Metro Atlanta Birding Hike by the Chattahoochee

OVERVIEW: The lovely and easy-to-access Cochran Shoals unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is one of metro Atlanta's most popular places among joggers, dog-walkers and exercise hikers.  Less well known is the fact that the park's riverside forests and wetlands provide an excellent habitat and flyway both for migrating birds and year-round resident species.  The quiet early morning hours of mid-May are a perfect time for observing great blue herons, ducks, geese, kingfishers, hawks, rare migrating warblers, scarlet tanagers, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, indigo buntings and other songbirds.  Although we’ll be literally “getting up with the birds” for this 8:00 AM event sponsored by the Atlanta Audubon Society, we’re sure to enjoy not only the numerous birds and other wild critters, but also the park's botanical and aquatic beauty at this rarely relished time of day.

EVENT PURPOSE, PLAN & PACE: Our Audubon Society hosts for the event will be expert birders Al Mercer and Liz Cooper and other avid and experienced birders from the Society. This "walk-and-pause birding tutorial" will sharpen our ability to spot and 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 a leisurely experiential and learning hike, with frequent stops along the way for naked-eye and binocular birdwatching and for intent listening to birds that may or may not be in view.
 The hike will probably be no more than 2 to 3 miles in total distance, with negligible ascents and descents near the river. 
 Bring your binoculars if you have a pair—if not, you're welcome to share a couple of spare pair that your AOC hike leader will provide—also your birding field guide if you have one.
  Our custom just after each Audubon birding hike is to gather in a shady spot near the parking lot to discuss and tally the number of birds of each species that are identified either by sight or by song.  You'll likely enjoy staying with us through this final birding wrapup, but feel free to leave early at any time if you so desire.

ATLANTA AUDUBON WEBSITE:  Click on "Field Trips" in the upper left corner of the home page for info on free upcoming birding walks.  Anyone with an interest in birds is always welcome to attend these regardless of whether you're an Audubon Society member.
http://www.atlantaaudubon.org/

ONLINE FREE BIRDING GUIDE:  For brushing up on your birding knowledge and skills in the comfort of your own home, here's a great web link that has nice color photos, song recordings and range maps for each species:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

DIRECTIONS:
  The popular Chattahoochee River NRA "COCHRAN SHOALS" PARKI"NG LOT adjoins the I-285 "Interstate North Parkway" access road about 100 yards northwest of where I-285 crosses the river.
  The lot's Latitude/Longitude coordinates for use with GPS or with Google.com/maps are: 33.901811,-84.443911
  Following are directions from I-285 on Atlanta's north side:

IF DRIVING EASTWARD on I-285 from the I-75 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA:
1. Get off I-285 at Exit #22, "Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road."
2. Continue straight ahead for about 0.2 mile to the light at New Northside Drive.
3. Turn Left onto New Northside Drive and go about 0.5 mile to the second traffic light (crossing the I-285 bridge).
4. Continue straight ahead at that light for another 0.9 mile—road is called "Interstate North Parkway" beyond that light.
5. Immediately after you cross the river turn Right into the large paved CRNRA parking lot.
6. We'll meet by the Bulletin Board and water fountain at the far end of the parking lot, where the trail network begins.

IF DRIVING WESTWARD on I-285 from  SANDY SPRINGS, SPAGHETTI JCN, etc:
1. Get off I-285 at Exit #22 "New Northside Drive/ Powers Ferry Rd."
2. Turn Right onto New Northside Drive and go just 0.2 mile to the next light.
3. NOW CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD on Interstate North Pkwy following Directions #2 thru #6 above to the CRNRA parking lot and our meeting point by the bulletin board & water fountain.

$3 Daily Parking Fee payable in self-service envelope with rear-view mirror receipt (unless you display a valid National Parks annual pass).