The Wilder side of Piedmont Park! Birdwatching Hike with Audubon Society experts

IN A NUTSHELL:    Unlike our local federal parklands Piedmont Park is NOT affected by the government "Shutdown."  Please join us for this delightful birdwatching and wildlife walk that was lots of fun both times we offered it last year.  Free parking is usually available near the corner of Piedmont Ave and 12^th Street - see detailed directions and parking tips below.  The weather is expected to be beautiful, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s and 70s.  Please be on time - parked and ready to walk with us by 7:45 - otherwise you may miss the event entirely. 
  Most Atlantans are probably unaware that Piedmont Park in the heart of midtown is a wonderful place for birdwatching.  More than 175 different bird species have been observed there.  On this Audubon Society "field trip" guided by "master birder" Rob McDonough, we'll explore the "wilder side" of the Park via its lesser known wooded trails and open meadows.
  The park's lakes, creeks, open lawns and forested habitats attract numerous water birds, songbirds and raptors, and it isn't uncommon to see gorgeous Great Blue Herons, Cooper's Hawks, Red-headed Woodpeckers or Scarlet Tanagers (as pictured above) - also other wild critters such as squirrels, fish, turtles and butterflies, and of course hundreds of species of beautiful native trees, plants and wildflowers.

EVENT PURPOSE, PLAN & PACE:  This field trip 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 an experiential and learning hike, with frequent stops for naked-eye and binocular birdwatching and for intent listening to birds that may or may not be in view.  Along the way we'll probably do some birding along the new Atlanta Beltline trail on the Park's eastern periphery. The hike is expected to be just 2 to 3 miles in total distance, with no more than about 200 feet of elevation gain or fall along the way.
  Bring binoculars if you have a pair - if not, you're welcome to share some that your AOC hike leader will bring.
  Our custom for a few minutes at the end of each Audubon field trip is to gather in a shady spot near the parking lot to discuss and tally the number of birds of each species (and other wildlife) that are identified either by sight or by song.  You'll likely enjoy staying for this discussion, but feel free to split from the group at any time if you like, provided you let me know you're splitting.
  After the birding if there's enough interest some of us could continue walking and birding together for say another 45 minutes (in the Park, on the Atlanta Beltline, etc.) and have lunch together, perhaps at ParQ Pizza where our cars will be parked.

MORE ON PIEDMONT PARK:  Now more than 125 years old it first became world famous in 1895 as the site of Atlanta's Cotton States & International Exposition.  Volunteer members of the Piedmont Park Conservancy deserve much credit for the Park's dramatic improvements and excellent maintenance in recent years. The thriving Atlanta Botanical Garden in the NW corner of the Park has also benefited the Park's popularity and reputation.  Check out http://piedmontpark.org/ for more information.  For a nice online Color Map of the 200+ acre park, click on this link: http://piedmontpark.org/visit/Park_Map_07-11-print.pdf

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 on your i-Phone or in the comfort of your own home, here's the link to Cornell University's amazing birding website.  It provides color photos, song recordings, range maps, etc. for each species:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

DIRECTIONS to our FREE PARKING LOT by PIEDMONT PARK, assuming you're PROCEEDING SOUTHWARD via INTERSTATE I-75 or I-85 toward DOWNTOWN ATLANTA:  (For a zoomable map & satellite view of this meetup spot click on the Blue & Green "LOCATION" icon near the top of this article.)

1. As you near the I-75/ I-85 interchange (which is ~2 miles north of downtown Atlanta) get into the second lane from the right side of the Interstate.
2. Avoid exiting onto the other Interstate, but as you pass the interchange bear right toward I-75 Exit #84 and exit there (for "17th St, 14th St and 10th St").
3.  Then bear leftward along the access road (a.k.a."Techwood Drive") for about 0.3 mile to the traffic light at 10^th Street (bypassing 17^th St and 14^th St en route).
4. Turn Left onto 10th Street and go 0.6 mile eastward to the traffic light at Piedmont Ave.
5. Turn Left onto Piedmont Avenue, go just 0.2 mile northward (1-1/2 blocks, not quite to the light at 12th St.) and look for "ParQ Pizza" on your right and its red dining table umbrellas.
6. Turn Right just before ParQ Pizza into the free parking lot behind the restaurant where the Audubon Society birding group will meet.  Please be parked and ready to walk with us by 7:45.  Vacant parking spaces may still be available in that lot, but if not you can usually find more free parking on the nearby streets - e.g. along 11th Street on the opposite side of Piedmont Ave.
7.  Our expert Audubon Society guides normally begin their walk here promptly at 8:00 (on 1st Sat of each month year-round).  Look for people with binoculars including me (Charlie) - likely wearing my green Atlanta Outdoor Club shirt and a baseball cap.

ADDRESS of PARKING LOT (for GPS or Google Maps in conjunction with above directions):
ParQ Pizza (a.k.a. "Quattro," next to "Willy's")
1071 Piedmont Avenue, Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30309, Phone 404-881-0000

LAT/LON COORDINATES of PARKING LOT (for GPS or Google Maps in conjunction with above directions):  33.78372,-84.37905

Free Event with free parking and free park entrance.