Birdwatching Walk at Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve with Audubon Society Friends

IN A NUTSHELL:   Hope you can join us for this fascinating birdwatching and wildlife walk hosted by our friends in the Atlanta Audubon Society.  It will be in beautiful Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve in NE Metro Atlanta. (See GPS Address and easy Directions below.)  The weather is expected to be nice - in the 50s and 60s with partly sunny skies - becoming showery only later in the day.  Bring binoculars if you have a pair - if not, we'll have a couple of spares available for you to share.
   On this Audubon Society "field trip" guided by master birders Ralph Smith, Dave Butler and Mary Kimberly we'll explore the park's wooded trails and observe numerous lovely species including songbirds, waterfowl and raptors.  We're likely to see our GA "State Bird," the Brown Thrasher - also Robins, Cardinals and various colorful Woodpeckers.  Each spring and fall this forest & wetlands preserve also attracts many colorful warblers and other migrant species including the Scarlet Tanager pictured above.  There are also lots of other wild critters such as squirrels,turtles & butterflies - also of course hundreds of species of beautiful native trees, plants and wildflowers.

EVENT PURPOSE, PLAN & PACE:  This birding walk will sharpen our ability to observe birds and identify them from their body & wing markings, flight patterns, perching & feeding habits, and calls.  If you're chiefly an "exercise hiker," be advised that this will be an experiential and learning walk, with frequent stops for naked-eye and binocular birdwatching and for intent listening to birds that may or may not be in full view. The walk is expected to be only about 2 miles in total distance, with no more than about 100 feet of total elevation gain or fall along the way.
  At the end of this and other Audubon field trips the group usually gathers briefly near the original meetup spot to discuss and tally the species that have been identified either by sight or by song - also any other interesting wildlife, flora, etc. that were observed.  You'll likely enjoy sticking around for this, but feel free to split from the group at any time if you like, provided you let the leaders know when you're departing.

ATLANTA AUDUBON WEBSITE:  http://www.atlantaaudubon.org/  Click on "Field Trips" on this home page for details about this and other free upcoming birding walks.  Anyone with an interest in birds is welcome to attend these events even if you're not an Audubon Society member.

ONLINE FREE BIRDING GUIDE:  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/  is the link to Cornell University's excellent birding website.  Use it to brush up on your birding knowledge and skills in the comfort of your own home or on your Smart Phone, etc.  Among other things, for each native species it provides song recordings, color photos, range maps, etc.

For info on CLYDE SHEPHERD NATURE PRESERVE and a downloadable Trail Map - click: http://www.cshepherdpreserve.org/

OUR "MEETUP SPOT" for this event is the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve's streetside parking area located roughly at 2580 Pine Bluff Drive.  There is no actual street number posted, so please carefully follow my written Directions below.
  For a zoomable map & satellite view of this meetup spot click on the Blue & Green "LOCATION" icon near the top of this article.  If you use GPS or Maps.Google.com you can augment my verbal instructions below by entering the following Lat/Lon coordinates of that spot as your "Destination Address":  33.80575,-84.28397

EASY DIRECTIONS from I-285 in NE METRO ATLANTA:
1. Take Exit 39A, Hwy US-78 West, the Stone Mountain Freeway toward Decatur.
2. Stay on US-78 for about 2 miles, bearing slightly leftward and passing under a short tunnel with North DeKalb Mall on your right.
3. As you merge onto Lawrenceville Hwy (still US-78 West) notice the big QuikTrip (QT) on your right.   About 0.1 mile beyond this QT turn Right onto Harrington Drive.
4. Take Harrington Dr just 0.6 mile, then turn Right onto Wood Trail Lane and follow it about 0.2 mile, just beyond its leftward bend onto Pine Bluff Drive.  Park on the right side of the street just beyond that street bend.  The birding group will assemble there at the small Clyde Shepherd park pavilion.

RETURN TRIP NOTE:  If you need to return to US-78 EAST after the event you'll need to first make a Right turn from Harrington Drive onto US-78 WEST, then make a U-turn 0.1 mile ahead at the first traffic light.

Free Event with free park entrance and free parking