2018 Spring Meeting

Bob Sargent conned his major professor into letting him take an ornithology class while doing his master’s research (a deer study). That class derailed his career vision, as he has been consumed by things with feathers ever since. He studied the ecology of migratory songbirds for his Ph.D. (UGA), and then worked 20 years as the natural resources manager of Robins Air Force Base. Bob was an adjunct teacher at three universities for 11 years. He served as president of the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society, Ocmulgee Audubon Society, and GOS, as well as co-editor of The Oriole. He is currently chairperson of GOS’ education committee and editor of the GOShawk. In 2015, he was hired as program manager of Georgia DNR’s nongame office in Forsyth. He supervises a team of biologists, and is the agency’s lead for the conservation of raptors, especially bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Bob continues to nurture his teaching bug through his support of Camp TALON, the Youth Birding Competition, the Youth Christmas Bird Count, and by arranging GOS scholarships to send teenagers to birding camps.

FRIDAY NIGHT’S EVENT

“Bird Trivia Quiz”

Ed Maioriello
2nd Vice President Georgia Ornithological Society
Athens, Georgia

Test your bird brains against this fun trivia game. This is more than just  bird ID…way more. Be sure you are up to date on bird and birding news,  conservation, anatomy and physiology, eBird bar charts, art, TV/movies, music, sports, and pop culture. Only well-rounded birders win this trivia! Folks can play as individuals or in teams of up to 4 people. And in true birder fashion, the honor system will determine the winner. The winner(s) will receive a small prize and a large ego for the remainder of the weekend.

Ed Maioriello has been an amateur, but active, birder for approximately 18 years. Ed has served as field trip chair for Oconee Rivers Audubon Society for many years and is active in Georgia Ornithological Society currently serving as 2nd Vice President. Ed subsidizes his birding by working for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia doing computer networking.  

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Friday, 18 May 2018

Dinner on Your Own

6:30 to 7:30 PM – Registration and Flocking (cash bar)

7:30 to 8:30 PM – Bird Trivia Contest

8:30 to 8:45 AM – Discussion of Saturday Field Trips

Saturday, 19 May 2018

Breakfast on Your Own

6:15 AM – First Field Trip Departs

2:30 PM – Field Trips Return

5:30 to 6:45 PM – Flocking (cash bar) 

6:45 to 8:00 PM – President’s Address, Announcements, and Banquet Dinner

8:00 to 9:00 PM – Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bob Sargent

“Recovering Raptors: pulling Georgia’s eagles and Peregrine Falcons back from the precipice of extinction”

9:00 to 9:30 PM – Discussion of Sunday Field Trips and Species Countdown

Sunday, 19 May 2018

Breakfast on Your Own

6:15 AM – First Field Trip Departs 

No Return to Hotel

Registration for GOS Member(s) @ $25.00 per person (Note: Spouse/immediate family may register at the member rate 

Your name will come from your Paypal Acct. If you are registering more than yourself, please indicate those names, separated by a comma in the box to the right. Your mobile phone # will help us reach you for last minute changes in field trips due to weather. (FILL OUT fields before clicking "add to cart") Registration does not include keynote, but banquet does.  If you are NOT going to the banquet but want to see the keynote, please pay for that below. 

OtherNames

Mobile Phone #

Non‐GOS Member(s) @ $50.00 per person
(you can become a member for only $25)

Your name will come from your Paypal Acct. If you are registering more than yourself, please indicate those names, separated by a comma in the box to the right. Your mobile phone # will help us reach you for last minute changes in field trips due to weather. (FILL OUT fields before clicking "add to cart")

OtherNames

Mobile Phone #

Reservation(s) for banquet @ $42.00 per person
(banquet price includes keynote speaker)

Registration(s) for Keynote Speaker only (no banquet) @ $10.00 per person
You do not need to register for this if you are paying for the banquet.

FIELD TRIPS

Note: All times listed are departure/return times to The Ridges Resort and Marina. 

 For your personal comfort, safety, and enjoyment…always bring your binoculars, sturdy walking shoes, a walking stick for steep terrain, layers of clothing, rain gear, insect repellent, sun screen, water, and a sack lunch or snacks on all field trips.

WAIVER: You must select this item and add it to your cart.

RELEASE - Click this paypal link to acknowledge and accept:

GOS requires registration for participation in the meeting and field trips, and also requires all registrants to acknowledge the following release.  If the participant is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must acknowledge this release.

Each registrant named, both adult and minor, desires to participate in the field trips and other activities at this meeting of the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS). Therefore, each registrant knowingly and voluntarily grants to the GOS and its officers, committee members, and any other persons engaged in activities in connection with this meeting, a full release from any claim, liability, or cost of any nature on account of personal illness or bodily injury, loss of life, or loss or damage to property directly or indirectly arising out of the registrant’s participation in this meeting.

SATURDAY, 19 MAY 2018 FIELD TRIP INFORMATION

BRASSTOWN BALD

Leader: Angus Pritchard.
Depart: 6:30 AM.
Return: 2:30 PM.
Limit: 15.
Cost: $5.00 entry/parking fee, to be paid on-site.

Brasstown Bald is the highest mountain in Georgia with an elevation of 4,784 feet.  The high elevation lends a more northerly flavor to flora and the fauna alike.  For example, the vegetation is characterized by rosebay rhododendron, mountain laurel, yellow birch, mountain maple, and white pine; additionally, the botanically inclined may spy lingering sprouts of blight-stricken American chestnut trees.  Target bird species, many at the southern limit of their breeding range, include Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven, Veery, Canada Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.   TRIP RIGOR: MODERATE.

BURRELL’S FORD ROAD

Leader: Bob Sargent.
Depart: 6:30 AM.
Return: 2:30 PM.
Limit: 15.
Cost:  $0.00.

Burrell's Ford Road gives easy access to the Chattooga River.  This 7-mile road traverses through an exciting riverside forest with white pines and eastern hemlocks.  A number of mountain species are found here; Ruffed Grouse, Blue-headed Vireo, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Wood Thrush, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Worm-eating, Swainson’s, and Kentucky Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, and maybe even a Red Crossbill.  TRIP RIGOR: EASY (This trip will not involve much hiking.  Rather, we’ll pull over several times on the way down to the river and back).

HALE RIDGE AND SURROUNDING AREA

Leader: Larry Carlile.
Depart: 6:15 AM.
Return: 2:30 PM.
Limit: 15.
Cost: $0.00.

Beginning at the intersection of Hale Ridge and Bald Mountain Roads, we’ll stop to listen for nesting Least Flycatchers around the Christmas tree farm.  We’ll travel down Hale Ridge Road to Overflow Creek Road, passing through a number of different habitats.  Mountain species found here include Red- breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Swainson’s, Kentucky, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, and Scarlet Tanager. TRIP RIGOR: EASY.

IVY LOG GAP AND GUMLOG ROADS 

Leader: Patty McLean.
Depart: 6:45 AM.
Return: 2:30 PM.
Limit: 15.
Cost: $0.00.

This trip will start at the eastern entrance to Ivy Log Gap with stops along Byers Creek Road, Ivy Log Gap, Ravencliff Road, and Gumlog Road.  Target species include Kentucky, Blackburnian, Cerulean, and Bay-breasted Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, thrushes, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Broad- winged Hawk, and Ruffed Grouse. We’ll make several stops along Forest Service roads to enjoy the species that depend on this section of national forest.  Carpooling will be necessary to reduce the number of cars on the narrow and winding roads.  TRIP RIGOR: EASY.

RIDGES RESORT 

Leader: You’re on your own!
Depart: Whenever you wish!
Return: N/A.
Limit: No limit.

Can’t commit to one of field trips? Consider strolling around the Audubon-certified wildlife sanctuary at the Ridges Resort, then drive to the Blairsville Ingle’s supermarket to look for Willow Flycatchers along Butternut Creek. TRIP RIGOR: EASY.

SUNDAY, 20 MAY 2018 FIELD TRIP INFORMATION 

BRASSTOWN BALD

Leader: John Paton Moss.
Depart: 6:30 AM.
End: 2:30PM, No return to hotel.
Limit: 10.
Cost: $5.00 entry/parking fee.

Brasstown Bald is the tallest mountain in Georgia with an elevation of 4,784 feet.  The high elevation lends a more northerly flavor to flora and the fauna alike.  The vegetation, for example, is characterized by rosebay rhododendron, mountain laurel, yellow birch, mountain maple, and white pine; additionally, the botanically inclined may spy lingering sprouts of blight-stricken American chestnut trees.  Target bird species, many at the southern limit of their breeding range, include Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven, Veery, Canada Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.   TRIP RIGOR: MODERATE.

IVY LOG GAP AND GUMLOG ROADS

Leader: Ed Maioriello.
Depart: 6:45 AM.
End: 2:30 PM No return to hotel.
Limit: 15.
Cost: $0.00.

This trip will start at the eastern entrance to Ivy Log Gap with stops along Byers Creek Road, Ivy Log Gap, Ravencliff Road, and Gumlog Road.  Target species include Kentucky, Blackburnian, Cerulean, and Bay-breasted Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, thrushes, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Broad- winged Hawk, and Ruffed Grouse. We’ll make several stops along Forest Service roads to enjoy the species that depend on this section of national forest.  Carpooling will be necessary to reduce the number of cars on the narrow and winding roads.  TRIP RIGOR: EASY.

RIDGES RESORT 

Leader: You’re on your own!
Depart: Whenever you wish!
Return: N/A. 
Limit: No limit.

Can’t commit to one of field trips? Consider strolling around the Audubon-certified wildlife sanctuary at the Ridges Resort, then drive to the Blairsville Ingle’s supermarket to look for Willow Flycatchers along Butternut Creek. TRIP RIGOR: EASY.

SOSEBEE COVE AND POPCORN OVERLOOK

Leader: Larry Carlile.
Depart: 6:30 AM. No return to hotel.
Limit: 15.
Cost: $0.00

Sosebee Cove is a picturesque high-elevation north facing cove forest covering 175 acres. Due to its northern facing orientation, Sosebee Cove has a rich diversity of shade tolerant trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. The forest is a maturing second growth forest, although to many visitors the area has a feeling of being old-growth. The cove is a breeding ground for many of the mountain species we will look for, such as Wood Thrush, Veery, Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Black-throated Blue Warblers. TRIP RIGOR: MODERATELY DIFFICULT TRAIL, BUT SHORT IN DURATION.

Release and Waiver (if you didn't click it up above)

WAIVER: You must select this item and add it to your cart.

RELEASE

GOS requires registration for participation in the meeting and field trips, and also requires all registrants to acknowledge the following release.  If the participant is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must acknowledge this release. 

Each registrant named, both adult and minor, desires to participate in the field trips and other activities at this meeting of the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS).  Therefore, each registrant knowingly and voluntarily grants to the GOS and its officers, committee members, and any other persons engaged in activities in connection with this meeting, a full release from any claim, liability, or cost of any nature on account of personal illness or bodily injury, loss of life, or loss or damage to property directly or indirectly arising out of the registrant’s participation in this meeting.

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