U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Bond Swamp

National Wildlife Refuge

Bird List
Bond SwampNational

Wildlife Refuge is located

along the Ocmulgee River

in Bibb and Twiggs

counties, approximately

six miles south of Macon.

The Refuge was

established in 1989 to

protect, maintain and

enhance the ecosystem of

the Ocmulgee River

floodplain. The Refuge

currently consists of 6,500

acres situated along the

fall line separating the

piedmont from the coastal

plains region, and

contains wetlands

associated with the

Ocmulgee River floodplain

and some adjoining

uplands. Please use

caution as some roads

may flood and become

impassable to vehicles.
Bond

Swamp

National

Wildlife

Refuge

This blue goose,

designed by

J. N. “Ding”

Darling, has

become a symbol

of the

National

Wildlife

Refuge

System.

A Bird Haven

In order to preserve and protect a

diverse, threatened wetland

ecosystem, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service purchased

approximately 5,400 acres in 1989 to

establish Bond Swamp National

Wildlife Refuge. The area is rich in

wildlife diversity and provides

optimal habitat for a large variety of

nesting, migrating, and wintering

birds. Many of these species are

neotropical migrants whose

populations have been declining due

to the phenomenal loss of forested

wetlands. Bond Swamp NWR's

objectives are to preserve the

wetlands which serve as habitat for

endangered species, migratory

birds, and native wildlife and to

provide compatible, wildlife related

educational and recreational

opportunities for the general public.

Viewing Tips

The

observation

of birds in

their natural

habitat is

becoming an

increasingly

popular

recreational

activity.

Viewing

entertainment

can be

greatly

enhanced if

binoculars or

a spotting

scope is used.

This equipment assists in bird

identification and enables one to

observe the birds from a distance,

thus minimizing disturbance. Birds

are most active during the early

morning and late afternoon periods,

so this is the best time to birdwatch.

photo: F.Eugene Hester

Cover photo: USFWS
Except for a short

time during managed

deer and hog hunts,

most of the refuge is

open for bird

watching. Please call

for hunt dates.

Access to the refuge

is accomplished by

three hiking trails

and a road system.

Parking is available

at the Stone Creek

Kiosk and the

Longleaf Pine Trail

parking lots. During

wet seasons of the

year, accessibility

may be limited or

prohibited due to

flooding.

Checklist Notes

The following list

contains over 200 species of birds which have been noted

on or adjacent to Bond Swamp NWR. Besides U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service personnel, reliable volunteers in the

field have contributed many of the observations. This list

will be updated periodically to include new sightings or

changes. Visitors making noteworthy observations are

urged to inform the Refuge Manager of details; such as

species seen, where it was seen, date it was seen, and who

saw it.

Season Symbols

SP - Spring, March through May

S - Summer, June through August

F - Fall, September through November

W - Winter, December through February

Abundance Symbols

C - Common, certain to be seen in suitable habitat

O - Occasional, present but not certain to be seen

U - Uncommon, seen a few times during a season

R - Rare, known to be present but not every year

* - Birds known to nest locally

•- Endangered species

photo: Herb Stein
 SP S F W

Grebes

___ Horned Grebe ......................................... R

___ Pied-billed Grebe .................................... O O O O

Cormorants and Darters

___ Double-crested Cormorant ................... R O O

___ *Anhinga ................................................. O O

Bitterns, Herons, Ibises and Storks

___ American Bittern............................. ...... O O

___ Least Bittern.................................. ........ O O

___ *Great Blue Heron........................... ..... O O O O

___ *Great Egret................................... ....... O O O O

___ Snowy Egret.................................. ......... R R

___ *Little Blue Heron........................... ..... O O O O

___ Tricolored Heron ................................... R R

___ Cattle Egret............................................ O

___ *Green Heron............................... ........ O O O

___ Black-crowned Night Heron.......... ...... O O

___ Yellow-crowned Night Heron..... .......... O O

___ White Ibis...................................... ......... U U O

___ •Wood Stork........................................... R

Geese and Ducks

___ Canada Goose................................. ........ U

___ *Wood Duck.................................. ......... C C C C

___ Green-winged Teal.......................... ....... O O

___ American Black Duck.................... ........ C C

___ *Mallard.................................................. C O C C

___ Northern Pintail..................................... O O

___ Blue-winged Teal............................. ...... O O

___ Northern Shoveler............................ ..... U O O

___ Gadwall.................................................... O O

___ American Wigeon................................... U O O

___ Canvasback................................... .......... R U U

___ Redhead........................................ .......... R U U

___ Ring-necked Duck........................... ...... C C C

___ Lesser Scaup.................................. ........ C C C

___ Common Goldeneye......................... ...... R R R

___ Bufflehead............................................... U O O

___ Hooded Merganser............................ .... U R O C

___ Red-breasted Merganser................... ... R R U

___ Ruddy Duck................................... ......... U O O

Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Falcons

___ *Black Vulture................................ ....... C C C C

___ *Turkey Vulture.............................. ....... C C C C

___ *Osprey........................................ ........... O U O O

___ Swallow-tailed Kite.......................... ...... R R

___ *Mississippi Kite............................. ...... U U

___•*Bald Eagle................................... ....... O U O O

___ Northern Harrier............................. ...... U O O

___ Sharp-shinned Hawk......................... .... U O O
 SP S F W

___ *Cooper's Hawk.............................. ....... U R U U

___ *Red-shouldered Hawk..................... ... C O C C

___ Broad-winged Hawk....................... ....... R U R

___ *Red-tailed Hawk............................ ...... C O C C

___ American Kestrel............................. ...... C R O C

___ Merlin.......................................... ............ R

___ Peregrine Falcon............................. ....... R

Turkeys and Quail

___ *Wild Turkey................................. ......... O O O O

___ *Northern Bobwhite......................... .... O O O O

Rails, Gallinules, Coots and Cranes

___ Black Rail...................................... .......... R

___ King Rail....................................... .......... O O

___ Virginia Rail............................................ O O

___ Sora............................................. ............. U

___ Common Moorhen......................... ........ R

___ American Coot........................................ O C C

___ Sandhill Crane............................... ......... U U U

Plovers and Sandpipers

___ *Killdeer.................................................. O O O O

___ Spotted Sandpiper.................................. O U O O

___ Common Snipe............................... ........ U U U

___*American Woodcock................... .......... O O O O

Gulls and Terns

___ Ring-billed Gull.............................. ........ R R R

___ Herring Gull................................... ........ R R

___ Black Tern............................................... R

Pigeons and Doves

___ *Rock Dove................................... ......... O O O O

___ *Mourning Dove........................... ......... C C C C

___ *Common Ground Dove............... ......... U U U U

Cuckoos

___ Black-billed Cuckoo......................... ...... R R

___ *Yellow-billed Cuckoo.................. ......... C C C O

Owls

___ *Barn Owl..................................... .......... U U U U

___ *Eastern Screech- Owl................... ...... O O O O

___ *Great Horned Owl........................ ....... O O O O

___ *Barred Owl................................... ........ O O O C

Goatsuckers and Nightjars

___ *Common Nighthawk....................... .... O C

___ *Chuck-will's widow....................... ........ O C

___ *Whip-poor will.............................. ........ O C O
 SP S F W

Swifts

___ *Chimney Swift.............................. ....... C C C

Hummingbirds

___ *Ruby-throated Hummingbird......... ... O O O

Kingfishers

___ *Belted Kingfisher................................. C C C C

Woodpeckers

___ *Red-headed Woodpecker............... ..... C C C C

___ *Red-bellied Woodpecker............... ...... C C C C

___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker................. ...... O O O

___ *Downy Woodpecker................... .......... C C C C

___ *Hairy Woodpecker......................... ...... O O O O

___ *Northern Flicker............................ ..... C C C C

___ *Pileated Woodpecker..................... ...... C C C C

Tyrant Flycatchers

___ *Eastern Wood pewee....................... ... C C C

___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.................. .... R R

___ *Acadian Flycatcher......................... ..... C C C

___ Least Flycatcher............................. ....... U U

___ *Eastern Phoebe............................. ...... C C C

___ *Great Crested Flycatcher.............. ..... C C C

___ *Eastern Kingbird............................ .... C C C

Shrikes

___ *Loggerhead Shrike......................... .... U U U U

Swallows

___ *Purple Martin................................ ...... O O O

___ Tree Swallow................................. .......... U U R R

___ *Northern Rough-winged Swallow.. ... O O U U

___ Bank Swallow................................. ......... U U

___ Cliff Swallow................................. .......... O O O

___ *Barn Swallow................................ ....... O O U

Vireos

___ *White-eyed Vireo........................... ...... C C C R

___ *Blue-headed Vireo......................... ...... O R O O

___ *Yellow-throated Vireo.................... ..... C C C

___ Philadelphia Vireo.................................. R R

___ *Red-eyed Vireo............................. ....... C C C

Jays and Crows

___ *Blue Jay................................................. C C C C

___ *American Crow..................................... C C C C

___ Fish Crow..................................... ........... U R C C

Chickadees and Titmice

___ *Carolina Chickadee.............................. C C C C

___ *Tufted Titmouse............................ ....... C C C C
 SP S F W

Nuthatches and Creepers

___ Red-breasted Nuthatch...................... .. R R

___ *White-breasted Nuthatch................... O O O O

___ *Brown-headed Nuthatch.............. ...... C C C C

___ Brown Creeper................................ ....... U U U

Wrens

___ *Carolina Wren............................... ....... C C C C

___ House Wren................................... ......... R U U

___ Winter Wren.................................. ......... U

___ Sedge Wren............................................. R

___ Marsh Wren................................... ......... R

Gnatcatchers, Kinglets and Thrushes

___ Golden-crowned Kinglet................ ....... U U C

___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet................... ....... O O C

___ *Blue-gray Gnatcatcher................. ....... C C C O

___ *Eastern Bluebird........................... ...... C C C C

___ Veery........................................... ............. O O

___ Gray-cheeked Thrush..................... ....... U U

___ Swainson's Thrush........................... ...... O O

___ Hermit Thrush................................ ....... U U C

___ *Wood Thrush................................ ........ C C C

___ *American Robin............................. ...... C C C C

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

___ *Gray Catbird................................. ....... O O O U

___ *Northern Mockingbird................. ...... C C C C

___ *Brown Thrasher............................. ...... C C C C

Pipits

___ American Pipit................................ ....... U U U

Waxwings

___ Cedar Waxwing.............................. ........ U U O

Starlings

___ *European Starling........................... .... C C C C

Wood Warblers

___ Blue-winged Warbler........................ ..... U U

___ Golden-winged Warbler.................. ....... . U U

___ Tennessee Warbler........................... ...... U U

___ Orange-crowned Warbler................ ...... U O

___ *Northern Parula .................................. C C C

___ Yellow Warbler............................... ......... U U

___ Chestnut-sided Warbler..................... ... U U

___ Magnolia Warbler............................ ....... U U

___ Cape May Warbler........................... ...... R R

___ Black-throated Blue Warbler................ U U

___ Yellow-rumped Warbler................... ...... C C C

___ Black-throated Green Warbler.......... ... O O
SP S F W

___ Blackburnian Warbler....................... .... U U

___ *Yellow-throated Warbler................ ..... O O O U

___ *Pine Warbler................................. ........ C C C C

___ *Prairie Warbler.............................. ...... C C C

___ Palm Warbler................................. ......... O O U

___ Bay-breasted Warbler.................... ....... R R

___ Blackpoll Warbler............................ ....... U

___ Cerulean Warbler............................ ....... R R

___ *Black-and-white Warbler............... ..... O O O R

___ *American Redstart........................... ... C U C

___ *Prothonotary Warbler...................... ... C C C

___ Worm-eating Warbler........ ............... .... O O

___*Swainson’s Warbler .............................. O O O

___Ovenbird ................................................... U U

___Northern Waterthrush ........................... U U

___*Louisiana Waterthrush ........................ O U O

___*Kentucky Warbler ................................. C C C

___*Common Yellowthroat .......................... C C C C

___*Hooded Warbler .................................... C C C

___Wilson’s Warbler ...................................... R

___Canada Warbler ....................................... R

___*Yellow-breatsed Chat............................ O O O

Tanagers

___*Summer Tanager ................................... C C C

___Scarlet Tanager ........................................ U U

Grosbeaks, Sparrows and Buntings

___ *Northern Cardinal.......................... .... C C C C

___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak.................. ..... U U

___ *Blue Grosbeak...................................... O O O

___ *Indigo Bunting.............................. ....... C C C

___ Painted Bunting.............................. ....... R R R

___ *Dickcissel.................................... .......... R R R

___ *Eastern Towhee....................... ............ C C C C

___ *Chipping Sparrow.......................... ...... C C C C

___ *Field Sparrow............................... ........ C C C C

___ Vesper Sparrow............................... ....... O

___ Savannah Sparrow........................... ...... U U C

___ Fox Sparrow.................................. .......... U U U

___ Song Sparrow................................. ........ C C C

___ Swamp Sparrow.............................. ....... C C C

___ White-throated Sparrow................. ...... C C C

___ White-crowned Sparrow........................ R R R

___ Dark-eyed Junco.............................. ...... C C C

___ Lincoln’s Sparrow........................... ....... R

Blackbirds and Orioles

___ Bobolink....................................... ........... U R

___ *Red-winged Blackbird......................... C C C C

___ *Eastern Meadowlark...................... ..... C C C C

___ Rusty Blackbird.............................. ....... O
Sighting Notes

Date Time Weather

No. of species

Route or area

Observers

SP S F W

Remarks

___ Brewer's Blackbird.......................... ...... R

___ *Common Grackle.......................... ....... C C C C

___ *Brown-headed Cowbird............... ....... C C C C

___ *Orchard Oriole.............................. ....... O O O

___ Baltimore Oriole.................................... U R U R

Finches

___ Purple Finch................................... ........ U U U

___ *House Finch................................. ........ C C C C

___ Pine Siskin..................................... ......... R R

___ *American Goldfinch............................. C U U C

___ Evening Grosbeak............................ ..... R R

Old World Sparrows

___ *House Sparrow..................................... C C C C
photo: USFWS
Bond Swamp

National Wildlife Refuge

718 Juliette Road

Round Oak, Georgia 31038

Office: 478/986 5441

Fax: 478/986 9646

email: fw4rwpiedmont@fws.gov

http://piedmont.fws.gov/bondswamp.html

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD for general FWS Info

September 2001