DESCRIPTION: This barrier island’s 5,618 acres include maritime forest, salt marsh, freshwater marsh and beach habitat. In 1975, 3,000 acres of the refuge were set aside as National Wilderness. Participants will be led through some of the island’s different habitat types, including the maritime forest which contains a variety of neo-tropical migrants this time of year and also Blackbeard’s magnificent, unspoiled beach where shorebird species such as American oystercatchers and endangered piping plovers may be seen. Migrant and wintering birds such as the marbled godwit and peregrine falcon are also frequent beach visitors. Two groups of six will be shuttled to and from the island each day. Lunch will be provided (completely vegetarian lunches will not be available).
Recommended Needs: Insect repellent, sun protection, water, snacks, rain gear, backpack, binoculars.
Trip Rigor: Moderate – A leisurely 3-mile, round-trip walk from the dock to the beach and back. Boat travel can be cold and wet depending on current weather conditions – please dress accordingly.
Your
Leaders:
Bill Lotz has been an avid birder for the last six years. Currently, Bill serves as 1st Vice President of the Georgia Ornithological Society. He has traveled to Newfoundland, Washington, Minnesota, California, Texas, Arizona, Panama, and every county in Georgia in the last few years to see birds. Before retiring in 1997, Bill owned and operated a bicycle shop, a sandwich shop and a travel agency, all in Atlanta. A native of Virginia, he moved to Atlanta in 1972, a year after graduating from the College of William and Mary. He and his wife, Condit, reside in the Chastain Park area of Atlanta.
Earl
Horn lives in Lawrenceville,
Georgia and is an active birder regularly visiting sites throughout
the state. He was a member of the Atlanta Audubon Board of
Directors for two years recruiting and organizing volunteers,
and organizing field trips. He has led many field trips; participated
in the Breeding Bird Atlas projects in Georgia and Alabama;
participates in the annual Winter Shorebird Counts on several
Georgia Barrier Islands including Blackbeard Island the past
two years; participates in several Christmas Bird Counts each
year in the Atlanta area, on the coast, and in the Okefenokee;
and is the current Georgia editor for Cornell University's
eBird project.
Todd Schneider is a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Wildlife-Natural Heritage Section. Since 1993 he has served as the Georgia Breeding Bird Atlas Project Coordinator and has been involved in many major state, regional, and national conservation initiatives. He assists with the coordination of the DNR’s annual coast-wide shorebird survey and is very well versed in shorebird ID and habitat.
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