Georgia Mountain BirdFest: April 28 – May 1, 2011 Make plans to be a part of Unicoi State Park & Lodge’s new Mountain BirdFest from Thursday, April 28 until Sunday, May 1, 2011. Join other birders from beginners to experts at the only birding conference of its kind in the area for guided walks, field trips, classes and hands-on activities. Stay overnight in the park’s lodge rooms, cozy cottages or modern campsites. Enjoy your meals at the Unicoi Restaurant. To get more information or to register go to www.gamtnbirdfest.com or call 1-800-573-9659, ext. 305.

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Marshall Iliff, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Field Trip Locations                                          Anna Ruby Falls, , Black Rock Mountain State Park, Brasstown Bald, Brawley Mountain, Buck Shoals, Cooper’s Creek WMA, Dawson , Dillard, Georgia Mountain Orchard, Ivy Log Gap Road, Panther Creek Trail, Rabun Bald, Smithgall Woods State Park, Sosebee Cove, Suches, Tallulah Gorge State Park, , Upper Chattahoochee River/Wilks Road, Warwoman Dell, and Unicoi State Park

Trip Leaders and Speakers include                                  Jim Allison, Giff Beaton, Ken Blankenship, Mike Brod, Jeannette Coplin, Phil Delestrez, Bill Elliott, Scott Griffin, Theresa Hartz, Joel Hitt, Sheila Humphrey, Chuck Hunter, Lisa Hurt, Terry Johnson, Gene Keferl, Nathan Klaus, Linda May, Patty McLean, Darlene Moore, Charlie Muise, Jim Ozier, Chuck Saleeby, Georgann Schmalz, Todd Schneider, Josh Spence, Kitty Spivey, Father Francis Michael Stiteler, Jim Wentworth, E.J. Williams and Victor Williams

Seminar Topics                                             10 Most Important Things to Know for Beginner Birders, Bald Eagle & Peregrine Falcon, Becoming a Better Beginner Birder, Binoculars 101, Bird Banding PowerPoint & Demo, Birding By Ear, Bird Habitat – Feeding, Habitats & Nests, Bird Nesting Basics, Book signings for the: “Breeding Bird Atlas of Georgia” and “Birding Georgia”, “Butterflies and Blossoms”, Common Birds of the Southeast, Habitat Diversity field trip to Upper Chattahoochee, Hawk ID, High Elevation Birds of Georgia, Hemlocks & the Wooly Adelgid, “Hummingbirds: Glittering Fragments of the Rainbow”, “Intro to Painting: Georgia’s Wild Birds”, “Natural grasslands: Importance for birds and butterflies” Nature Journaling, Nature Photography, Planting for Attracting Birds: Both native and neo-tropical migrants, Project Wild Educator Workshop, “Stalking and Shooting the Wild Butterfly”, Tree ID, “Why birds live where they do, and how biologists can make them feel at home”, Warbler ID and “What Beginners Should Know About Bird Watching”

Programs open to the public during the weekend                           Beginner Bird Walks, Birdhouse & Feeder Building, Snakes Alive! (live snakes), Birds of Prey (live birds), Hayrides & Beginner Birding, Recycled Material Birdhouse (craft for kids), Dissecting Owl Pellets, Bird ID slideshows and Jeop-Birdy!

                                    Left to right: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-throated Green Warbler, Scarlet Tanager and Chestnut-sided Warbler