, historic and cultural resources – and this includes BIRDS!
American Birding Association
Encourages conservation of birds and their habitats by developing and disseminating information, and promoting economic and environmental values of birding.
Partners in Flight
An international cooperative bird conservation effort involving state and federal agencies, nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations, corporations, universities and individuals. PIF's vision is to keep bird populations and their habitats healthy through monitoring, research, management and education.
Join us as we explore the brand new Southern Rivers Birding Trail, which consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river. So, what if one or all of these rivers were endangered? In fact, there are two endangered rivers in Georgia, the Altamaha and the Apalachicola. We?ll explore all this and more.
Description:
Join us as we explore the brand new Southern Rivers Birding Trail, which consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river. So, what if one or all of these rivers were endangered? In fact, there are two endangered rivers in Georgia, the Altamaha and the Apalachicola. We'll explore all this and more.
There is nothing like the quiet timelessness of a swamp. Although best known for its most famous swamp, the Okefenokee, Georgia is home to other smaller, but equally extraordinary, swamps. On this episode, we'll visit two of Georgia's lesser-known swamps and find out why they are so special.
Description:
There is nothing like the quiet timelessness of a swamp. Although best known for its most famous swamp, the Okefenokee, Georgia is home to other smaller, but equally extraordinary, swamps. On this episode, we'll visit two of Georgia's lesser-known swamps and find out why they are so special.
First, we'll explore Chickasawhatchee Swamp near Albany. Chickasawhatchee is one of the most important wetlands in the country. Made up of both bottomland swamp and upland forest the Chickasawhatchee plays a crucial ecological role and is a great place to go birding.
Phinizy Swamp in Augusta includes constructed wetlands to help filter the city's water supply, a wildlife management area where hunting is allowed, and lots of opportunities to view wildlife. Birds, snakes, and dragonflies thrive here, and you can learn about them at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park.
Join Captain Jean for a tour of the fabled golden Marshes of Glynn. We spy osprey, eagles and acres of spartina alternailora.
Description:
Join Captain Jean for a tour of the fabled golden Marshes of Glynn. We spy osprey, eagles and acres of spartina alternailora.
Next, we'll introduce two young people to redfish and watch them face a challenge of their own. David and Sal not only have to land these large fish, they have to get up close and personal with their catch because tradition says when you land your first redfish, you have to kiss it!
Related Links
Saltwater Regulations
Before your redrum fishing trip check out the Department of Natural Resources Saltwater Regulations and make sure that you're legal.
Join us as we explore the brand-new Southern Rivers Birding Trail. The trail consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river.
Description:
Join us as we explore the brand-new Southern Rivers Birding Trail. The trail consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river.
Also, witness the effort of Operation Migration and the Whooping Cranes Restoration Project to restore a population of whooping cranes to the eastern United States.
Related Links
Colonial Coast Birding Trail
There are many great areas to bird along the Georgia coast. Visit the Colonial Coast Birding Trail for more information.
Audubon Society
The mission of the Audubon Society is to help people understand and preserve the natural world, with a particular focus on birds and wildlife and their habitats.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources as the charge to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia's natural, historic and cultural resources – and this includes BIRDS!
American Birding Association
Encourages conservation of birds and their habitats by developing and disseminating information, and promoting economic and environmental values of birding.
Partners in Flight
An international cooperative bird conservation effort involving state and federal agencies, nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations, corporations, universities and individuals. PIF's vision is to keep bird populations and their habitats healthy through monitoring, research, management and education.
Georgia Falconry Association
A group dedicated to preserving the art and practice of falconry, as well as, educating the public on the conservation, management, and ecology of raptors.
Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
Learn more about Georgia Southern University's Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center. This wildlife education center consists of six habitat displays, housing eleven species of live birds of prey – including an American bald eagle!
Hunting Regulations
Before you head out to bag a rabbit be sure to check out the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Hunting Regulations website to make you are legal.
Human development has crowded out much of our native wildlife habitat, but the good news is that you can make a difference without leaving the house. On this episode we’ll show you how to make your yard more wildlife friendly. 
Our world is becoming increasingly urbanized and as we pave our way across the land, native ecosystems are affected. Habitat loss is the number one cause of wildlife population declines, and over the years, commercial and residential development have pushed a number of Georgia’s species to the brink of extinction. But, there are a few things you can do around the house to make a difference by making your yard more wildlife friendly: providing food, water and shelter for birds, and planting native plants helps attract more wildlife to your backyard.
This program visits points on the new Coast Birding Trail from a historic canal to Jekyll Island Beach. We join the Jekyll Island Bird Banding club and help band migratory songbirds. The program also includes a kayaking trip along a beautiful coastal marsh.
This program visits points on the new Coast Birding Trail from a historic canal to Jekyll Island Beach. We join the Jekyll Island Bird Banding club and help band migratory songbirds. The program also includes a kayaking trip along a beautiful coastal marsh.
Always a crowd pleaser, this show will highlight the many ways you can turn your backyard into a welcome habitat for wildlife. Locations include Calloway Gardens Victory Garden South, a blue bird trail and a nursery where special guest host Robin Russel joins Michael Skinner and they explore water gardens and native plants.
Always a crowd pleaser, this show will highlight the many ways you can turn your backyard into a welcome habitat for wildlife. Locations include Calloway Gardens Victory Garden South, a blue bird trail and a nursery where special guest host Robin Russel joins Michael Skinner and they explore water gardens and native plants.
Georgia's beautiful coast is home to a rich variety of wildlife. It's wind-swept beaches and salty marshes attract visitors from around the world...including the painted bunting.
Georgia's beautiful coast is home to a rich variety of wildlife. It's wind-swept beaches and salty marshes attract visitors from around the world...including the painted bunting.
We share our coast with many animals and many birds. Humans have many islands of their own – islands that are too developed for nesting shorebirds. Now these birds have islands of their own! Islands that are protected giving the birds a chance at survival. They are called "The Bird Islands"
We share our coast with many animals and many birds. Humans have many islands of their own – islands that are too developed for nesting shorebirds. Now these birds have islands of their own! Islands that are protected giving the birds a chance at survival. They are called "The Bird Islands"
PDF Transcript
Join us as we explore the brand new Southern Rivers Birding Trail, which consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river. So, what if one or all of these rivers were endangered? In fact, there are two endangered rivers in Georgia, the Altamaha and the Apalachicola. We?ll explore all this and more.
Join us as we explore the brand new Southern Rivers Birding Trail, which consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river. So, what if one or all of these rivers were endangered? In fact, there are two endangered rivers in Georgia, the Altamaha and the Apalachicola. We'll explore all this and more.
There is nothing like the quiet timelessness of a swamp. Although best known for its most famous swamp, the Okefenokee, Georgia is home to other smaller, but equally extraordinary, swamps. On this episode, we'll visit two of Georgia's lesser-known swamps and find out why they are so special.
There is nothing like the quiet timelessness of a swamp. Although best known for its most famous swamp, the Okefenokee, Georgia is home to other smaller, but equally extraordinary, swamps. On this episode, we'll visit two of Georgia's lesser-known swamps and find out why they are so special.
Join Captain Jean for a tour of the fabled golden Marshes of Glynn. We spy osprey, eagles and acres of spartina alternailora. 
Join Captain Jean for a tour of the fabled golden Marshes of Glynn. We spy osprey, eagles and acres of spartina alternailora. 
Join us as we explore the brand-new Southern Rivers Birding Trail. The trail consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river.
Join us as we explore the brand-new Southern Rivers Birding Trail. The trail consists of 30 fantastic birding sites located on or near a Georgia river.