Thursday, November 12, 2020

PHOTOGRAPHER'S !




 We are experiencing such a large number of professional/commercial photographers in the PARK these days with the fall season and cooler weather. To the point that sometimes it can be overwhelming with the numbers, not to mention the difficulty in getting a parking space.

Cobb County does have some rules and requirements pertaining to all of our PARKS. I am showing the rules as they appear on the PARKS website.

Annual Professional Photography Membership Frequently Asked Questions

An Annual Professional Photography Membership is required when conducting photography business on any Cobb County PARKS property.

Q: Is an Annual Professional Photography Membership required to take photos on a park property? A: A membership is required if the photography is part of a business transaction.

Q: How do I obtain an Annual Professional Photography Membership?
A: The Annual Professional Photography Membership is available for purchase on the Cobb County

PARKS website. Select the Memberships tab on the Registration and Reservation page.

The membership is valid for one year from the date of purchase. A paper membership card is available by contacting the Cobb County PARKS main office. You MUST have your membership purchase receipt or your membership card on your person whenever conducting a photo shoot in any Cobb County PARK.

Q: What is the cost of an Annual Professional Photography Membership?
A: Memberships cost $100/year for Cobb County residents and $150/year for non-residents.

Q: Is a membership required to photograph in all parks or just certain ones?
A: An Annual Professional Photography Membership is required when conducting photography

business in any Cobb County park.

Q: Am I allowed to set up props for my photo shoot?
A: Small props may be used only in common areas provided they cause no damage to the grounds and

leave no trace of having been there. The use of tents, canopies, trellises, etc. are permitted but they may NOT be staked into the ground. Any item that requires staking or other type of ground penetration is NOT permitted. Vehicles, wagons, structures or other large items are NOT permitted. Small props may be used only in common areas and not in gardens or other planted areas.

Q: Are the use of special effects like smoke pots, sparklers, glitter or fireworks allowed?
A: Incendiary devices such as smoke pots, sparklers, or fireworks are prohibited. Items such as glitter,

confetti, streamers, etc. that cannot be completely removed by the membership holder prior to leaving the park.

Q: Am I allowed to drive a vehicle onto the property to drop off equipment?
A: Motorized vehicles of any type are not permitted anywhere but in designated parking areas.

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Q: Can I use park buildings, pavilions or other structures?
A: Your membership allows you access to the common areas of the park only. It does not include the

use of or access to buildings, pavilions or other park structures. Your membership does NOT entitle you the exclusive use of any portion of the park. You may NOT impede the use of the park by other park patrons.

Q: Who is required to have an Annual Professional Photography Membership? Wedding photographers? Prom groups? Scout troops? Newspaper reporters? Parents on playgrounds?

A: The membership applies to any commercial enterprise or anyone who is making money photographing on any Cobb County PARKS property. Parents taking pictures of their children or scout troops posing after an event are not be required to have a membership.

Q: Who enforces the membership requirement?
A: You are required to show, upon request, your membership receipt or card to any Cobb County

PARKS staff member or public safety officer. Violations discovered by PARKS staff will be referred to the park rangers who may issue citations which could result in fines.

Q: Does this affect news reporters/journalist? Say there was a blizzard and we wanted to get shots of kids sledding in a park, would we have to pay?

A: No. The 2018 Cobb Communications Policy, which spells out guidelines about media access to public areas would take precedent.

Q: Why was an Annual Professional Photography Membership considered? A: There are a few reasons:

  • Cobb County Code prohibits all commercial activity in any park without an approval.

  • Photographers and businesses were advertising photo packages that included scenic areas of

    Cobb County PARKS properties. They were using Cobb County PARKS properties as backdrops

    for their business.

  • Cobb PARKS was receiving complaints from park patrons that they were being they were

    restricted from using areas of some parks.


    Now everyone knows that they should have a permit if they are taking photographs for money, that makes them a business. I have put this information on all three bulletin boards for all park patrons to read and understand the rules.




Saturday, October 24, 2020



2020 - The most "unusual" year!

Sorry I have been missing in action for all our Blog Follower's, the Green Meadows Bluebird Trail has had little activity as for as tours this year. Due to the COVID all our tours have had to be cancelled. We finally were successful in having a small group on tour for Saturday October 3rd.


Our next scheduled Walk & Talk Tour for the general public is planned for Saturday November 7th. Small number in group, social distancing and MASK required.

Today we got our first Official Flag Pole for the Green Meadows Preserve PARK. Please stop by and pay your respects to Old Gory on your next visit to GMP. All courtesy of a Eagle Scout Project.



The Fall is such a beautiful and magical time of the year, with the change of climate, the leaves changing color and falling from their trees. It truly is the season of music.


We ended the year with 276 fledglings from monitoring 31 NestBoxes. 20 NestBoxes we could not check because they are located on school grounds or senior living campuses. The last birds fledged from NestBox # 2 on August 20th. For the 8 years of the Bluebird Project at Green Meadows Preserve we have fledged 1,866 birds.

I plan to complete one post a month through December of this year, we will be moving all of our post to FaceBook. It is so much faster and easier to post on FaceBook, sorry none FaceBook fans.Look for the address to be in the November posting. 

You can follow us now on the FaceBook page at friendsofgreenmeadowspreserve.com.


Green Meadows Preserve Bluebird Trail, Where Birds Come To Life!

Thanks for supporting us along the Trail.....Jim B






Friday, April 24, 2020

"CANCELED" TOUR

I am very sorry but we have CANCELED the Saturday May 2nd, 2020 Green Meadows Preserve Bluebird Trail Walk & Talk Tour.

I feel it is to soon to bring people back together for any size group for any type of gathering. It is way to soon to let our guard down. 

In this morning's issue of the MDJ front page Cobb County names parks to reopen this Saturday April 25th, please read the guidelines for those of you who plan on visiting one of the PARKS.

In honor of EARTH DAY on Wednesday the 22nd: Our TREE of LIFE is looking good and staying strong.


One hundred-eighty four year old 
Southern Red Oak.


The Bluebirds are very busy with nesting, feeding
and taking care of their young.



The honeysuckle blooming on the 
perch at NestBox # 5

Very recently hatched baby
Chickadee's

A Chickadee Nest made of moss and hair.

They are very hard to see but these are
Tree Swallow eggs. The nest is built of
grass and feathers. 

This one of the parents watching me check the
Tree Swallow nest. They set on the perch
and watch me.

Big Bluebird babies!
Dad feeding an insect to a young Bluebird.
Mom busy building a new nest!

I was able to get an exemption from PARK'S to check boxes and fill feeders with dried mealworms for a period of three hours, once a week during the COVID-19 and PARK'S being closed. Thank you PARKS! As of the completion of checking NestBoxes for this week! 



2020 Quick Summary

                                                                                        
Total Nest Sites = 51                   

Nesting Attempts = 41

Total Eggs = 117

Total Young = 70

Total Fledglings = 20

Please keep in mind that some of the NestBox locations are such that we can't check them because of the COVID-19, such as schools, senior community living locations.

With any good luck we can with everyone doing their part we hope to be able to have our Saturday June 6th Walk and Talk Tour with a much smaller group due to Social Distancing.

Green Meadows Preserve Bluebird Trail, Where Birds Come to Life! 
Thanks for joining us along the Trail.....Jim B


Sunday, March 29, 2020

STAYING HOME!





We are learning how to be better at staying home these days. I sure do miss the PARKS and Community Garden. These are things we so much took for granted all these year!


This was the photo taken on the first day of
Spring Thursday March 19th, 2020 at 9:00am.

This photo was taken the next day on Friday March 20th, 2020
at the same time and same location.

A morning shot of the Trail on I think the last day we were
able to take a walk in the PARK.

Puppy Daisy  my Park buddy and I out for a early walk,
something we may have taken for granted most days.

The new growth and fresh new blooms of the Native Dogwood.




Take care and stay healthy and safe until we are able 
to resume our daily Park & Garden Tours and activity.


Green Meadows Bluebird Trail, Where birds come to life!
Thanks for joining us along the Trail, when the Park is
again open for our walking pleasure.....Jim B

Saturday, March 21, 2020

VERY DIFFERENT TIMES WE ARE GOING THROUGH!

I hope all of our follower's and reader's are safe, healthy and copping with this COVID-19 as best they can.
"CANCELLED"
The April 4th Walk & Talk Tour scheduled for the General Public.


Beautiful Male Bluebird in the Park.



A Full and completed Bluebird Nest.

Five Beautiful Bluebird Eggs

A Full and Complete Carolina Chickadee Nest.


In closing out writing this blog, I thought this was most 
encouraging for these difficult days we are going through.



Green Meadows Preserve Bluebird Trail, Where Birds Come to Life!
Thanks for joining us along the Trail.....Jim B















Thursday, February 6, 2020

NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW BLUEBIRD ACTIVITY!


We are fast approaching the New Year 2020 Nesting Season, this is the beginning of our 8th nesting season for the Bluebird Trail at Green Meadows Preserve PARK.
The Bluebirds are starting to check out the NestBoxes
for the coming nesting season.

The number of birds hatched and fledged
over the past seven years of this project.

                                                                                 

Was waiting for me to fill the birdbath with fresh water!


The Bluebird Trail Walk & Talk Tours!

2020
Dates and Times

April 4th, May 2nd, June 6th

(Saturday morning's 10:00am - 12:00 Noon)
We meet at the outdoor classroom, behind the old white house.

Be sure to bring your own drinking water and wear comfortable shoes
for walking the short and easy .9 mile trail.

For question: Call Jim B 404-202-8755 or jimbearden@bellsouth.net

Green Meadows Preserve Bluebird Trail, Where Birds Come To Life!

Thanks for joining us along the Trail ..... Jim B