Eastern Phoebes, by Robyn Newman
Despite the pandemic, Georgia Audubon remains more invested than ever in our work building places where birds and people thrive. We are taking steps to ensure that our staff, our volunteers, and our communities are safe, but our work for Georgia's birds continues.
We are continuing to offer a variety of webinars and digital resources to help you and your family gain a better understanding of our work and the birds that surround us. We have also begun offering limited in-person field trips and events, with safety protocols in place. We share our upcoming events in our bi-monthly e-newsletter, BirdBuzz, and you can also find updates on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, as well as right here on our website. If you would like to sign-up to receive our bi-monthly e-newsletter with a list of upcoming events, please consider becoming a member or visit our newsletter page.
Please stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you at a Georgia Audubon in-person or virtual event soon!
We are continuing to offer a variety of webinars and digital resources to help you and your family gain a better understanding of our work and the birds that surround us. We have also begun offering limited in-person field trips and events, with safety protocols in place. We share our upcoming events in our bi-monthly e-newsletter, BirdBuzz, and you can also find updates on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, as well as right here on our website. If you would like to sign-up to receive our bi-monthly e-newsletter with a list of upcoming events, please consider becoming a member or visit our newsletter page.
Please stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you at a Georgia Audubon in-person or virtual event soon!
Upcoming Webinars
Virtual Bird Walks on Facebook
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When: Every other Friday (check Facebook page for current scheduling)
9:00 AM Where: Georgia Audubon Facebook page Join us on the Georgia Audubon Facebook page every other Friday at 9:00 AM for a virtual bird walk with Georgia Audubon staff and volunteer trip leaders as they explore their yards or nearby birdy patches and talk about what they're seeing. We have posted recordings of some of our virtual bird walks on our YouTube Channel. |
Georgia BIrd Fest 2020
Georgia Bird Fest runs from September 19 to October 18, 2020, and offers more than 40 workshops, field trips, and other events. To learn more or register, please visit our Georgia Bird Fest events page.
Georgia Audubon Bird Stories
Friday, October 23
9:30 AM
FREE
Join us on October 23rd, 2020 at 9:30 A.M EST for GABS: Georgia Audubon Bird Stories as we read Circle by Jeannie Baker. Stay tuned after the story as we learn all about migration. In honor of #DisabilityAwarenessMonth we will be sharing a message about how birding can be for everyone! We can't wait to see you there. Bring your imagination!
Register for this free event at link below.
Friday, October 23
9:30 AM
FREE
Join us on October 23rd, 2020 at 9:30 A.M EST for GABS: Georgia Audubon Bird Stories as we read Circle by Jeannie Baker. Stay tuned after the story as we learn all about migration. In honor of #DisabilityAwarenessMonth we will be sharing a message about how birding can be for everyone! We can't wait to see you there. Bring your imagination!
Register for this free event at link below.
Rebecca Garlinger from White Oak Conservation will give an update on her Florida Grasshopper Sparrow work at the October Monthly Meeting.
October Monthly Meeting (via webinar)
Sunday, October 25, at 3:30 PM
Saving a Songbird: Conserving Florida’s Endangered Grasshopper Sparrow
Presenter: Rebecca Garlinger, White Oak Conservation
Recent research in avian conservation has shown staggering evidence of population declines across virtually all biomes in North America. From the shorelines to the arctic tundra, even common bird species are experiencing declines, creating an urgent need for avian conservation action. White Oak Conservation in northeastern Florida is one organization dedicated to combating this loss of native bird species. Currently, one of their programs focuses its attention on a critically endangered Florida endemic, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. This grassland songbird has declined to the brink of extinction, with an approximated 30 known breeding pairs left in their native habitat in south-central Florida as of 2019. In partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and additional conservation organizations, White Oak has worked to develop and establish an ex situ breeding population of these endangered birds at their facility. Their efforts have resulted in the first ever releases of Florida Grasshopper Sparrows from managed care to the birds’ native Florida prairieland in spring 2019. White Oak and its field partners continue to work toward a sustainable, stable population for the critical Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, producing, releasing, and tracking birds in the 2020 season. Please join White Oak’s grasshopper sparrow specialist Rebecca Garlinger as she discusses their organization’s continuing efforts to save Florida’s endangered Grasshopper Sparrow.
About the presenter: Rebecca Garlinger is the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Program Specialist at White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida. Originally from central Pennsylvania, she grew up with a love for sports, nature, and the outdoors. She always knew she wanted to work with animals, but originally saw herself in the veterinary field, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior from Dickinson College in 2015. During college, she began working at veterinary clinics and also interned as an animal keeper at a small facility in Indiana. Her brief exposure to conservation as a keeper led her to shift gears a bit, enrolling in graduate school to earn an M.S. in biology/wildlife ecology at Villanova University in 2016. Her graduate work focused primarily on using tracking technology to understand flock behavior in native songbird populations at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in southeastern Pennsylvania. During graduate school, she worked at an avian rehabilitation facility as well as a number of local bird banding stations. She also spent some time volunteering at numerous bird banding stations in Europe and South America. While working as a bander, she gained an immense appreciation for the diversity of bird species and knew she wanted to continue to work with avian populations. A desire to get more involved in applied conservation efforts led her to White Oak, where she is now a part of an amazing and growing conservation organization!
Sunday, October 25, at 3:30 PM
Saving a Songbird: Conserving Florida’s Endangered Grasshopper Sparrow
Presenter: Rebecca Garlinger, White Oak Conservation
Recent research in avian conservation has shown staggering evidence of population declines across virtually all biomes in North America. From the shorelines to the arctic tundra, even common bird species are experiencing declines, creating an urgent need for avian conservation action. White Oak Conservation in northeastern Florida is one organization dedicated to combating this loss of native bird species. Currently, one of their programs focuses its attention on a critically endangered Florida endemic, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. This grassland songbird has declined to the brink of extinction, with an approximated 30 known breeding pairs left in their native habitat in south-central Florida as of 2019. In partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and additional conservation organizations, White Oak has worked to develop and establish an ex situ breeding population of these endangered birds at their facility. Their efforts have resulted in the first ever releases of Florida Grasshopper Sparrows from managed care to the birds’ native Florida prairieland in spring 2019. White Oak and its field partners continue to work toward a sustainable, stable population for the critical Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, producing, releasing, and tracking birds in the 2020 season. Please join White Oak’s grasshopper sparrow specialist Rebecca Garlinger as she discusses their organization’s continuing efforts to save Florida’s endangered Grasshopper Sparrow.
About the presenter: Rebecca Garlinger is the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Program Specialist at White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida. Originally from central Pennsylvania, she grew up with a love for sports, nature, and the outdoors. She always knew she wanted to work with animals, but originally saw herself in the veterinary field, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior from Dickinson College in 2015. During college, she began working at veterinary clinics and also interned as an animal keeper at a small facility in Indiana. Her brief exposure to conservation as a keeper led her to shift gears a bit, enrolling in graduate school to earn an M.S. in biology/wildlife ecology at Villanova University in 2016. Her graduate work focused primarily on using tracking technology to understand flock behavior in native songbird populations at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in southeastern Pennsylvania. During graduate school, she worked at an avian rehabilitation facility as well as a number of local bird banding stations. She also spent some time volunteering at numerous bird banding stations in Europe and South America. While working as a bander, she gained an immense appreciation for the diversity of bird species and knew she wanted to continue to work with avian populations. A desire to get more involved in applied conservation efforts led her to White Oak, where she is now a part of an amazing and growing conservation organization!
Piedmont Park Bird Walk. Photo by Dottie Head.
Webinar: Special Birds & Beers Presentation- Piedmont Park: A Place for People and Wildlife
Sunday, November 8, at 3:30 PM
FREE
Join Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel for a special Birds and Beers webinar on Piedmont Park. Atlanta’s biggest urban park, Piedmont Park covers more than 200 acres in the heart of Atlanta and provides habitat for many resident and migratory birds. Adam will virtually “sit down” with the following panel of experts to highlight some of the park’s most birdy features and discuss the rewards and challenges of managing this urban oasis for people and wildlife.
Panelists:
Sunday, November 8, at 3:30 PM
FREE
Join Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel for a special Birds and Beers webinar on Piedmont Park. Atlanta’s biggest urban park, Piedmont Park covers more than 200 acres in the heart of Atlanta and provides habitat for many resident and migratory birds. Adam will virtually “sit down” with the following panel of experts to highlight some of the park’s most birdy features and discuss the rewards and challenges of managing this urban oasis for people and wildlife.
Panelists:
- Louise Harris, director of programs, Piedmont Park Conservancy
- Gabe Andrle, habitat conservation program coordinator, Georgia Audubon
- Jason Ward, host of the Birds of North America web series and Piedmont Park's most famous birder
Artwork by Henry Adams
Webinar: Backyard Conservation: Protecting Georgia's Native Wildlife
Joint presentation with Georgia Audubon and the Amphibian Foundation
Two Sessions:
Pricing:
Georgia is home to hundreds of animal species that inhabit forests and cities, grasslands and swamps, and everything in between. Georgia Audubon has partnered with the Amphibian Foundation to share the wonder of Georgia’s wildlife through virtual programming, focusing on birds, reptiles, amphibians, and the habitats in which they live. Join us as we take you behind the scenes of conservation happening in your own backyard, and the work that both organizations are doing to save wildlife. As part of this wildlife education experience, we will introduce you to live animals cared for by the Amphibian Foundation and Georgia Audubon, and talk about career paths for students interested in working with wildlife.
Georgia Audubon is an organization dedicated to building places where birds and people thrive.
The Amphibian Foundation is dedicated to connecting individuals, communities, and organizations in order to create and implement lasting solutions to the global amphibian extinction crisis.
Joint presentation with Georgia Audubon and the Amphibian Foundation
Two Sessions:
- Friday, November 13, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
- Friday, November 13, 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Pricing:
- Individual/Household Admission (for viewers from the same household on a shared device) - $15
- Group/Classroom Admission (for classroom or large group viewers) - $150
Georgia is home to hundreds of animal species that inhabit forests and cities, grasslands and swamps, and everything in between. Georgia Audubon has partnered with the Amphibian Foundation to share the wonder of Georgia’s wildlife through virtual programming, focusing on birds, reptiles, amphibians, and the habitats in which they live. Join us as we take you behind the scenes of conservation happening in your own backyard, and the work that both organizations are doing to save wildlife. As part of this wildlife education experience, we will introduce you to live animals cared for by the Amphibian Foundation and Georgia Audubon, and talk about career paths for students interested in working with wildlife.
Georgia Audubon is an organization dedicated to building places where birds and people thrive.
The Amphibian Foundation is dedicated to connecting individuals, communities, and organizations in order to create and implement lasting solutions to the global amphibian extinction crisis.
Webinar: The Effects of Urban Noise and Light Pollution on Avian Species
Tuesday, December 8, at 7:00 PM
FREE
Description: With the increase of people moving into urban areas every day, anthropogenic (human-produced) sources of light are having a drastic effect on near and inhabiting wildlife. Birds have been particularly useful to study when looking at these urbanization effects, specifically urban noise and light pollution. Join Lauren Pharr, Master of Science student at North Carolina State University, for a discussion of her findings and how urbanization continues to affect local bird species.
About the presenter: Lauren Pharr became interested in the field of wildlife biology after taking an undergraduate wildlife management course and learning about different human-wildlife interactions. She became interested in birds while conducting her undergraduate research studying potential changes in vocal harmonics of the Chinese Blue-breasted Quail (Coturnix chinensis). She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant pursuing her M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. Her areas of study include: human-wildlife conflict, animal behavior, and ornithology.
Lauren loves sharing her knowledge with the public in the form of science communication, having written and contributed to articles for WIRED Magazine, BBC Wildlife, Discover Magazine, The Cincinnati Zoo, and eBird.
Tuesday, December 8, at 7:00 PM
FREE
Description: With the increase of people moving into urban areas every day, anthropogenic (human-produced) sources of light are having a drastic effect on near and inhabiting wildlife. Birds have been particularly useful to study when looking at these urbanization effects, specifically urban noise and light pollution. Join Lauren Pharr, Master of Science student at North Carolina State University, for a discussion of her findings and how urbanization continues to affect local bird species.
About the presenter: Lauren Pharr became interested in the field of wildlife biology after taking an undergraduate wildlife management course and learning about different human-wildlife interactions. She became interested in birds while conducting her undergraduate research studying potential changes in vocal harmonics of the Chinese Blue-breasted Quail (Coturnix chinensis). She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant pursuing her M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. Her areas of study include: human-wildlife conflict, animal behavior, and ornithology.
Lauren loves sharing her knowledge with the public in the form of science communication, having written and contributed to articles for WIRED Magazine, BBC Wildlife, Discover Magazine, The Cincinnati Zoo, and eBird.
Webinar: Georgia Audubon Monthly Meeting
Sunday, January 24, at 3:30 PM
Audubon’s American History with Gregory Nobles
Registration: FREE
If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, the following prices apply:
Book YOU will pick up at Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur - $37.75
Book Shipped to your home - $41.75
Eagle Eye Book Shop will donate a portion of proceeds from book sales to Georgia Audubon
In addition to being a remarkable painter of birds, John James Audubon was a lively teller of tales. In Ornithological Biography, his five-volume, 3000 page companion to The Birds of America, Audubon interspersed dozens of stories about the American people, ranging from their environmental habits to their social behaviors to their race relations. While some of these stories are more true than others, together they give us a fascinating view of the ways Audubon understood his adopted country. They also invite us to look at Audubon himself as a writer of both myth and history. In this session, we will explore several of Audubon’s stories to discuss—and no doubt debate—how we understand his portrayal of the past from our own perspective of the present.
Gregory Nobles is Professor Emeritus of History at Georgia Tech and the author of John James Audubon: The Nature of the American Woodsman (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017). He divides his time between Atlanta, where he is a member of Georgia Audubon, and Northport MI, where he is a member of Michigan Audubon.
Sunday, January 24, at 3:30 PM
Audubon’s American History with Gregory Nobles
Registration: FREE
If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, the following prices apply:
Book YOU will pick up at Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur - $37.75
Book Shipped to your home - $41.75
Eagle Eye Book Shop will donate a portion of proceeds from book sales to Georgia Audubon
In addition to being a remarkable painter of birds, John James Audubon was a lively teller of tales. In Ornithological Biography, his five-volume, 3000 page companion to The Birds of America, Audubon interspersed dozens of stories about the American people, ranging from their environmental habits to their social behaviors to their race relations. While some of these stories are more true than others, together they give us a fascinating view of the ways Audubon understood his adopted country. They also invite us to look at Audubon himself as a writer of both myth and history. In this session, we will explore several of Audubon’s stories to discuss—and no doubt debate—how we understand his portrayal of the past from our own perspective of the present.
Gregory Nobles is Professor Emeritus of History at Georgia Tech and the author of John James Audubon: The Nature of the American Woodsman (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017). He divides his time between Atlanta, where he is a member of Georgia Audubon, and Northport MI, where he is a member of Michigan Audubon.
Past webinars
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Facebook Live- Birds & Brews (Coffee!): How You Can Help Birds with Your Morning "Cup of Joe"
Join Adam Betuel, Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation, and Nema Etheridge, Marketing Director for Café Campesino, to learn how the coffee choices you make every day can have far reaching impacts for a variety of bird species that migrate through or spend summers in Georgia but spend the winter months in Central and South America. Cafe Campesino and Georgia Audubon are teaming up to talk about how shade-grown coffee benefits both people and birds. Café Campesino is a wholesale roaster-distributor located in Americus, Georgia, specializing in artisan-roasted specialty-grade coffee. We'll wrap up the presentation with a quick demonstration of how to brew a great cup of coffee! |
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Georgia Audubon Bird Stories (GABS)
Friday, September 25 Join Georgia Audubon for a special GABS event as we read Ruby's Birds. We will be joined by author Mya Thompson, director of engagement in science and nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, as well as illustrator Claudia Davila. In honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth we will be reading this story bilingually and sharing some bilingual resources to engage young nature explorers. |
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Virtual Swift Night Out
Wednesday, September 23 Celebrate fall migration by joining Georgia Audubon for a virtual Swift Night Out on September 23. We will be livestreaming from Brickworks Gallery and Ford Factory Square with the help of Laura Adams, artist and owner of Brickworks Gallery, and Stephen Ramsden, Georgia Audubon Master Birder and Founder Director of the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project and Sunlit Earth! You’ll get a LIVE, close-up look at a “swift vortex” as the birds swirl together before dropping into their chimney roosts. Plus, we’ll start with a brief Chimney Swift presentation from Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel. |
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Webinar: Birds and Buildings: Understanding This Threat to Birds and How You Can Help
Did you know that collisions with buildings and other structures pose a serious threat to birds, claiming the lives of 365 million to 1 billion individuals annually? That is the third leading cause of bird death in the United States! To better understand this across the state, Georgia Audubon created Project Safe Flight, a program aimed at collecting data on collisions and working towards making our state safer for our birds. During spring and fall migration, Project Safe Flight volunteers monitor for collisions victims, gathering vital data for this initiative. Join Director of Conservation Adam Betuel as he outlines the ways buildings are a threat to our birds, what can be done to make our state safer for birds, as well as how you can participate in Project Safe Flight. This webinar is aimed at participants who want to know more about this issue, those interested in volunteering for our collision reduction programming, and for returning volunteers who need a refresher on data collection and correct protocols. Fall migration is rapidly approaching and we need your help! |
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Facebook Live Event: A Year in the Life of Hummingbirds with Georgia Audubon
Everyone loves hummingbirds! These tiny birds with extraordinary abilities lead a fascinating life. Join Georgia Audubon Director of Education Melanie Furr to learn about a year in the life of these magical little birds and get a chance to meet our education ambassador hummingbird, Sibley. |
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Webinar - Birding Michigan: Conservation, Connectivity, and Species Diversity
Recorded: July 16 In 2019, Adam Betuel, Atlanta Audubon director of conservation, led a trip a birding trip to northern Michigan. With over 3,000 miles of coastline, an extensive state forest system, and a diversity of habitats, it is no wonder that Michigan is a top birding destination. Less apparent are the ways birds connect both Michigan and Georgia. Upland Sandpipers migrate south from breeding grounds and visit our rural sod farms. Over 60% of the endangered Great Lakes breeding population of the Piping Plover overwinter on the Georgia coast. In addition, one of the rarest birds in our country, the Kirtland’s Warbler, breeds almost exclusively in Michigan and during migration is found in its highest density in Georgia. All told, the group spotted 145 species of birds. Adam shares slides and tales from this remarkable trip. |
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Webinar - June Monthly Meeting: Atlanta's Secrets, Hidden Trails, and, of course, Birds with Jonah McDonald
Recorded June 28, 2020 Though birding in Atlanta is not secret, we birders do look at the city differently. Atlanta Audubon welcomes Jonah McDonald, an Atlanta writer, storyteller, historian, and naturalist, as the presenter for our June Monthly Meeting. Jonah's new book, Secret Atlanta: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure contains 90 short stories about unusual and forgotten places in Atlanta. |
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The Atlanta Coyote Project with Dr. Chris Mowry and Larry Wilson
Recorded June 24, 2020 Join us for a fascinating presentation from Dr. Chris Mowry and Larry Wilson on the Atlanta Coyote Project and their current collaboration with the Urban Wildlife Information Network, based out of Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. The project is studying the overall biodiversity (including coyotes) in Atlanta while also making geographic comparisons with other cities. Why study urban wildlife, including coyotes? Wildlife can be surprisingly abundant and diverse even in the densest of cities, including Atlanta. Studying urban animal communities helps us understand stressors on wildlife populations, species interactions, and sources of human-wildlife conflict in order to preserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem function, reduce property damage, foster safe neighborhoods, and encourage positive associations with wildlife. |
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Lunch and Learn: Paraguay Trip Report with Adam Betuel
Recorded June 10, 2020 In 2017, Adam Betuel, Atlanta Audubon director of conservation, and Paul Smith, an authority on Paraguayan birds who is active in scientific research, conservation, and tour leading, led a group of intrepid birders on a birding adventure to Paraguay. During the 14-day adventure, the group visited the wet and dry Chaco, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest and took a trip to the famous Iguazu Falls in Argentina. Enduring bumpy roads and a few “unplanned” incidents, the group saw 320 species of birds along the way, including the Greater Rhea, White-winged Nightjar, Spot-billed Toucanet, Black-bodied Woodpecker, and Quebracho-crested Tinamou, to name just a few. |
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Lunch and Learn: A Year in the Life of Hummingbirds
Recorded May 21, 2020 Everyone loves hummingbirds! These tiny birds with extraordinary abilities lead a fascinating life. Join Georgia Audubon Director of Education Melanie Furr to learn about a year in the life of these magical little birds and get a chance to meet our education ambassador hummingbirds, Sibley and Polly. |
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Georgia Audubon Travel to Guatemala Trip Report
Recorded May 27, 2020 In November 2018, Conservation Director Adam Betuel led a group of eleven Georgia Audubon members on an international birdwatching adventure to Guatemala. Boasting an amazing array of avian life, Guatemala was chosen because it offered many regionally difficult species as well as bird species that strongly connected with Georgia Audubon’s conservation programs. The group visited a shade-grown coffee farm in the Pacific Highlands and searched for wintering Wood Thrush at Tikal National Park. Some of the species the group was seeking included White-bellied Chachalaca, Yellow-naped Parrot, Rufousnaped Wren, Ocellated Turkey, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Tody Motmot, Slender Shear-tail, Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, and many more. A small group also trekked up the upper slope of the Atitlán volcano in hopes of spotting the elusive Horned Guan. |
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Wildlife Photography: Shooting and Editing in RAW formats with DSLR Cameras
with Stephen W. Ramsden, Director Sunlit Earth! Recorded May 12, 2020 Join Stephen W. Ramsden, Director of Sunlit Earth!, for a free webinar introducing you to shooting and editing in RAW formats with DSLR cameras. In this webinar, Stephen discusses the reasons you should be shooting images in RAW format, and shows you how it can greatly increase the quality of your wildlife photography in no time with very little effort. Stephen will take field images in RAW format and show viewers how to process them using the RAW importer in Lightroom/Photoshop CC. This is very similar to any other RAW importer software and the methods are usable in any RAW editing software. Sunlit Earth! is a 501c3 non-profit corporation that supports solar astronomy outreach, nature hikes, Sunlight's effect on terrestrial biosystems and general STEM outreach by spreading information, teaching classes, supplying equipment and logistical support in the United States and 27 countries around the world. |
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Digital Birds and Beers III
Recorded May 8, 2020 Join Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel for a fun, interactive, and relaxed conversation with an exciting diversity of bird professionals via webinar. Adam virtually “sits down” with the following speakers for a laid back dive into the world of birds.
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Feathers and Flames: Relationships Between Birds and Fire in Georgia with Malcolm Hodges
Recorded May 3, 2020 Many habitats in the southeast depend on fire, so many of our native birds have adapted to it. We look at some of the ways our birds cope with and even rely on fire to survive. About the presenter: Malcolm Hodges grew up in coastal Mississippi, and has a BA in Biology from Rice University and a Masters in Zoology from Mississippi State. He has worked for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia as an ecologist and land manager since 1992. His current interests are conservation management of threatened biota in the Southeast US; lichen systematics, distribution and conservation in the Southeast; and just about anything to do with birds. |
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Georgia Audubon Digital Birds and Beers II
Recorded April 24, 2020 Join Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel for a fun, interactive, and relaxed conversation with an exciting diversity of bird professionals via webinar. Adam virtually “sits down” with the following speakers for a laid back dive into the world of birds.
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Georgia Audubon Digital Birds and Beers I
Recorded April 10, 2020 Join Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation Adam Betuel for a fun, interactive, and relaxed conversation with an exciting diversity of bird professionals. Adam hosted a virtual "sit down” with the following speakers:
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Costa Rica Trip Report with Adam Betuel
Recorded March 31, 2020 In January 2020, Director of Conservation Adam Betuel led a group of Georgia Audubon members on an international birdwatching adventure to Costa Rica. For many Americans, there is no place more synonymous with tropical birds and luxuriant landscapes than Costa Rica. Long known as a safe, diverse, and biologically rich country, Costa Rica is a true birdwatchers' heaven. The group saw hundreds of bird species, including regional specialties, colorful gems, and some of our overwintering visitors. Along with stellar birding and breathtaking landscapes, the group visited a shadegrown coffee farm and had the opportunity to join bird banders from the Costa Rica Bird Observatories. |
SOcial Media Fun and Facebook Live Events
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Meet Sibley and Polly, Georgia Audubon's Hummingbird Ambassadors on Facebook LIVE
When: Tuesday, May 21, at 11:00 AM Where: Georgia Audubon Facebook page Join us for a virtual sit down with Sibley and Polly, Georgia Audubon’s ambassador birds, and their caretaker Melanie Furr, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and Georgia Audubon director of education. Sibley and Polly are both Ruby-throated Hummingbirds who were injured in window collisions. Sibley and Polly now serve as Atlanta Audubon Ambassador Birds educating youth and adults about the dangers of window collisions and giving people an up-close and personal look at these tiny birds. Melanie will introduce Sibley and Polly and talk about what goes into their care and feeding. |
Meet Georgia Audubon's Ambassador Hummingbirds Sibley and Polly at this Facebook Live event.
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Virtual Ask Chippy Session on Facebook LIVE
When: Wednesday, May 6, at 9 AM Where: Georgia Audubon Facebook page Do you have questions about birds, bird feeding, birding, plants for birds, what to do if you find a baby bird, or other bird-related questions? If so, join us for this Facebook Live event where you can Ask Chippy (our Georgia Audubon bird-help email) your bird related questions. Panelists will include Dottie Head (aka Chippy) and director of membership and communications; Adam Betuel, director of conservation; Melanie Furr, director of education and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator; and Gabe Andrle, habitat conservation coordinator. Join us on the Georgia Audubon Facebook page for this live event. |
SOCIAL DISTANCING BIRDER'S BINGO
There's nothing funny about the COVID-19 outbreak, but we had fun creating this Social Distancing Birder's Bingo. Since many of us are under shelter-in-place orders and many of our favorite birding spots are closed, we created this version so it can be used in your yard or nearby favorite birdy patch. Click below to download a PDF version of this form so you can play at home.
There's nothing funny about the COVID-19 outbreak, but we had fun creating this Social Distancing Birder's Bingo. Since many of us are under shelter-in-place orders and many of our favorite birding spots are closed, we created this version so it can be used in your yard or nearby favorite birdy patch. Click below to download a PDF version of this form so you can play at home.
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GEORGIA BACKYARD BIRD MADNESS
Does social distancing and the cancelation of March Madness have you feeling down? Then play along with us in this Georgia Backyard Bird Madness. Instead of regions, we picked famous bird personalities for our groupings. Twice each day, we'll post a matchup on Facebook and Instagram. Vote for your favorite using our online poll. The winner will move onto the next round until we have crowned the ultimate Georgia bird. To learn more, visit our Georgia Backyard Bird Madness page. Thanks to everyone who played along with us. The Eastern Bluebird was crowned the Backyard Bird Madness Champion for 2020! |
Videos
Exploring Tapestry, A Georgia Audubon Certified Wildlife Sanctuary
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Join Gabe Andrle, Georgia Audubon's habitat conservation program coordinator, for a tour of Tapestry, one of Georgia Audubon's certified wildlife sanctuaries. This 7+ acre piece of land is owned by the Tapestry Homeowners Association and runs along Stockade Creek, part of the headwaters of Intrenchment Creek. The property features an amazing diversity of native plants and wildlife and includes three trails—Stream Path, Meadow Path, and Woodlands Path.
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Introducing Polly
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Polly, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, recently joined Sibley as a Georgia Audubon Ambassador Bird. Polly (and Sibley) live with Melanie Furr, Director of Education, and travel around the metro area for educational programs teaching adults and children about the problem of bird-building collisions.
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Nature with Gabe: nesting Nuthatches
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Brown-headed Nuthatches are endemic to the southeast, but they are declining across many parts of their range. In this episode of Nature with Gabe, Georgia Audubon's Habitat Conservation Coordinator talks about these small birds that make a sound like a dog's squeaky toy and suggests ways you can help this iconic bird.
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Breakfast with Sibley
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Did you ever wonder what a day in the life is like with Sibley, Georgia Audubon's Ambassador Ruby-throated Hummingbird? We put together this short video with Melanie Furr, Georgia Audubon Director of Education and Sibley's handler, to help you learn more about Sibley. Injured in a window collision that rendered him flightless, Sibley now lives with Melanie at her house and visits schools, garden clubs, and community programs to help teach people about the dangers windows pose to birds.
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Big Creek Greenway Habitat restoration
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Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Georgia Audubon is continuing its habitat restoration work. In this video, we feature a 2-part habitat restoration project taking place at Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta, GA.
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Sleepless Flight
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Our Project Safe Flight Program was recently featured in a film entitled “Sleepless Flight". Produced by Foot Trail Films this conservation documentary is set in Atlanta and addresses the issue of light pollution in Atlanta and other urban areas and the issue of bird-building collisions.
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Habitat Restoration work at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
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Despite the COVID-19 Outbreak, Georgia Audubon's work continues. On Thursday, March 19, Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation, conducted a bird survey at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve in Fulton County. Learn more about our habitat restoration work funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in this short video.
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What is Birding with Gabe Andrle
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Gabe Andrle, Georgia Audubon's Habitat Conservation Program Manager, has a fun YouTube series called Nature with Gabe. In this episode, Gabe interviews people out in nature and asks the question, "What is birding?" You may be surprised by the variety of answers!
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What is Bird Banding?
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In this episode of Nature with Gabe, Georgia Audubon's Habitat Conservation Coordinator visits the Panola Mountain Banding Station to participate in a bird banding event. See what happens and how bird banding helps scientists learn more about Georgia's resident and migratory birds
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Fun for Youth
Learning ABout Birds Curriculum
Georgia Audubon's Learning About Birds (LAB) curriculum provides activities and materials to educators interested in exposing students to hands-on, interactive learning about birds, habitats, and conservation. All units are aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards in science. Click the units below to download.
