A Great Blue Heron along a tidal creek.
Thousands of miles of winding estuaries and nearly a third of the undeveloped intertidal marshland along the Atlantic seashore allows Georgia’s barrier islands to support hundreds of species of resident and migratory birds year-round. However, early spring warming is without a doubt, one of the best times to visit this unforgettable area of the eastern seaboard!
Coastal Georgia has an abundance of human and natural history that has been recorded since the first settlers colonized the coast. Just a visit to any of the 17 sites along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail (georgiabirdingtrails.com) will provide you with the opportunity to see and enjoy the beauty of a kaleidoscope of birds and glimpse at the fascinating history of this land and its residents.
Even the native Americans knew that this coast was a cornucopia of enchanting forests, live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, open waterways for exploring, fresh-from-the-sea food and adventures waiting around every corner. During modern times, coastal Georgia has activities for every pace in life. So, if a stroll through the woods or relaxing on the open water is more your style, this slice of paradise will never be a regret!
More than 300 species of birds (75 percent of the total species of birds seen in Georgia) have been spotted at the 17 sites along the birding trail. Don’t expect to see most of these birds on a single visit. The birds you see will depend greatly on when and where you visit. Some birds can be seen throughout the year. Others are migratory and travel long distances from their breeding grounds to wintering areas.
If you want to see migrants, you need look for them during those times of the year when they visit Georgia. You will also find a wide variety of habitats along the trail. Shorelines, salt marshes, old rice fields, woodlands, tidal rivers, freshwater wetlands and other habitats host their own fascinating bird communities.
Many sites on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail offer visitors the opportunity to watch birds and visit 18th and 19th Century historic places. Other sites are located on lands and waters that were once part of early plantations dedicated to growing rice, indigo and cotton. So whether you want to see an osprey soaring over a coastal river, an endangered wood stork feeding its young, pelicans skimming the waves along a sandy beach, or a great blue heron standing motionless in a placid pond, the Colonial Coast Birding Trail has something for you.
The numbers of birds found along the trail change with the rising and falling of the tides and with the passage of the seasons. Consequently, each visit offers the chance to experience a new wildlife adventure. Spend some time along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail and learn why the Indians called the Georgia coast The Enchanted Land.
Check out the video below of various birds that have been seen on the trail.
All photos: by Bill Vanderford
