Possibly, one good thing to come out of the Covid-19 crisis is a new appreciation for getting outdoors and soaking up all the rich scenery and wildlife Georgia has on offer. Thanks to some technological updates from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), that will be a little bit easier now.
The DNR unveiled last week that it was launching georgiabirdingtrails.com and the addition of a trail function to its Go Outdoors Georgia app. Both initiatives are part of the effort to expand its Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails program and improve accessibility to wildlife viewing and birding opportunities, activities that offer a – somewhat surprising $2 billion annual economic impact statewide (for those relatively unfamiliar with “birding” and its participants passionate nature, the movie The Big Year can offer a little bit of a backgrounder).’
The Colonial Coast Birding Trail is the state’s premier state wildlife trail and the first updated under the new program. The trail includes 17 sites from Fort Pulaski and Tybee Island down to Cumberland Island and the Okefenokee. The incredible biodiversity of Georgia is on full display as shorelines, salt marshes, former rice fields, estuaries and freshwater swamp showcase birds and other wildlife.
“Promoting outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation is part of our mission at the Wildlife Resources Division,” said Rusty Garrison, division director for the coastal region. “We’re excited to introduce a more accessible platform for Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails and encourage more people to discover the fascinating natural and cultural resources that Georgia has to offer.”
The Colonial Coast trail is part of a partnership with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, the Jekyll Island Authority, the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Society, local governments and area tourism organizations.
Connie Shreve is the master naturalist at the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center, which demonstrates the blend of nature and history in Georgia – and nature’s tendency to claw back when given the opportunity. Built around 1830, the canal transported crops and goods from plantations to the port of Savannah.
“The native and non-native birds that visit the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal daily and seasonally are phenomenal,” Shreve said. “It’s amazing seeing how many varieties of birds frequent the canal on their migration journeys.” For an idea of just how many birds occur in Georgia, see this list from the Georgia Ornithological Society – it is likely a lot more than you think.
The new websites introduces each site with tips, maps, available amenities, wildlife highlights and “eBird hotspots.” Species checklists with seasonality data and loads of other information for birders of all experience levels are also available.
A federal Recreational Trails Program grants helped to provide funding for some items at trail sites and visitor centers.
