Birding is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in the U.S. with an estimated 96 million Americans taking part. Offering benefits like low cost, getting closer to nature and ease of participation, the hobby is a popular way to boost physical and mental health.
October is an exceptional time to take up birdwatching in Georgia because fall migration is in full swing. Millions of birds from songbird migrants to shorebirds are flying south by routes running through the Blue Ridge mountains and along the Atlantic coastline. In addition, other birds begin arriving from the north to join permanent resident birds for winter in the state.
Before you go
Preparing for a satisfying birdwatching experience requires collecting only a few items. Here’s what you’ll want to take along:
- Binoculars: High-quality 8x42 binoculars provide the best balance of magnification and field of view. Tip: Some guided birding field trips provide binoculars for newcomers on request. Ask before you arrive.
- Identification guide: Download the free Merlin Bird ID app to your phone for real-time identification.
- Digital camera: Those new to birding can rely on your smartphone for casual photos. Read these tips from the Audubon Society for maximizing your phone’s capabilities. If you get serious about the hobby, you may want to invest in a camera with features for wildlife photography.
- Logbook: Take along a notebook or use the free Go Outdoors Georgia app created by Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to keep species checklists and monitor recent sightings. Download the app at the Apple or Google Play store.
Look for
Just about every species of bird that was migrating through the state in spring is now heading south again in large numbers. They’ll take their time, foraging along the way, while following two major paths: a route from the Blue Ridge mountains to the gulf coast or right down the Atlantic coast beaches. Birds that will overwinter in Georgia are also arriving now.
This month, birdwatchers should expect to spot woodpeckers, nuthatches and hawks in mountain and piedmont regions. In coastal and Lowcountry areas, look for wading birds, early winter waterfowl and ospreys. Maritime forests are likely to have fall migrants like warblers, tanagers and thrushes.
About a third of Georgia’s eagle nests are along the Atlantic coastline. Photo: Georgia DNR
October also marks the official start of the nesting and courtship season for bald eagles. Adults are returning to their territories to repair old nests or build new ones before laying their eggs in the winter. Georgia’s DNR closely monitors bald eagle nest locations.
Try a trail
The Georgia House of Representatives has officially declared 2026 as the “Year of the Georgia Birding Trail” in recognition of Birds Georgia’s centennial celebration. Older trails are getting revamped and new ones have debuted, making it a perfect time to give explore one or more.
Try out the brand-new Georgia Birding Trail (https://gabirdingtrail.org), a statewide network of over 400 bird viewing destinations — from mountain forests to coastal marshes — ideal for beginners and experts alike to focus on feathered friends.
The Colonial Coast Birding Trail offers 17 sites across 122 miles of the Georgia coast. Some 300 species of birds — about 75% of the species seen in Georgia — have been spotted at the venues.
The Southern Rivers Birding Trail, a collection of 29 sites grouped into four sub-trails, is getting an update this year. It winds from the hilly piedmont region down through the coastal plain and ends at the Okefenokee Swamp.
Pick a park
Some of the top destinations for October birdwatching are in easily accessible public parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Inland locations:
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kennesaw, is one of the most productive sites for migrant birds in the fall. It was the first spot in Georgia to be designated an Audubon Important Bird Area.
- Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Hillsboro, is ideal for spotting rare red-cockaded woodpeckers and specialized woodland species.
- Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs, provides shaded streams and lake access points where ospreys, kinglets and early winter waterfowl begin to show.
Coastal spots:
- Jekyll Island is famous for active migration tracking, peregrine falcons and abundant shorebirds.
- Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Townsend, features wood stork populations and diverse marsh habitats.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore, accessed from St. Mary’s, is an Atlantic Flyway habitat for rails, wading birds and late-moving warblers.
Spot a Cedar Waxwing at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.
Get a guide
If you’re new to birding and want some help learning the ropes, join a ranger-led nature walk in a state park or sign up for a field trip led by a local bird club. These walks are a great way to meet other people who share an interest in birds and the outdoors. Check park websites for specific dates, times and fee requirements.
Among those typically offering seasonal fall bird hikes are:
- Fort Yargo State Park, Winder, hosts a beginner bird spotting walk on the first Sunday of the month (Oct. 4), 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Fernbank Forest, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Druid Hills, offers a gentle-terrain guided morning bird walk on Oct. 24, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
- Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, has a guided morning bird walk with Birds Georgia on Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Black Rock Mountain State Park, Mountain City, schedules high-elevation autumn naturalist-led birding strolls.
- Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge, features regular ranger-led or self-guided opportunities around Alexander Lakes and the Power of Flight area.
- Birds Georgia field trips in October are at locations in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties.
Fall is the best time to start birdwatching as millions of birds migrate south, passing through local parks and backyards. Take advantage of the cooler weather, active feeding and changing foliage to more easily find feathered friends — and potentially discover a new hobby.