• Mist rising of the river at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

    Chattahoochee River

    National Recreation Area Georgia

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  • Rising River Waters Can Kill!

    Watch for rapidly rising river levels on the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries. Water released from dams and heavy rain can turn a day on the river into a tragedy! More »

  • Call for Water Release Schedule

    With colder temperatures you can expect longer and more frequent water releases. For water release schedule info, call 1-855-DAM-FLOW (1-855-326-3569) for Buford Dam and 404-329-1455 for Morgan Falls Dam. Save numbers to your cell! More »

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

red bellied woodpecker ken thomas

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Ken Thomas

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a woodpecker with a tan head and belly, a red patch on the nape of its neck, and black and white barred wings, back and tail. Adults grow to 9.25 inches long with a wingspan of up to 16 inches.z It can be found in woodlands, parks and suburbs. It feeds on the trunks and limbs of trees, eating wood-boring and other insects, also fruit, berries and seeds. It excavates its nests in living trees, or ones that have recently died. It stores its food by wedging it deep in crevices in trees. Its call is a harsh "churr".

Did You Know?

A Rainbow Trout before release - Photo by Russell Virgilio

All Trout have a protective membrane or "slime coat" that covers their scales and is their first line of defense against infection and disease. Damage to this coating can severely hurt the fish. Wetting your hands or limiting contact with the fish increases the likelihood that the fish will survive.