2024 GOS Winter Meeting

The Georgia Ornithological Society’s Winter Meeting
February 16-19, 2024
Hotel Tybee, Tybee Island

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Meeting Hotel Details

Hotel Tybee

1401 Strand Ave.

Tybee Island, GA 31328

Call (912) 786-7777 for reservations

Use the group code “GOS” to receive discounted rates:

$125.00/night for an inland room and $199.00/night for an ocean view. Fees & taxes not included

Cutoff date for group rate is February, 1 

http://www.hoteltybee.com/ 

 

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SATURDAY NIGHT’S KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

 

"Tropical montane birds and the escalator to extinction: stories from the field"

 

Dr. Ben Freeman

School of Biological Sciences

Georgia Institute of Technology

 

Dr. Freeman is an Assistant Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech. He grew up in Seattle, Washington and thinks that his current fondness for tropical cloud forests perhaps developed as a result of his early experiences with wet mossy forests. During college he took a semester off to study flycatcher migration in Bolivia and was amazed by tropical biodiversity. After college, he worked as a birding guide in Colombia before starting graduate school at Cornell University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While there, he became excited about eBird, both as a user and a researcher. After several years as a postdoc at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Freeman recently (2023) moved to Georgia and into his faculty position at Georgia Tech. His ambition is to continue his research on mountain birds at multiple sites across the Americas, including the southern Appalachians.

 

 

FRIDAY NIGHT’S PRESENTATION

 

"King rail (Rallus elegans) habitat use in tidal and impounded wetlands of coastal South Carolina"

 

Megan Linke

East Carolina University

 

 

Megan graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in 2015, where she majored in Environmental Science and minored in Biology and Geology. For the next seven years, she worked across the country as a seasonal wildlife technician. She gained experience working with birds, herptiles, fish, and large mammals. She also gained a large variety of wildlife monitoring skills, most of which she employs in her current research on King Rail habitat use as a master’s student at East Carolina University. After graduation, she plans to obtain a doctoral degree and continue advancing avian conservation by researching how avian species interact with their environment and are influenced by anthropogenic changes.

 

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Friday, 16 February 2024

 

6:45 AM - First Field Trip Meet in the Field

 

5:30 to 6:30 PM - Dinner on Your Own

 

6:30 to 7:30 PM - Registration in the Garden Room and Flocking (w/cash bar)

 

7:30 to 8:30 PM - Speaker: Megan Linke

 

" King rail (Rallus elegans) habitat use in tidal and impounded wetlands of coastal South Carolina "

 

8:30 to 8:45 PM - Discussion of Saturday Field Trips

 

Saturday, 17 February 2024

 

Breakfast on Your Own

 

7:00 AM - First Field Trip Departs

 

5:30 to 6:45 PM - Flocking (w/cash bar in the Garden Room).

 

6:45 to 7:45 PM - President’s Address, Announcements, and Banquet Dinner

 

7:45 to 8:45 PM - Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ben Freeman

 

" Tropical montane birds and the escalator to extinction: stories from the field "

 

8:45 to 9:15 PM - Discussion of Sunday Field Trips and Species Countdown

 

Sunday, 18 February 2024

 

Breakfast on Your Own

 

7:30 AM - First Field Trip Departs

 

5:30 to 6:30 PM - Flocking (location TBD) and Discussion of Monday Field Trips

 

6:30 PM - Dinner on Your Own

 

Monday, 19 February 2024

 

Breakfast on Your Own

 

7:00 AM - First Field Trip Departs

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FIELD TRIP INFORMATION

Unless otherwise noted, all times are departure/return times to Hotel Tybee.

*For all Friday field trips, please meet your Field Trip Leader at the birding location at the designated start time.

*For all Monday field trips, there will be no return trips to the hotel.

*For your personal comfort, safety, and enjoyment, always bring your binoculars, spotting scope, sturdy walking shoes, layers of clothing, rain gear, insect repellent, sun screen, water, and a sack lunch or snacks on all field trips. Be advised that most trip destinations do not have bathroom facilities.

 

FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2024

 

CORPS OF ENGINEERS DISPOSAL SITE, JASPER COUNTY, SC

Leaders: Steve Calver and Mary Richards. Start time: 8:00 AM. Return: 1:30 PM. Limit: 20 people in 5 SUV-type vehicles with good clearance. Cost: $0.00

Meet Steve and Mary at the gate to the disposal site (GPS coordinates 32.103, -81.084) at 8:00 AM for a rare chance to bird this restricted area. The site is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge disposal facility. Habitats include grassy levees, mudflats, and impoundments. This area holds ducks, shorebirds, waders, sparrows, and raptors. Expect to sign a couple of waivers at the site. Trip rigor: Moderate with a good deal of walking.

Additional COE Field Trip Notes/Requirements:

• Closed toe shoes (boots/high ankle coverage preferred) and long pants required.
• It would not be a surprise to see a snake, both venomous and non.
• It’s recommended that vehicles have 4WD capability, especially if it’s rained recently. (cannot guarantee that we’ll have the ability to get someone out if they get stuck in the mud)
• Participants are not allowed to walk off by themselves. We need to keep to one or two groups since a Corps rep needs to accompany all ‘wanderings’, and there may only be two of us.
• The Corps vehicle will be leading the band, and if we stop, others should not get out of their vehicle unless we do.
• There are no bathrooms on the premises.

 

FORT STEWART

Leader: Larry Carlile. Start time: 6:45 AM. Return: 12:30 PM. Limit: 15 people in 5 SUV-type vehicles with good clearance. Cost: $0.00

Meet Fort Stewart Wildlife Biologist Larry Carlile at the Love’s Truck Stop in Richmond Hill (SW corner of I-95 Exit 90). You’ll leave Love’s promptly at 7:00 AM and travel to a Fort Stewart Red-cockaded Woodpecker cluster as the woodpecker family group exits their cavities at sunrise. We’ll explore longleaf pine forests and also visit bottomland hardwoods associated with the Canoochee River. Trip rigor: Moderate with some walking over uneven ground.

 

LITTLE TYBEE ISLAND BOAT TRIP

Leaders: Rene Heidt and Malcolm Hodges. Depart 12:00 PM. Return 3:30 PM. Limit: minimum 4, maximum 12. Cost: $90.00

Join us on a boat tour of our saltmarshes and Little Tybee Island, a 6500 acre uninhabited State Natural Heritage Preserve barrier island accessible only by boat. Land on Little Tybee to scope out large mixed flocks of shorebirds. Little Tybee hosts lots of wintering shorebirds, gulls, and terns. You should also see sparrows, wrens, loons, gannets, grebes, ducks and pelicans. Trip rigor: Moderate, be prepared for any weather in an open boat. Note: The boat will depart at 12:00 PM from the Back River Fishing Pier (GPS coordinates 31.992, -80.853). This will be a beach landing. Please provide your email and you will be sent a set of instructions.

 

SATURDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2024

 

FIFE PLANTATION, JASPER COUNTY, SC

Leader: Steve Wagner. Depart: 7:15 AM. Return: 2:00 PM. Limit: 10 people. Cost: $0.00

Meet Steve at 8:00 AM at the parking area for the Tupelo Trail at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, across from the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive exit (GPS coordinates 32.173, -81.097). This private property is adjacent to the refuge and consists of a mix of woodlands, pastures, and flooded fields. Trip rigor: Moderate, with a lot of walking (up to 3 miles).

 

 

LITTLE TYBEE ISLAND BOAT TRIP

Leaders: Rene Heidt and Malcolm Hodges. Depart 12:30 PM. Return 4:00 PM. Limit: minimum 4, maximum 12. Cost: $90.00

Join us on a boat tour of our saltmarshes and Little Tybee Island, a 6500 acre uninhabited State Natural Heritage Preserve barrier island accessible only by boat. Land on Little Tybee to scope out large mixed flocks of shorebirds. Little Tybee hosts lots of wintering shorebirds, gulls, and terns. You should also see sparrows, wrens, loons, gannets, grebes, ducks and pelicans. Trip rigor: Moderate, be prepared for any weather in an open boat. Note: The boat will depart at 12:30 PM from the Back River Fishing Pier (GPS coordinates 31.992, -80.853). This will be a beach landing. Please provide your email and you will be sent a set of instructions.

 

 

RICHMOND HILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Leader: Pam Smith. Depart: 7:00 AM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00

Meet Pam at the Richmond Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility at 8:00 AM. The publicly accessible wetlands bordering the Richmond Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility are now called Sterling Creek Park (Elbow Swamp Road, Richmond Hill, GA, 31324). Using Google maps, navigate to ‘Sterling Creek Park’, Richmond Hill. Meet in the parking lot at the end of the gravel driveway leading into the park (near the white restroom building). This is a great site for ducks, rails, wintering warblers, sparrows, wrens (including Sedge Wren) and raptors. Trip rigor: Moderate with quite a bit of walking.

 

 

SAVANNAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, JASPER COUNTY, SC

Leader: Diana Churchill. Depart: 7:15 AM. Return: 2:00 PM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00

Meet Diana at 8:00 AM at the beginning of the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive (GPS 32.166, -81.115), which travels along levee tops and affords great views of impoundments within the refuge. Savannah NWR is a premier spot for wintering waterfowl, waders, rails, raptors, and sparrows. Trip rigor: Easy.

 

 

SKIDAWAY ISLAND HOTSPOTS

Leader: Russ Wigh. Depart 7:15 AM. Return 12:00 PM, Limit: 15 people, Cost: $0.00

Explore The Landings, a gated community on Skidaway Island, with resident Russ Wigh. Locations include 2 marinas, numerous lagoons, salt marshes and tidal creeks, and the “Sparrow Field”. Bring water and snacks. Meet Russ at The Village shopping center, the traffic light before The Landings at 8:00 AM. There is ample parking at The Village, the traffic light before the entrance to The Landings. Participants should turn left at the light leading into The Village, and the next right which will lead past the BP station. Pull into the empty spaces to the right beyond the service station, bordered by banks on either side. Trip rigor: Easy.

 

SUNDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2024

 

FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT

Leader: Pam Smith. Depart: 9:00 AM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $10.00/person entry fee (unless you have an annual pass).

 

Join Pam at historic Fort Pulaski, a 5400-acre National Monument situated on the Savannah River. Meet at 9:30 AM at the Visitor Center/Fort parking lot. Fort Pulaski is a great place to find scoters, other ducks, shorebirds and the occasional brown creeper. Trip rigor: Moderate with quite a bit of walking.

 

HARRIS NECK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Leader: Ed Maioriello.  Depart 7:30 AM.  Return: 1:30 PM.  Limit: 20 people.  Cost: $0.00 

Meet Ed at the Harris Neck NWR gate at 9:00 AM (GPS 31.625, -81.288).  Harris Neck’s 2,762 acres consists of saltwater marsh, grassland, and mixed deciduous woods. Because of this great variety of habitats, many different species of birds are attracted to the refuge throughout the year. Large concentrations of ducks gather in the marshland and freshwater pools. Over 15 miles of paved roads and trails provide easy access to the many different habitats. Chosen for its accessibility and bird diversity, Harris Neck is one of 18 sites forming the Colonial Coast Birding Trail, inaugurated in 2000.  Trip rigor: Easy. 

 

LITTLE TYBEE ISLAND BOAT TRIP

Leaders: Rene Heidt and Larry Carlile. Depart 1:00 PM. Return 4:30 PM. Limit: minimum 4, maximum 12. Cost: $90.00

 

Join us on a boat tour of our saltmarshes and Little Tybee Island, a 6500 acre uninhabited State Natural Heritage Preserve barrier island accessible only by boat. Land on Little Tybee to scope out large mixed flocks of shorebirds. Little Tybee hosts lots of wintering shorebirds, gulls, and terns. You should also see sparrows, wrens, loons, gannets, grebes, ducks and pelicans. Trip rigor: Moderate, be prepared for any weather in an open boat. Note: The boat will depart at 1:00 PM from the Back River Fishing Pier (GPS coordinates 31.992, -80.853). This will be a beach landing. Please provide your email and you will be sent a set of instructions.

 

 

 

SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

 

Leader: Stan Gray. Depart: 1:00 PM. Return 5:00 PM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00

1599 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31408

 

Meet Stan Gray at this highly reliable wintering site for Rusty Blackbirds (GPS 32.074, -81.161). Stan has been observing and recording the winter presence of Rusty Blackbirds at this site since 2011, and will share his observations with you during an overview of the site in preparation for observing typically large congregations of Rusties as sunset approaches. Meet Stan just inside the entrance to the school property, where we will move to a parking area that is in close proximity to the late afternoon foraging location of these precipitously declining blackbirds. Typically, the school property has harbored the largest wintering Rusty populations in the entire southeast coast, as per eBird records. Observe and discuss the environmental conditions that make this site so attractive to these blackbirds, as well as winter foraging patterns, so that it may lead to discovering other sites throughout the state that could positively inform the monitoring of the Rusty Blackbird. Trip Rigor: Easy

 

 

SAVANNAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SOLOMON TRACT, CHATHAM COUNTY, GA

 

Leader: Steve Wagner. Depart: 7:15 AM. Return: 1:30 PM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00

 

Meet Steve at the Solomon Tract at 8:00 AM (GPS 32.20, -81.17). This Chatham County portion of the Savannah NWR is a heavily wooded site with upland and bottomland hardwoods, a Ducks Unlimited impoundment, and a couple of open fields. Target species include rails, bitterns, sparrows, wintering warblers, and ducks. Trip rigor: Moderate, with a lot of walking (up to 4 miles).

 

 

MONDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2024

 

HUTCHINSON ISLAND

Leader: Mark Woodruff. Depart: 7:30 AM. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00.

Meet Mark in The Reserve on Hutchinson Island at 8:00 AM (GPS 32.094, -81.082). This is a great site for rails, wintering warblers and sparrows, and an occasional Western Kingbird. Trip rigor: Easy.

 

SAVANNAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, JASPER COUNTY, SC

Leader: Steve Wagner. Depart: 7:15 AM. No return trip to hotel. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00

Meet Steve at 8:00 AM at the beginning of the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive (GPS 32.166, -81.115), which travels along levee tops and affords great views of impoundments within the refuge. Savannah NWR is a premier spot for wintering waterfowl, waders, rails, raptors, and sparrows. Trip rigor: Easy.

 

TYBEE ISLAND HOTSPOTS

Leader: Diana Churchill. Depart: 7:30 AM. No return trip to hotel. Limit: 20 people. Cost: $0.00, but be prepared to pay the Tybee Island parking meters.

Diana will lead you to the best birding spots on Tybee Island. Expect to find shorebirds (including purple sandpiper), gannets, ducks, and more. Trip rigor: Moderate, with quite a bit of walking on the beach.