Saturday, Apr 19, 2025 at 8:00am
Leader: Jim Ferrari
Limited to 15 participants
Difficulty: Moderate, with driving on dirt roads through the refuge and short walks; no restrooms
Rain Date: May 3
In 1999 Georgia became the first state in the nation to develop a statewide conservation plan to provide management options and protection of suitable habitat for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Historically widespread in the southeast, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker suffered severe population declines due to the loss of mature pine forests. Today, approximately 1% of the woodpecker’s original population can still be found across the southeast.
We’ll caravan through several areas of the refuge to look for some of the 57 family groups that call Piedmont NWR home. Other key species we’ll keep an eye (and ear) out for during the trip are Northern Bobwhite, Bachman’s Sparrow, Wild Turkey, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and plenty of other spring migrants.
