Among us legions of nature lovers, Giff Beaton is a superstar. He has been called Georgia's Dean of Birding because of his unsurpassed knowledge of the state's birds and the several books he has authored or co-authored on the feathered creatures.
He also could be called the Dean of Dragonflies. His book "Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast" is the region's most authoritative field guide on the sparkling, jewellike insects. He photographed nearly all of the more than 150 species represented in the book.
When not on his day job — flying Delta Air Lines' big jets — Giff, 52, usually can be found in the woods, fields and swamps seeking out, studying and photographing wildlife.
Some days, though, he might be leading an Atlanta Audubon Society bird walk. He is thoroughly familiar with all the state's good birding sites: His book "Birding Georgia" is the most complete guide to such spots. One of his favorites, he says, is Kennesaw Mountain in Cobb County, where he never tires of watching warblers during spring and summer migrations.
Other days might find him leading a dragonfly walk along a pond or stream. After going on a few of those walks with Giff over the years, I've never been able to walk by a pond on a summer day without looking for the insects.
Somehow, Giff, who lives in Marietta, also finds time to give talks on birds, insects and other wildlife. "I've always tried to share what I've learned with others," he says.
His passion for nature began when he was growing up in Maryland and fished with a naturalist who taught him how to identify birds. His love of nature never waned during his years at the U.S. Naval Academy and as a Navy aviator. Being a Delta pilot also has enabled him to pursue his nature studies around the globe.
"I'm a pretty lucky guy, birding and bugging all over the world," he says.
His next endeavor: A book on tiger beetles, 40 species of which live in Georgia. "They're colorful, fascinating insects," Giff says.
In the sky: The Perseid meteor shower, visible all next week, will reach a peak of about 50 meteors per hour this weekend, said David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer. Look to the southeast from 2 a.m. until dawn.
The moon will be new on Aug. 17. Mercury is low in the east at dawn and will appear near the moon on Aug. 16. Venus rises out of the east about three hours before sunrise and will appear near the moon Tuesday morning. Mars is low in the west just after dark and sets in the west a few hours later. Jupiter rises out of the east about four hours before sunrise and will appear near the moon Sunday morning. Saturn is low in the west at dark and sets a few hours later.
