The Cochran Shoals unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is where thousands of Atlantans go to jog, walk and bicycle along a beautiful stretch of the river, near the intersection of I-75 and I-285 in Cobb County.
Many of us, however, go there to see wildlife, especially this time of year. On a superb morning last weekend, we members of the Atlanta Audubon Society found plenty to "ooh and ahh" over. Here are excerpts from my field notes:
"First birds of interest are two white-throated sparrows hopping about in low shrubbery; they spent the winter here and are leaving for nesting grounds up north ... blue-gray gnatcatcher foraging at top of sweet gum tree ... hear pileated woodpecker in distance ...
"Morning mist hangs over river; forms interesting backdrop for a great blue heron standing on rock in middle of river ... mallard ducks, hooded mergansers, Canada geese, double-crested cormorants also on river ... rough-winged swallows dart over water ... beautiful, multi-colored male wood duck swims beneath blooming dogwood tree hanging over river -- beautiful scene ...
"See a pine warbler in pine tree ... spy a large Northern water snake swimming in a creek; retreats into a hole in bank ... on boardwalk through a wetland, hear a red-eyed vireo and see a yellow-throated vireo in a tree ...
"In marshy area along the fitness trail, see and hear red-winged blackbirds galore; males sit in trees and shrubs, puffing out their beautiful red and yellow wing patches to attract females ... spy a green heron, which flies away ...
"Patches of yellow buttercups and white fleabane daisies bloom along trail ... pink-flowered piedmont azaleas also bloom ... cross vines with beautiful yellow-and-lavender, trumpet-like flowers climb high in several trees ...
"Broad-winged hawk flaps over river; red-tailed hawk lands in a tree near us; see a red-shouldered hawk mobbed by crows ... spy an osprey sitting atop a leafing-out tree ...
"Brown, furry animal rests on rocks in river; we decide it’s a muskrat ... see a queen snake entwined on a low limb along another creek ...
"Beautiful red-headed woodpecker sits on dead snag ... stunning common yellowthroat (warbler) forages in low tree directly over us ... palm warbler moves about in a leafing-out oak, constantly bobs its tail as is its habit ... stop by marsh again: pair of blue-winged teal ducks fly out ... belted kingfisher flies by ... "
Altogether, we see 49 bird species. “Pretty good day,” says our leader, Herb Wollner.
In the sky: The Lyrid meteor shower will occur the latter part of next week with a peak of about 15 meteors per hour on Friday. Look to the northeast from about 2 a.m. until dawn. Unfortunately, the moon's light may bleach out all but the brightest meteors.
The moon will be full on Sunday, said David Dundee, astronomer with Tellus Science Museum. April’s full moon was known as “The Flower Moon” by the Cherokee peoples. The only planets visible now are Venus, which rises out of the east about three hours before sunrise, and Saturn, which rises out of the east at dark and is visible throughout the night.
