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Over the last year, Birds Georgia and partners have expanded our habitat restoration work to the Augusta area. Laverlea Preserve, now known as Sugarberry Hill, is a 350-acre greenspace right in the middle of a populated suburban area in Evans, Georgia, bordering Blanchard Woods Park. The preserve, owned by the Central Savannah River Land Trust, has a mix of woodlands, riparian forest, and open fields that were once used for cattle. The property was donated to the land trust by Ms. Laverne Dorn, who had purchased the property with her late husband in 1970. Ms. Dorne donated it to the trust to protect the natural, cultural, and community resources of the property and to provide opportunities for the public to connect with nature. With a grant from the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, Birds Georgia partnered with the Central Savannah River Land Trust to transform one of the old cow fields into a native meadow for wildlife. Other partners include the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Augusta’s River Region Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS), who provided invaluable guidance and helped coordinate volunteer workdays. Volunteers from GNPS, as well as Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society and the Butterfly Monarchy Club, helped with surveys to document what was using the field before and after treatment. During the course of the year, we applied herbicide to the 14-acre field, installed fire breaks, and conducted a prescribed fire to clear up the dead plant debris and promote better seed to soil contact for our spring planting. In April 2025, volunteers helped broadcast over 100 pounds of seed across the field, comprising Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Black-eyed Susan, Partridge Pea, Plains Coreopsis, Golden Wave Tickseed, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Indian Grass. “It was one of those days that makes you so happy to be in this field,” said Heather Levy, Birds Georgia Conservation Program Manager. “We had over 25 people carrying five gallon buckets of mixed seeds and sawdust all over the field. We had folks line up to make sure we were covering all areas and seeding at similar rates. It looked like they were about to run a relay race of sorts!” We revisited the field in August 2025 and held a BioBlitz to inventory what was growing. The seeds we had planted were thriving and the field was covered in native insects that had not been abundant previously. Across 372 observations, we documented 147 species of plants and insects. While we did not notice significant changes in the bird community, we hope that continued restoration efforts over a larger area will positively impact them. Ongoing management to the field will be necessary to keep it open and free of weeds and undesirable species. Through our efforts, this former pasture has been transformed into a thriving pollinator habitat that will welcome birds and wildlife for years to come. We’re grateful to our partners and volunteers who helped make this transformation possible. Thank you!
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 Decatur Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers, Birds Georgia Interim Co-Executive Director Adam Betuel, and Decatur Urban Naturalist Allison Ericson at the dedication ceremony for Bird City Decatur on October 17, 2025, at Legacy Park in the city of Decatur, GA. The Bird City Network is excited to announce the launch of Bird City Georgia with Bird City Decatur. The City of Decatur is the first community to receive certification as a Bird City in Georgia. The City of Decatur submitted an impressive application, far surpassing the 12 requirements from the program's comprehensive Action List to secure the High Flyer level of recognition. The designation was approved at a meeting of the Decatur City Council on September 15, 2025. The City of Decatur was officially recognized as Bird City Decatur at a ceremony on Friday, October 17, at Legacy Park, with Decatur Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers in attendance. A collaborative effort between the City of Decatur and the Bird City Network, the Bird City Initiative promotes bird conservation and creates healthier communities for both people and birds across Georgia. Bird City Georgia is led by Birds Georgia, with support from the Georgia Native Plant Society and Georgia Ornithological Society. “Birds Georgia is thrilled to recognize the City of Decatur as the first city to receive the Bird City designation in the state,” says Birds Georgia Interim Co-Executive Director Adam Betuel. “Where birds thrive, people thrive, and the City of Decatur has committed to implement a variety of initiatives that support thriving bird populations and, thus, their residents.” Located in DeKalb County, the City of Decatur is known as a vibrant and walkable community located roughly six miles east of Atlanta. The city has undertaken a range of initiatives to support bird populations, including:
Bird City Georgia invites communities across the state to join the initiative and work together to protect and conserve bird populations. By participating in Bird City Georgia, communities can contribute to a larger effort to promote sustainability and biodiversity. For more information about Bird City Georgia and the other collaborating programs in the Bird City Network map, visit https://birdcity.org/georgia |
AuthorBirds Georgia is building places where birds and people thrive. Archives
November 2025
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