Darien, Georgia: Bird and Butterfly Watching

Darien is fortunate to be located along Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding Trail. This viewing area is situated in the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area, on the remains of the old Butler rice plantation, about 3 minutes from the center of Darien. Today, the old rice fields are managed to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife species.

Birdwatchers delight in spotting birds of prey, shorebirds, songbirds, wading birds, and many kinds of waterfowl. Fall and winter offers the best season for spotting raptors and waterfowl. Visitors may see a variety of species including the wood stork, swallow-tailed kite, bald eagle, king rail, painted bunting, mottled duck, wood duck, white ibis, glossy ibis, and purple gallanule. Find out more about the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.

Many miles of pristine marshes and wetlands, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, are two important factors making Darien a superb place to view and photograph a wide variety of birds and wildlife.

This sign at the entrance to the Waterfowl Management Area reads:

"Wetlands Are Valuable
Far from being scary or worthless places, wetlands are wonderful. We know now that wetlands are a vital link in the natural system that supplies the water which sustains all life. Wetlands are important in many ways.

• Wetlands lessen the destructive effects of storms and floods.
• Wetlands cleanse water of pollutants.
• Wetlands recharge groundwater supplies.
• Wetlands provide homes for many kinds of wildlife.
• Wetlands are beautiful places for people to enjoy being outdoors."

Spotlight: The Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated Woodpecker is often observed in wooded areas in and around Darien. Almost as large as a crow, it is the largest woodpecker in North America. This amazing bird excavates large, rectangular holes in trees, searching for ants and wood-boring insects. In fact, their digging can be so extensive that it attracts other woodpeckers, wrens, and assorted birds to the site. Area residents are often encouraged to leave dead logs on the ground somewhere on their property to provide additional foraging opportunities for this magnificent resident bird.

Butterflies of Darien

A wide variety of butterfly species can be observed almost all year round in Darien. In spring, the beautiful black and jewel-spotted Palomedes Swallowtail seems to be everywhere. In summer, the exotic Zebra Longwing butterfly emerges. At the same time, you'll see Black and Yellow swallowtails, the magnificent Giant Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails, Red Spotted Purples, Monarchs, Viceroys, Buckeyes, and ubiquitous Long-tailed Skippers. Virtual "clouds" of Gulf Fritillaries can be observed on blooms in August and September (as shown in our photograph, above).

Giant Swallowtails are common sights in Darien's long summer season.