Welcome to the 2011 Georgia Mountain BirdFest

Unicoi State Park and Lodge is excited to be hosting the first ever Georgia Mountain BirdFest! Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Unicoi is only a short distance from Atlanta, and located adjacent to the Chattahoochee National Forest and Anna Ruby Falls.

Unicoi’s unique facilities allow participants to attend the conference while taking advantage of the many park amenities which include: lodge rooms, cozy cottages, campsites and restaurant. Join other birders from beginners to experts at the only birding conference of its kind in the area for guided walks, field trips, classes and hands-on activities.

Registration

Registration fee includes: Attendance to most of the seminars and presentations, many field trips, continental breakfast for 3 days, snacks and drinks throughout the day during breaks, and the keynote dinner. $110
Note: There is no reduced rate for children; however, anyone under 4 is FREE.

Register Online: To register as a participant to BirdFest, click on the "Register Now" button above for secure online registration. Follow the easy fill-in-the-blank instructions and then print your confirmation. Use your registration/confirmation # and follow instructions to replace and/or add activities online. The form included in this packet is a worksheet to assist participants in viewing their schedule and establishing a total cost, but is not to be mailed in to secure registration for the BirdFest.

Lodging and Meals

Unicoi State Park and Lodge has a 100-room lodge, 30 cottages, and 82 campsites. To ensure your reservation is with the BirdFest group, and to get special lodge rates, call Unicoi Lodge at 1-800-573-9659, speak with Registration and ask for the Georgia Mountain BirdFest.

Lodge Rates: Unicoi Lodge is offering a reduced lodge rate of $59/night for all BirdFest participants.

Cottages: Rates are as follows:
                    – 1 bedroom – $105 weekday/$115 weekend
                    – 2 bedroom – $135 weekday/$145 weekend
                    – 3 bedroom – $140 weekday/$150 weekend.

Campground: There are full hook-up sites, power and water only sites, buddy sites, and walk-in tent sites. There is also camping in the Squirrel’s Nest platforms available (sleeping bags only). Sites vary based on site type and week day or weekend rates.

Check-In

Upon arrival to the BirdFest (and before your first registered trip/seminar), all pre-registered attendees will need to check in at the registration table. You will receive a packet containing confirmation to all of your registered events, seminar locations, and field trip meeting locations.

Attention Teachers

Teachers can earn PLU credits (1-2 PLU’s) for attending the Georgia Mountain Birdfest. For more information or to request a "Prior Approval Form" please contact Cindy Reittinger, Chief Naturalist with Georgia State Parks: 404/657-0029 or Cindy.Reittinger@dnr.state.ga.us.

Cancellation Policy

Georgia Mountain BirdFest reserves the right to cancel or revise any event for any reason. If it becomes necessary to cancel a paid event for which you have a reservation, we will notify you by telephone or e-mail to see if you would like to choose another field trip, seminar or receive a refund. If you cancel your paid event registration by telephone or in writing, the following refund policy will apply:
      – Cancellations received by 4/1/2011 will be fully refunded.
      – Cancellations received by 4/15/2011 will be 50% refunded.
      – Cancellations received by 4/22/2011 will not be refunded. No refunds will be given for no-shows.
      – A $5 handling fee will be deducted from all refunds computed by the above refund policy.