SURVEY RESULTS

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Organized by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Waterbird Biologist Brad Winn, the Midwinter Waterbird Survey was established in 1996 as a method of gathering data to develop a conservation plan for Georgia waterbirds. The objectives of this survey are to develop an understanding of the wintertime distribution of waterbirds on the entire Georgia barrier coast, and to help DNR to recognize long-term trends or changes in winter population sizes and distribution. Professionals (namely Georgia DNR and the US Fish & Wildlife Service) and experienced volunteers alike are helping to gain a better understanding of important winter waterbird habitat use that may be of great conservation value in the future. Skilled observers scan the beaches of the entire coast, on the same day, at about the same time. Numbers of individual species are recorded, and locations of species of special concern, such as Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Marbled Godwits, and Long-billed Curlews, and concentrations of any waterbirds are marked on maps. Vast stretches of Georgia's barrier islands remain undeveloped and mostly undisturbed, making them an important wintering spot for a large number and wide variety of shorebirds, terns, gulls and other species.  The links to the left show some of the results of past efforts.

Text and data is courtesy of Brad Winn
Map is courtesy of Steve Holzman
Photos by James F. Flynn Jr.