ABOUT THE EVENT

Birds ❤️ Working Forests

Privately-owned working forests cover over 90 percent of Georgia, providing 22 million acres of forested landscape that support the state’s bird population. Although they are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems for forest-dependent species, opportunities to access these privately-owned lands have been limited for the birding community.

The Georgia Forestry Foundation and Georgia Audubon will host this field day event to connect birding enthusiasts with working forest landowners across the state.

Who should attend: Birders and bird habitat enthusiasts; forest landowners and managers interested in learning more about managing forests for bird habitat.
What to expect: Attendees will engage in birding activities led by Georgia Audubon experts and a property tour led by forest management experts. You will learn about different forestland habitat types and how they benefit various bird species.
Birding Access Program: GFF will announce the launch of its birding access permit program to connect private landowners with birders across the state and nation. Learn more →

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, September 23

Saturday, September 24

speakers

NICK DILUZIO

Georgia Forestry Foundation – Vice President

TIFFANIE STARR

Timberland Investment Resources

TODD SCHNEIDER

Georgia DNR

ANDRES VILLEGAS

Georgia Forestry Foundation – President and CEO

RUSSELL COMBS

Orbis, Inc.

CHASE COOK

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

JIM OZIER

Georgia Power

GABE ANDRLE

Georgia Audubon

ALEX LOCASTRO

Georgia Audubon

TONY KROEGER

Georgia DNR

JARED TEUTSCH

Georgia Audubon – Executive Director

KIM SAVIDES

Georgia Audubon’s NOAA Sea Grant Fellow

REGISTRATION

Don’t miss your chance!

REGISTER + RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY

Questions? Please contact Olivia Parrott at olivia@gffgrow.org or 478-992-8110

Hotel Accommodations

Room Block At Hampton by Hilton, Perry

102 Hampton Court
Perry, Georgia, 31069

CONFIRMATION CODE: 85634346

OR

Say you’re with the Georgia Forestry Foundation

Use confirmation code when booking room to receive the discounted rate.

GROWING BIRDING & SUSTAINABLE FORESTS TOGETHER

LAUNCHING: GFF Birding Access Permit Program & Georgia Audubon Habitat Stewardship Program

Much like a hunting lease agreement, a birding access permit agreement is a partnership between a birder seeking rights to observe birds on the land of a forest landowner and that landowner.

The Georgia Forestry Foundation’s membership community includes a broad range of private forestland owners from across the state. This makes the Foundation an ideal partner with Georgia Audubon to expand the state’s birding access while benefitting its forest landowners.

The birding access permit program will officially launch on September 24, 2022 at the field day event.

→ Interested in participating in this innovative program? Please direct questions to Vice President and program head Nick DiLuzio at nick@gffgrow.org.

| Habitat Stewardship Program

Georgia’s birds and our wild places are in trouble, and few people know this more than the landowners and managers who steward private and working lands across the state. Georgia Audubon is building places where birds and people thrive. The organization is proud to introduce the Georgia Audubon Habitat Stewardship Program to recognize the bird and wildlife habitat management work on large properties across the state.

Private and working lands, large parks and public lands, and other contiguous parcels of habitat are critical to conserving Georgia’s birds, and also balance the needs of landowners and managers. The Habitat Stewardship Program incentivizes landowners and managers to take steps toward aiding birds and other wildlife. The program will also provide applicants:

Technical guidance
Connection to various cost-sharing and informative programs
Provide educational resources and Audubon perks
As well as provide a pathway to formally recognize their land as a Georgia Audubon designated habitat.

The criteria for property recognition is customizable, as we understand all lands are different and are managed with various goals in mind.

Consider applying for Georgia Audubon’s Habitat Stewardship Program to help lessen the pressures Georgia’s ecosystems face, learn about the value your land holds for the environment, and all while benefiting from the opportunities and resources their program provides.

For more information, please email Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation at adam.betuel@georgiaaudubon.org

“Many people in the forest industry want what we want – they want both economic and ecological viability into perpetuity. Companies and their customers want to know their products come from well-managed forests, and birds can tell you a lot about the sustainability of forests."

EJ Williams, American Bird Conservancy's Vice President of Migratory Birds and Habitats

Working Forests for Birding Field Day

SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2022

📍BEMBRY’S MILL TREE FARM
HAWKINSVILLE, GEORGIA