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“The Sparrow Field” sits at the heart of the Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, in Cobb County, Georgia.
Once used for recreation, the field had become overgrown with invasive plants and woody vegetation. Now, it has been transformed into a thriving native habitat for birds and pollinators, thanks to a major restoration effort led by Birds Georgia and key partners. Supported by a grant from the Georgia Ornithological Society, our Birds Georgia Habitat Team worked with partners from the National Park Service, Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, Georgia Native Plant Society, and a dedicated group of volunteers to remove invasive species, plant native wildflowers and grasses, and spread locally-sourced seeds to bring this habitat back to life. This restoration project is already making an impact. A Henslow's Sparrow (listed as a High Priority Species on Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan) was recently observed at the site and reported on eBird. As native plants take root and the landscape continues to evolve, the Sparrow Field is once again becoming a place where birds thrive, and a model for what’s possible through collaborative, locally-informed habitat restoration. Learn more about our Birds Georgia habitat restoration work here: https://www.birdsgeorgia.org/habitat-restoration.html
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by Brooke Michael, Communications Coordinator In June 2025, educators from Georgia and Alabama gathered at Unicoi State Park in Helen, GA, for Birds Georgia’s annual Taking Wing workshop, an immersive learning experience focused on one of our most accessible and inspiring teaching tools: birds. Taking Wing is more than just teacher training. It’s a yearlong professional development course designed for educators of all backgrounds seeking to incorporate birds and conservation into their classrooms and programs. In this summer session, educators were introduced to:
Led by Birds Georgia Education Program Manager Melissa Paduani, participants spent time outside practicing their birding skills, observing native plants, and exploring how to apply this knowledge directly to student learning experiences. Since its inception in 2012, Taking Wing has trained more than 175 educators across Georgia, with each of them reaching hundreds of students each year. Many alumni have gone on to start bird clubs at their schools, lead community bird walks, and become more involved with Birds Georgia. Educators who complete the full program, including two follow-up sessions in fall and spring, earn up to 40 hours of professional learning units (PLUs). At Birds Georgia, we believe that fostering a love and understanding of birds can inspire the next generation of conservationists. Through Taking Wing, educators have a new tool to spark student curiosity and build connection with our natural world. Birds Georgia is excited to announce the official launch of Bird City Georgia, a new statewide initiative designed to help communities become healthier for both birds and people. With this launch, Georgia becomes the 16th member of the Bird City Network, joining more than 200 communities across four countries working to create bird-friendly environments. Bird City Georgia is a collaborative effort led by a steering committee with representatives from Birds Georgia, the Georgia Native Plant Society, and the Georgia Ornithological Society. Together, we are guiding cities, towns, counties, and campuses across Georgia in taking meaningful steps to protect native bird populations while enhancing quality of life for residents. To become a certified Bird City, a community must meet at least 12 requirements from the program’s comprehensive Action List. Examples include controlling invasive species on public lands, promoting native plants, and creating or preserving wildlife corridors and green spaces. Benefits to Certified Bird Cities Birds are essential indicators of ecosystem health. Actions taken to protect birds also support pollinators, improve air and water quality, and reduce harmful chemical use. What’s good for birds is good for people, too – these steps can help create more vibrant and livable communities. Birds also help support economic development. Becoming certified as a Bird City can promote local tourism and local businesses. Communities will also receive a variety of direct benefits from the Bird City Program including:
Get Involved Bird City Georgia welcomes applications from cities, towns, counties, and campuses. Interested communities are encouraged to read the action list, assemble a group of local stakeholders, and begin the application process. For more information and to learn how your community can apply, visit: https://birdcity.org/georgia About the Bird City Network American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA) joined forces with major support from US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to create The Bird City Network. The Network unites Bird City Programs across the hemisphere into a powerful collaborative force for birds - bringing people together in their home communities to make them healthier for birds and for people. About Birds Georgia: Birds Georgia is building places where birds and people thrive. We create bird-friendly communities through conservation, education, and community engagement. We look forward to celebrating the 100- year anniversary of our organization in 2026. Learn more at https://www.birdsgeorgia.org/. Photos L to R: Create and maintain a public demonstration garden focused predominantly on native plants to benefit birds, wildlife, and ecosystems. Photo by Logan Jones Birds Georgia; Demonstrate on-going efforts to reduce window collisions at building(s) within your community by mitigating problem glass or utilizing proven bird-friendly design. Photo by Jill Helton; Educate and engage all ages in conservation activities. Photo by Birds Georgia.
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AuthorBirds Georgia is building places where birds and people thrive. Archives
February 2026
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