Birds, Hawks, Falcons, and Bird Songs. Look, listen and learn all about them.

please not that I, bruce aldridge, will be leaving the event at 10-10:115am, whether we are finished or not to go to my church to pray about my recent health relapses, related to lack or extended relaxed breathing on events, as happened at Vinyard mtn. today.




We will all meet at the front of the visitor center at Kennesaw Mountain, slightly later than the Fitness hike, Please dont mix the two in your mind. This is mainly and daresay only to serve as a learning experience and casual walk, and will have NONE of the race pacing or workout value of the fitness hike.  So if you find yourselves amongst a group of binocular wielding, stand around to slowly moving people you will be with this group and its noble purpose and thanks to Jason, and  a few others, a relatively new activity to AOC. WE WILL learn to identify the birds that fill our air with their beautiful songs and sometimes gorgeous beyond proper decription colored selves. Some raptors common to the mountain here, as hawks that hang here may be seen as well. I have recently become a convert to bird watching, as my brother who resides in Traverse City, Michigan likes to and constantly does this and has shown me many new friends in the air, and aquainted me with all to few of their songs. That is me the lesser experienced of the two co-leads today. Jasons' commentary is in the following paragraphs.

  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, birds have the largest following of all wildlife in the United States. Birding is indeed a very rapidly growing hobby in the U.S. across all demographics. Perhaps its appeal lies in that it is accessible to anyone, can be done anywhere, and at any time of year. Of couse, like many things, it's also one more excuse to get outside and discover new places! If you are curious about learning to identify birds and their songs, please sign up for this trip!

Kennesaw Mountain is considered an "Important Bird Area" due to it's importance as a stopping-off point for migrating songbirds as the fly across the Gulf of Mexico every Spring and return in the Fall.  In Fact, it is probably the best destination in the Southeasterern U.S. for viewing the most species of neotropical migrants. WE can expect to see a few of the brilliantly colored migrants such as scarlet and summer tanangers (NOT teenagers!-a brightly colored but wayward humanoid species, quite different, compared to birds!-ba), indigo buntings and others. The group is being being kept relatively small so that everyone will have a chance to see each interesting bird before we move on to the next one. I will make every effort to give everyone personal attention. And, if you know me (or both of us), we'll have some laughs along the way. I can also address the following topics: