Bird-Watching

Birding in the Savannah [1] area is excellent at two spots on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail (http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us [2]).

Chief among them is Skidaway Island State Park [3] (52 Diamond Causeway, 912/598-2300, www.gastateparks.org [4], daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m., $2 per vehicle daily parking fee). Spring and fall bring a lot of the usual warbler action, while spring and summer feature nesting osprey and painted bunting, always a delight.

The other trail spot is Tybee Island [5]’s North Beach area ($5 per day parking fee, meters available). You’ll see a wide variety of shorebirds and gulls, as well as piping plover, northern gannets, and purple sandpiper (winter).

Wading birds in particular are in wide abundance at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (see Kayaking and Canoeing [6]). The views are excellent all along the Lauren Hill wildlife drive, which takes you through the heart of the old rice paddies that criss-crossed the entire area.