DNR outdoor report [Vol. 6, no. 1 (Winter 1991)]

Georgia Department _of Natural Resources

Winter 1991

Vol. 6, No.1

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Don/t Care

Make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund by checking line 26 (long form) or line 6 (short form) on your state income tax form. Your contribution will help the southern bald eagle restoration efforts currently going on throughout the state. Without your help, eagles may vanish - forever- from Georgia.
... Support the Income Tax Checkoff to Help Wildlife

Georgia Nongame Wildlife Program

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Department of Natural Resources



205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334

DNR

Outdoor Report

Vol. 6, No.1

Winter 1991

Contents

Cover photo of green-backed heron is by Karen Lawrence.

Features------------------------------

2 The Cavity Nesters

Cavity nesting birds love mother nature's "ugly" trees- tall, dead or dying trees called snags. As these are removed, man-made nesting structures can help give the cavity nesters a home

6 Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands
Georgia's most recent wildlife lands acquisition is an 8,000-acre parcel of saltmarsh and coastal uplands known as Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands, gained through a partnership between DNR, The Nature Conservancy and Kerr-McGee Corp.
10 Volunteer Recognition
For more than 20 years, volunteers have assisted DNR with vital conservation projects This ongoing feature recognizes those whose time and talents DNR is thankful for

14 The Altamaha Grit Country
Besides its alligator sloughs and swamps, the coastal plain features the unusual Altamaha Grit country, a sandstone outcrop habitat occurring, with just one exception, only in Georgia.

16 Bits'n Pieces

Here's a report on current news from Game and Fish, State Parks and Historic Sites, Environmental Protection and Coastal Resources This edition highlights nongame wildlife.

Departments-------------------------

Coming Attractions

21

Creature Feature: Manatee Update

9

Take a Hike! The Birdberry Trail

12

Georgia's DNR Ourdoor Reporr is published quarterly by the Communications Office of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to promote a better understanding of DNR management and conservation programs. The magazine is distributed as a public service to county and municipal governments, public libraries and schools.
Joe D. Tanner, Commissioner Moses N. McCall, Assisranr Commissioner fo r Public lnformarion; Katherine Thurber, Communicarions Direcror Deobrah Dewberry, Ediror Omar Rasheed, Graphic Producrion Arrisr. Regular contributors: Lisa Dudley , Gib Johnston, Lucy Justus, Kathy Matthews , Thomas Smith, Dottie Sweat, Robin Russell. Editorial offices are at 205 Butler St. S.E. , Suite 1258, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

Zell Miller Governor
Joe D. Tanner Commissioner
The Board of Natural Resources
James Griffin, Jr Chairman, Member-at-Large
Patricia C. Edwards Vice-Chairman, Third District
C. Tom Griffith Secretary, Tenth District
Dolan E. Brown, Jr First District
J. Leonard Eubanks Second District
Linda S. Billingsley Fourth District
E.R. Mitchell, Jr Fifth District
Felker W Ward, Jr Sixth District
C.W. (Sonny) Jackson Seventh District
Curtis Farrar Eighth District
Donald J. Carter Ninth District
Will D. (Billy) Herrin Coastal District
James (Herb) Butler Member-at-Large
Glenn E. Taylor Member-at-Large
John Lanigan Member-at-Large
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Snags like these (left) remain the favored nesting spots of many species of birds, above the pileated woodpecker which often makes its nest in such trees.

The Cavity Nesters

By Gib 1ohnston
I t' s big and ugly and, most often, it's the most obvious part of the scenery Biologists and foresters call it a snag a tall, dead tree or one that is dying from storm, fire or disease. Although it may seem like a blight on the beauty of the woods, nothing else seems to draw wildlife like a snag.
The best ones for birds are more than 40ft. tall, 18 inches in diameter and have more than 40 percent of their bark intact. A few of the major limbs may still be attached, with only a small part of their former length remaining. Occasionally, a snag will be a major limb or secondary trunk that has died . It is generally considered an eyesore and a problem to woodsmen and to property Aesthetically, snags leave much to be desired, but to many species of wildlife they are things of beauty, providing a place to perch, build a nest or feed.
The well-meaning pressur<'.,to harvest large trees , those near the end of their life, interferes with nature's development of snags. This creates a general adverse effect on important species such as woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches and owls. Here is an example of what happens when man interferes with mother nature-when snags that provide nesting sites for woodpeckers are removed, the woodpecker population

Secondary cavity nesters like the tufted titmouse (left) and the bluebird (right) sometimes use abandoned woodpecker holes.

Cavity nesting birds love mother nature's 'ugly trees'- tall, dead, or dying trees known as snags. As these
are increasingly removed, man-made nesting structures can help give the cavity nesters a home.

declines; insects invade the trees; they die and produce snags that are then removed from the woods. This also destroys the nesting sites for owls and hawks that control the populations of mice, rats and other small mammals that also damage trees and crops. The cycle is quite self-destructive for both the trees and the birds. Only the pests benefit.
The Value of Snags
Forest managers have, in recent years, learned the value of snags and today, many forest management plans include the number of snags-per-acre to be left in the woods. Even residential landscape designers are recommending that a snag be left in an otherwise manicured backyard. With landscapers, this is a drastic departure from the past, bui these professionals know that any backyard is greatly enhanced by the presence of bird life.
Man can make up for the loss of snags and their cavities by erecting birdhouses. A birdhouse is simply a man-made nest cavity and, although birdhouses are placed for enjoyment, the result has been that some birds, many of them in peril because of an absence of nesting sites, are once again numerous.
To illustrate this, the effort of Georgia's Nongame Wildlife Program to provide an inexpensive bluehird house, available

for the public, has resulted in more than 20,000 of these houses being placed throughout the state. Today, the eastern bluebird is seen in places where it has not been seen for decades. Bluebirds are not the only species to benefit from artificial nesting sites. Wrens, chickadees, tree swallows, prothonotary warblers, woodpeckers, owls, kestrels, house finches and wood ducks readily accept man-made nesting structures.
Who are the Cavity Nesters?
More than 35 species of birds in Georgia either dig nesting holes in trees, use holes formed by decay or use holes excavated by other species in dead or dying trees. It is unfortunate that these important habitats are often removed from the landscape simply because they don't look good, may harbor insect pests and disease or because they are perceived as interfering with forest management. Elimination of the snags eliminates nesting sites for these birds and, since most of the cavity nesting birds eat insects, much of the inherent natural insect control in the woods is also eliminated.
Among the cavity nesting birds are the amazing woodpeckers. These birds seem to be in constant motion, pecking at almost everything with which they come in contact. They are
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Cavity nesters also include some mammals, such as th e fox.

the nest cavity "builders", but even they are not so bold as to attack a healthy tree. They use trees that exhibit some decay of the heartwood and commonly excavate two or three nest cavities each year They provide the majority of all nest cavities used by other species. The pileated woodpecker, the largest of the group, digs a nest that is as much as one and one-half feet deep, which they enter through a four and onehalf by three and one-half-inch, elliptical hole 40 or more feet up. Pileated woodpeckers seem less variable in their nesting tree requirements than are other woodpeckers. The typical tree for a pileated woodpecker nest is a snag , more than 40 feet tall , with the top broken off.
Both downy and hairy woodpeckers nest frequentl y in the top portion of snags but the smaller downy seems to prefer this location more than the hairy
Red-bellied woodpeckers favor damp sites where mast producing hardwoods are present. For a nesting hole, they choose the dead limb of a living tree. Their entrance hole is also elliptical but much smaller than the pileated' s.
Flickers and red-headed woodpeckers like nests in trees close to open areas. They seem to prefer snags but will use the dead portions of living trees. Flickers will use the abandoned nests of other woodpeckers.
The rarest of the woodpeckers is the red-cockaded
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Examples of cavity nesting birds that have taken readily to man-made nesting structures in Georgia include (from left) the wood duck; bluebirds, and purple martins. For plans to build your own wood duck or bluebird box, or for advice on attracting purple martins or other cavity nesters, please write to DNR at 205 Butler St. S.E., Suite 1258 East, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.
woodpecker and the reason for the bird 's rare status is its strict nesting-tree requirements. It will only nest in a mature pine tree that is infected with a fungus known as red-heart disease. Since most pines are harvested before they reach the age when this di sease attacks, the red-cockaded woodpecker has suffered significantly This bird 's nest hole is most obvious it pecks gum wells in a large area around the nest hole and along the sides of the tree. As the sap oozes out, it forms a sticky, white crust that.,is visible from a di stance. There are many theories about this action, the best of which is that the sticky pine tar protects the nest against snakes and other predators.
Although officially li sted as extinct, there remains a spark of hope that the Ivory-billed woodpecker may yet ex ist in Georgia. This large bird is similar in size and coloration to the

pileated woodpecker. Its rigid nesting requirement, large stands of old hardwood forests, is the most likely reason for its passing. Ivory-billed habitat just does not exist. Nongame biologists are anxious to hear of a very large woodpecker displaying large patches of white on its upper wings. Not one Ivory-billed has been reported in the U.S. for more than 50 years. Some have been reported in Cuba.
'Secondary' Cavity Nesters
The so-called "secondary cavity nesters" are the birds that use for their nest an abandoned woodpecker hole or some natural cavity Some of these birds are quite well known, such as the wood duck. The wood duck requires a large cavity, much larger than that made by a woodpecker so they use natural cavities and take readily to man-made nest structures. In many areas, the well-being of this bird is dependent on the availability of man-made nest-boxes.
Both black and turkey vultures will nest in a cavity in a tree but tree nesting is limited by their large size. Most vulture nesting is near the ground in rotted stumps or under fallen logs. Some of our falcons are cavity nesters. The kestrel and the merlin often use abandoned woodpecker cavities. Screech owls and barred owls usually choose tree cavities as both nesting and roosting sites. Screech owls seem to prefer old pileated woodpecker cavities.
Two former cavity nesters have largely abandoned their natural cavity nesting ways in favor of man-made structures. The chimney swift now uses , as the name implies, chimneys.

Purple martins have taken to the nesting gourds and houses provided for them.
Great-crested flycatchers nest around the edge of the woods in most any cavity they can find. Chickadees use the abandoned holes of the smaller woodpeckers but will excavate their own holes if the wood is soft enough- as will the white-breasted, red-breasted and brown-headed nuthatches. Tufted titmice use natural cavities or woodpecker holes. Bluebirds nest in abandoned woodpecker holes or in the artificial nesting boxes provided for them.
One of our warblers is a cavity-nester The prothonotary warbler, considered by many to be our most beautiful bird, nests in woodpecker cavities or in a cavity created where the bark is beginning to pull away from a snag. This bright yellow bird prefers the moist conditions of southern swampland.
Mammals and reptiles also use tree cavities. Mammals use them for both nesting and shelter while reptiles use them only for shelter. Among the mammals using cavities are raccoons, opossums, fox, bobcats, mice, rats, squirrels and flying squirrels.
With observation of snags and the activity associated with them, it becomes obvious that these once magnificent living trees continue to serve the environment long after their death. It is important that we, as stewards of natural resources, be aware of the role of this important element of our ecosystem and when possible, preserve the snags of the forest. Man seems to be learning the wisdom of Ecclesiastes , where it is suggested that "for every thing, there is a reason." Even for snags.
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By Dottie Sweat
A s the afternoon sun sinks low over coastal Georgia, it casts an amber glow on the marshes that blends in perfect harmony with the deep blue of the intracoastal waterways, the dark green cedars and pines rooted in the hammocks, and the crystal clear winter sky A familiar and often taken for granted sight to some, this daily display of coastal beauty inspires awe in many a visitor and coastal resident.
Wildlife abounds in these coastal areas, from the shrimp and fish in the creeks to the fiddler crabs and herons in the marshes to the racoons and deer of the creekside forest. And they all have one thing in common the ecological balance and preservation of these coastal areas is pertinent to their survival.
Georgia's coastal marshlands are among the most extensive and productive marshland systems in the U.S. Thriving in the nutrient-rich waters of the estuaries, Georgia's marshlands encompass approximately 475,000 acres in a four- to six-mile band behind the barrier islands. Protection of these areas is imperative to ensure the continued survival of many species and to provide residents and visitors with opportunities to enjoy and learn from these areas.
Fortunately, Georgia's coastal marshlands, beaches and dunes receive a high degree of protection from the state. In fact, Georgia has one of the least developed and
Little Tybee and
Cabbage Islands
Georgia's Newest Wildlife Lands
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most protected shorelines on the entire

eastern seaboard. The Georgia General

Assembly provided for the wiser use of

these areas through the establishment of

two laws: the Coastal Marshlands Pro-

tection Act of 1970 and the Shore Assis-

tance Act of 1979.

...

As a part of the state's commitment to

the protection of these areas, state law al-

lows the Georgia Department of Natural

Resources (DNR) to purchase and/or lease

unique areas such as these coastal ecosys-

tems and to preserve them for the benefit of

all Georgians.

The most recent acquisition through this

program is a parcel of approximately 8,000

acres ofcoastal marshes and uplands known

as Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands.

The islands and surrounding marshlands

and hammocks were purchased thanks to a

generous and mutually beneficial agree-

ment between DNR, The Nature Conser-

vancy, and the Kerr-McGee Corp.

Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands are

located in the extreme northeastern portion

of Chatham County, near Savannah, south

ofTybee Island and fronting Wassaw Sound

and the Atlantic Ocean. The land was

purchased in the 1960s by the Kerr-McGee

Corp., which intended to strip mine the area

for phosphate deposits. Public outcry, which

ultimately prompted the passage of the

Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, put a

halt to these plans, and the area has been

undisturbed but for the birders, boaters,

canoers and campers attracted to the area.

the purchase in 1991. The initial installment gives DNR immediate control over all the lands in the parcel and legally binds the state to preserve the area for wildlife habitat and public recreational use.
Though the state has five years to pay for the land, completing the purchase in 1991 could save the state up to $100,000 in annual land rental fees. DNR has asked state legislators for $1.3 million to complete the package.
About the Islands
Cabbage Island is a 1,334-acre parcel made up primarily of marshlands. Little Tybee Island consists of 6,785 acres, of which approximately 600 are high ground. The rest of Little Tybee, as with Cabbage Island, is primarily marsh. The area does contain several large hammocks of note, including Petit Chou and Twin Palms.
(Continued on next page)

The Agreement
In 1989, Kerr-McGee Corp. began negotiations with The Nature Conservancy to protect the area. Under the agreement, the land was donated to The Nature Conservancy with the condition that The Nature Conservancy in turn sell the land to the state. Included in the agreement was a stipulation that the proceeds from the sale be used to help purchase and protect a 50,000-acre tall grass prairie preserve in Oklahoma (Kerr-McGee Corp.'s home state). The arrangement, therefore, provides for the protection of not one, but two, unique natural areas.
Under the purchase agreement, DNR agreed to pay The Nature Conservancy $1.5 million over a five-year period. This price is significantly below the appraisal values, which ranged from $3 million to $6.6 million. DNR made the first $250,000 installment in June and hopes to complete

One of the first projects DNR plans on Little Tybee Island is a survey of the area's piping plover population. Little Tybee is one of the only known nesting grounds for the threatened bird. Opposite. the area as viewed from the air

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Pines, cedars, cabbage palms and wax myrtle are the primary fauna of the area's high ground. The marshes are mostly Spartina parens; Spartina alterniflora (commonly called smooth cordgrass); juncus (commonly called saltmarsh needlegrass); and panic grass, depending on the salinity and saturation of the area. Both the uplands and the marshes shelter a wide array of animal life, from deer and opossums to marsh hens and spotted sea trout.
Little Tybee Island has historical value as well. Archaeologists have discovered remains of an Indian village estimated to be between 800 and I,000 years old. Shell rings left on the island by the Indians date back more than 2,000 years.
Little Tybee is also one of the only known nesting grounds for the threatened piping plover. This tiny bird, known for its bell-like call , migrates to southern barrier islands each winter to bear its young in the state 's mild climate.
One of the first projects planned in the area is a piping plover survey Sponsored by DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the survey will be conducted on

Partners in Preservation
"The purchase ofLittle Tybee and Cabbage Islands from The Nature Conservancy and Kerr-McGee Corp. proves that state, businesses and conservation groups can work together to preserve ournatural heritage," says John Sawhill, president of The Nature Conservancy
The Conservancy's long-term commitment to the Georgia coast has included the protection of Wassaw, Ossabaw WolfandEgglslands. The Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has now preserved 144,000 acres in Georgia.
an international basis and will mark the first time a I00 percent survey of wintering piping plover populations has been attempted.
Volunteers, along with DNR, USFWS , and National Park Service personnel, will patrol the barrier island beaches by foot,

boat,airplane and all-terrain vehicle to make a thorough count of the piping plover populations in the area. Information gained in this survey will help biologist determine the status of this species.
Plans for the Area
At this point, DNR has no firm plans for Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands aside from maintaining the areas in their natural state and protecting them from development, mining or other exploitations. Some of the options that have been proposed for the land include designation as a wildlife management area, creation of low-impact camping and recreation sites, or dedication as a primitive area.
Whatever its use, outdoor recreational users can expect to have continued access to Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands for picnicking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, camping and other low-impact uses.
Through future purchases, such as the purchase of Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands, DNR strives to continue preserving natural areas around the state for the enjoyment and benefit of all Georgians.

Georgia's Nongame Wildlife Program
Keeping Georgia Wild!

B y the end of the 1990s, Georgians will lose more than two million acres of rich natural areas - areas that offer a home to hundreds of species of animals and plants. Currently only eight percent of the state is protected and will never be developed.
The Georgia Nongame Wildlife Program is working to keep Georgia wild! The Nongame Wildlife Program is helping to fund the acquisition of Little Tybee and Cabbage Islands to be protected by the Department of Natural Resources.
If you are concerned about our disappearing natural resources and vanishing wildlife, you can help too! Make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund through the State Income Tax Checkoff. Use line 26 (long form) or line 6 (short form) on the state tax form to contribute a portion of your refund. Or, mail your contribution today in the envelope attached to page 19. Your contribution will be used to continue land acquisition projects and many other programs that will protect, preserve and manage Georgia's nongame wildlife.

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Georgia's Nongame Wildlife Program ...
Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler St. S.E., Suite 1258 East Tower
Atlanta, Ga. 30334

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Creature Feature:
Manatee Update
By Thomas Smith
D uring winter, endangered West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) are found in south Georgia waterways where they enjoy warm water temperatures and escape heavy boat traffic. The State of Georgia's plans to upgrade the quality of the North River in the region once threatened to destroy the warm waters the gentle "sea cow" had come to depend on. To protect the manatees ' winter sanctuary, DNR, other government agencies and a paper manufacturer developed a unique plan to construct a warm water basin for these special animals, to preserve their winter sanctuary
A year ago, DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Gilman Paper Co., a St. Marys-based pulp and paper mill , along with the U.S. EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborated on the concept of a warm water basin ("corral") for the mammals. The project was completed in September 1989 and will make sure the warm water environment the manatees need remains constant. The basin is located near the Gilman plant in the waters of Georgia's North River, a tributary of the St. Marys River.
"We believe this is the first warm water refuge created specifically to benefit the endangered manatee," says Michael Harris, a wildlife biologist for DNR 's Coastal Resources Division, based in Brunswick. "We value this gentle creature and wanted to do whatever could be done to save it from harm. As a result of the basin plan, the North River will continue as wintering habitat for the manatee."
Fish and Wildlife specialists and Gilman Paper Co. employees discovered that the manatees moved into this portion of the North River primarily in late December through February Pods of Florida manatees have adopted the Gilman plant's warm water discharges. The location is an excellent winter refuge for the mammals because it is an area with low boat traffic and plentiful, smooth cordgrass (Spartina alternijlora), their principal food while in Georgia.

Basin Called for Restructuring Plans
To upgrade the North River, the state had planned to relocate Gilman Paper 's discharge location about two miles downstream from where the manatees gathered to spend the winter. The project also would have required that the company implement an interrupted discharge schedule to improve tidal flushing . Fish and Wildlife officials pointed out that the plan would adversely affect manatees that had become accustomed to a steady supply of warm water. Without it, they could die from hypothermia during the winter or be forced further south, where heavier boat traffic would probably result in increased mortality
"We do not know the exact number of manatees in the southeastern United States, but intensive aerial surveys at warm water refuges counted a minimum of 1,200," says Robert Turner Manatee Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In northeast Florida and Georgia, the number of manatees may be declining due to chronic loss of adult manatees to boat and barge collisions, coupled with naturally low reproduction rates. Manatees that roam beyond Florida in the summer and fail to return by winter rarely survive if they do not have a warm water refuge where they can spend the winter.
"Therefore, we were very enthusiastic about developing the basin to protect the manatee in Georgia waters. We know that manatees that stay in Georgia have a better chance at surviving winter because of the basin," Turner says.
Gilman Financed Basin Cost
Although DNR and the Fish and Wildlife Service played key roles, Gilman Paper Co. made required changes in its wastewater discharge permit to accommodate the manatee "corral." Officials of the company supported the plan and financed its entire cost.
"As soon as the Fish and Wildlife Service suggested the plan, we committed our complete support to the project," says Lawrence Johnson, process control superintendent for Gilman. "Our engineers immediately started work on the design. I personally wanted to help because I have often seen and photographed the manatees swimming near the plant. These peaceful animals deserve to be protected"
Gilman spent $100,000 to build the "corral" a 60-by-100ft. , rectangular structure, made of steel piling. It is provided with a continuous flow of 1.44 million gallons a day has of warm water discharges from Gilman 's industrial treatment plant. The wastewater is diverted from Gilman 's normal daily discharge of a little more than 41 mgd. Gilman officials believe the basin could accommodate more than 25 manatees during the typical two- to three-month period of "overwintering"
In addition to providing the warm water discharges for the basin, Gilman Paper Co. has relocated the discharge of its wastewater effluent to a point where better dilution into the North River can take place, to improve water quality Gilman also will inject oxygen into the North River to ensure the waterway's oxygen content is adequate for plants and animals living in the stream.
This successful partnership between state and federal agencies and private industry has resulted in a victory for the manatee.
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Game and Fish Division Director David Waller (left) congratulates DNR Parks Region Ill naturalist Bill Sullivan on being named Project WILD Facilitator of the Year Also pictured (right) is lrv Dykstra of the Safari Club International, which sponsors the award.

Volunteer Recognition
By Thomas Smith
M any programs and activities of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are successful because the dedicated work of a special group of people make them successful. These people are known as volunteers. For more than 20 years, volunteers have assisted DNR with.countless projects the protection of endangered animals and plants, enhancement of beaches, daily operation of parks, restoration of historic relics and presentation of educational workshops and the list goes on.
In future issues of DNR Outdoor Report, the magazine will recognize worthy volunteers and detail their contributions. Here are the first group of special volunteers:
'Turtle Lady' of the Coast
Virginia Gunn, a former host of television 's PM Magazine, concentrates her energies on assisting DNR's Coastal Resources Division with sea turtle recovery projects.
Ms. Gunn has taken an active role in the Division's Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN), patrolling the beach in her Turtle Recovery Unit, which covers portions of St. Simons Island's beach. In her daily treks , she often distributes DNR brochures and pamphlets dealing with sea turtles and coastal ecology She welcomes any questions from the public while on her rounds, and her dedication to saving sea turtles on public beaches has earned her the nickname, 10

"Turtle Lady " In another role, Ms. Gunn assisted the Coastal Resources Division ' s 1990 Sea Turtle Index Nesting Beach Survey, a joint project between DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She is very close to her subject, since she makes her home on St. Simons Island. Thanks, Virginia Gunn. Your efforts have helped sea turtles survive!
Cumberland's Champion for Wildlife
As a resident of Cumberland Island, Carol Ruckdeschel has been involved in research to promote the protection of endangered animals on the island for over 10 years. She has done important conservation work in the Wilderness Area on the north end of the island.
Ms. Ruckdeschel has almost single-handedly built the Cumberland Island Museum, a repository for animal specimens that can be used for comparative study by researchers focusing on the island's pristine ecosystem. The museum ' s walls and roof are up, but plenty of work remains to be done, something familiar to Ms. Ruckdeschel. She formed the first systematic survey for sea turtle strandings in the country in 1979, a forerunner of the STSSN, which was organized by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 1980. Ms. Ruckdeschel patrols Cumberland 's 17-mile beach several times a week, reporting to DNR any turtle or other marine mammal strandings. She also conducts research on several projects to encourage and record the survival of coastal wildlife. Thanks for caring, Ms. Ruckdeschel.
Project WILD Volunteer 'Extraordinaire'
Bill Sullivan has been a nahiralist for over 16 years. His experiences and involvement with nature and the environment have taken him to New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Sullivan currently works for DNR 's Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division, and DNR officials have praised his expertise and dedication to the Department's causes as an employee and volunteer facilitator.

Mr Sullivan is one of the most active and successful volunteers in DNR's nature and environmental program, Project WILD. As a Project WILD facilitator since 1983, he has voluntarily given more than 40 workshops to 450 teachers and scout and youth leaders. During some workshops, Mr. Sullivan has used his own resources to provide refreshments for people attending the workttops. He uses his knowledge of nature and the environment expertly, utilizing science, math , social studies and history to educate teachers and others. He makes the task much easier for instructors to educate their students about nature and the environment.
Mr. Sullivan's greatest reward, other than sharing his knowledge with others, was bestowed upon him when he was chosen as the 1990 Georgia "Facilitator of the Year" This statewide award is given to the facilitator/volunteer who has reached the greatest number of educators and has also greatly furthered the overall goals of Project WILD. DNR appreciates his willingness to educate Georgia residents on nature and environmental issues.
A Leader in Conservation Causes
Since its founding in 1928, the Cherokee Garden Club, a unit of The Garden Clubs of Georgia, Inc., has exemplified leadership among Garden Clubs in promoting the conservation of many beautiful, endangered species of plants. Headquartered in Atlanta's Buckhead residential section, the organization's endeavors have ranged from cultivating landscape beauty that is permanent (the gardens at Egleston Hospital for Children; the Atlanta Botanical Garden) and temporary (small and major flower shows) to raise funds for worthy causes and pioneer efforts in conservation.
During the 1990 A Harvest of Efforts flower show held at Atlanta's History Center, the Cherokee Garden Club won the coveted Marion Thompson Fuller Brown Conservation Award, one of many received by the organization. Winning the award bolstered the Garden Club's expectations of future efforts to make a positive difference in the Atlanta community
Carol Ruckdeschel has been active in endangered species protection on Cumberland Island for more than a decade .

Virginia Gunn assists DNR with sea turtle recovery projects.
and beyond. During many events, the Cherokee Garden Club enlists the support and assistance of DNR.
Parks' Instructors, Greeters and Guides
Patty Guy has been a volunteer "instructor" and "greeter/ guide" at Panola Mountain State Conservation Park in Stockbridge since 1986. Panola staff members describe her as a tremendous worker and an asset to the surrounding community In her volunteer role, Ms. Guy arranges and teaches environmental education programs, assists with special events and greets visitors to the park. She has participated in nearly 100 educational lectures/programs, including the "Mother Nature", "Mom and Me" and "Rock Outcrop Ecology" educational programs.
Margaret Paschel also has served as an "instructor" and "greeter/guide" at Panola since 1982. She is regarded as one of the key people who has fostered the park's environmental education activities, which were begun about the time she became a volunteer. She routinely assists park staff in the Nature Center office and provides weekend storytelling programs. Ms. Paschel's ability to conduct workshops without the assistance of park staff is but one of her "terrific" contributions. She works wonderfully with children and adult park visitors.
Judy Waters has served in many volunteer capacities at Panola since 1983. Ms. Waters began working as an office helper. With her enthusiasm and friendly nature, she soon became a greeter and summer day camp instructor. Later, she became a seasonal naturalist for several seasons. After retiring from her naturalist position, Ms. Waters continued as a valuable volunteer. Since she has been exposed to all aspects of the park's educational efforts, she is able to assist with any public program. Ms. Waters is truly a versatile and valuable volunteer.
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Take A Hike ...
Will-A-Way's
Birdberry Trail
By Lisa Dudley
N ature trails provide some of the finest outdoor recreational experiences available in Georgia. Our trails include the beginning of the famous 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail and Vogel's Byron Herbert Reece trail, both in the northeast; the Sequoyah nature trail at New Echota in northwest Georgia; and in the south, the Okefenokee's Trembling Earth nature trail and the Gopher Tortoise Trail at Seminole State Park. On these trails, hundreds of plant and animal species flourish. DNR 's Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites Division is always looking for ways to make the public's experience enjoyable. Nature and hiking trails help

people appreciate the abundant and diverse natural habitats found in Georgia. The newest nongame project at Will-AWay Recreation Area, a part of FortYargo State Park near Winder, offers a uniquely enjoyable experience for visitors.
How Will-A-Way Got Started
Will-A-Way Recreation Area was established in 1970 especially for handicapped or persons with disabilities or handicapped circumstances. Through funds made available by the State of Georgia, the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and a grant from the contingency reserve of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the park ' s many distinct facilities were developed.
The area within Ft. Yargo features specially designed hardsurfaced walks, concrete ramps, doors that accommodate wheelchairs, as well as cottages, a swimming pool and sunbathing beach, picnic area, a 261-acre lake, boat dock and fishing area, all of which are handicapped-accessible. Will-AWay's group camp area is an excellent place for a meeting, retreat or residence camp program outings. During the year, workshops, conferences and other activities are conducted. These have included environmental education, allied health services and continuing education programs. The park is also home base to Georgia's State Camping Program for the Handicapped, which has involved over 20,000 participants since it was begun in 1975.
According to Sharon Fitzgerald, Will-A-Way 's recreation administrator, the area was the first of its kind in the nation. Many changes have begun to take place at Will-A-Way, one of the most important being a nature trail which is now accessible to everyone.

The Will-A-Way Recreation Area' s Birdberry Trail is part of Fort Yargo State Park in Winder Above, the historic fort , opposite , a portion of the scenic Birdberry Trail.
12

The Birdberry Trail
As part of Georgia ' s Nongame Wildlife Program, this one half-mile trail is being rennovated to serve the needs of special populations. The Birdberry Trail is part of Will-A-Way ' s handicapped-accessible area. The trail itself is almost 20 years old, and will be a major focus of a 20th-anniversary rededication ceremony next June.
According to DNR Regional Naturalist Bill Sullivan, the Birdberry Trail is named for its abundance of berry bearing plants and other wildlife food sources, as well as its hardwood area and numerous honeysuckle vines, grapevines and muscadines. "There are many animal species at Will-A-Way," Sullivan says. "The park's unique natural area provides an ideal haven for birds like cardinals, bluejays and mockingbirds," he adds .
The looped trail will include a marsh platform observation area, a new bridge designed for easier wheelchair accessibility to and from the trail, natural ornamental and landscaping plants for wildlife, a "kiosk" for interpretation and a gazebo for resting and shelter Among the trail's many educational features are the interpretive panels that describe what anyone can expect to find on the Birdberry Trail, Sullivan points out.
What elements were considered when developing the trail? According to Sullivan, three major factors were taken into consideration, including attracting wildlife; removal of plants that are untouchable (thorn-bearing or poisonous); and landscaping the area along the trail. Wildlife interpretive

themes were developed based on the plants and animals of the area, on area birds, and on aquatic marsh life, which would be highlighted. A number of volunteers, including youth groups and families, assisted Atlanta-based Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) with the clearing of the nature trail.
The Garden Club of Georgia Gets Involved
Approximately five years ago, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. (GCGI) began assisting DNR with several nongame related projects, including beautification areas, wildflower meadows and observation platforms along nature trails which would be used to educate school groups and other organizations. The Garden Club's involvement with the Birdberry Trail started with the sale of their annual Christmas Gems cookbook. The first printing of this publication did so remarkably well that the members of the GCGI decided to order another printing right away "We had wanted to work with Will-A-Way for some time," says Peggy White, president of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. , adding that it was through the initial printing of the cookbook that a cooperative DNR/Garden Club effort resulted. A portion of the money raised through sales of the first cookbook was used to fund the entrance of the Will-A-Way Recreation Area.
Through the years, Will-A-Way had experienced a lot of wear and tear from groups using the facility One of the ways that the Garden Club wanted to assist was by beautifying the entrance. "One objective of the Garden Club is to beautify Georgia," offers White. "We wanted to be involved in the

enhancement of Will-A-Way because we felt that no one should be denied the enjoyment of nature because of a handicap."
The enhancement of Will-A-Way's entrance is the first phase of the rededication of the Birdberry Trail. Nearly $10,000 has been set aside to fund construction of the nature trail at Will-A-Way Of this, approximately $2,000 was donated by the City of Winder toward the trail project. The Georgia Association of Landscape Design Appraisers (GALDA) and The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. donated additional funds. Crossties were donated by CSX Transportation. This past November, Will-A-Way Recreation Area and The Garden Club of Georgia's Laurel District hosted a park beautification program to officially dedicate the new entrance. "We hope the entrance of this trail can be a part of what the Garden Club shares which is the beauty of nature," White says. She adds that The Garden Club hopes to create a new beauty spot with native plants and grasses at the end of the trail and post several bird feeders, as well.
Will-A-Way's future looks very bright. DNR park staff, Garden Club members, invited guests and the general public will gather on June 22, 1991, for the 20th Anniversary of this special recreation area, during which the Birdberry Trail will be rededicated. For more information about the Birdberry Trail or Will-A-Way Recreation Area, contact Sharon Fitzgerald at (404) 867-5313 . Or, write Will-A-Way Recreation Area in care of Fort Yargo State Park, P.O. Box 764, Winder, Georgia 30680.
13

Altamaha Grit Country
An Unusual South Georgia Habitat

Georgia's most extensive "grit" habitat occurs near Broxton in Coffee County (above), where rocks separated by crevices provide moist,
shaded habitat for rare ferns .
14

I magine Georgia's coastal plain with its sand dunes, ocean beaches, blackwater rivers, buttressed cypress trees, woodstork rookeries and of course, alligator sloughs and swamps. Another coastal plain scene is just as colorful and unusual, yet far less known. This is the sandstone outcrop habitat - distinct exposures of hardened sands and gritty clays in south

Georgia. In fact, small pebbles of "grit" can be found throughout most of Georgia's upper middle coastal plain. Such "grit" material is water-worn, irregular in size and shape, and weathers to dark reddish brown.
In the area from Burke, Tattnall and Washington Counties, southwesterly to Decatur County, there are over 200 discrete rock outcrops. The ledges ofrock and slopes of strewn boulders can be seen on hillsides along present-day watercourses. The formation of the more resistant beds probably occurred some 13 to 20 million years ago during the Miocene Epoch. The Miocene is the age during which vast grasslands with grazing animals and large seas with marine mammals first appeared.
Geologically, Georgia's coastal plain sandstone outcrops are part ofthe Altamaha Formation or Altamaha Grit, which underlies about 25,000 square miles of the upper middle coastal plain. Although the typical "grit" is found throughout the entire area, it was only the coarsest sand that hardened into sandstone flatrocks and boulders to form the special outcrop habitat. The entire region is a part of Georgia's rolling wiregrass country, and the natural vegetation surrounding the grit outcrops is typically an open pine woodland occupied by occasional gopher tortoises. The more pristine "grit" outcrops are surrounded by native longleafpine-wiregrass vegetation or slash pine flatwoods. Unfortunately, several of the outcrops are now surrounded by pine plantations, and much of the wiregrass has disappeared due to fire suppression, overgrazing, introduction of exotic and more competitive pasture grasses, or intensive site preparation prior to the planting of commercially grown pine seedlings.
A few outstanding examples of "grit" outcrop habitat remain intact. Such habitats are several million years younger than middle Georgia's granite flatrocks, yet an intriguing flora has evolved. Rare plants are found on Altamaha Grit outcrops, including two species that are restricted to this habitat type. The featherleaf beardtongue (Penstemon dissectus), an attractive member of the foxglove family, occurs only in Georgia. A species of Barbara's buttons (Marshallia ramosa) extends into
panhandle' Florida, where the only example
of the Altamaha Formation occurs outside of Georgia. Besides these native plants, about 15 other flowering plants or ferns found on these outcrops are considered rare in Georgia.

Coffee County's 'Grit' Country
Perhaps the most extensive "grit" habitat occurs near Broxton in Coffee County In this area, the Altamaha Formation has eroded into large blocks separated by 30foot-deep crevices. These narrow passageways provide moist, shaded gNwing conditions for two rare ferns. The delicate filmy fern (Trichomanes petersii) normally occurs on acidic rocks in the southern Appalachians, whereas the shoestring fern (Vittaria lineata) normally produces its shoestring-like, spore-producing leaf only in the subtropics. The rock walls also provide a home for the greenfly orchid (Epidendrum conopseum), which normally grows on trees. Several other rare plants have been discovered only on the Altamaha Grit outcrops in Georgia, including a morning glory and a portulaca, the latter apparently a record for North America, as the species is otherwise native in the Caribbean.
The sandstone communities ofGeorgia's coastal plain are picturesque gardens of seasonal color. In fall, just as the granite habitats in the piedmont tum yellow with Stone Mountain daisies (Viguiera porteri), the sandstone outcrops of the Altamaha Formation tum yellow with another member of the daisy family, the rayless goldenrod (Bigelowia nuttallii). In fact, this species, with its basal rosettes ofdeep green linear leaves, serves as an indicator of the outcrop habitat during most of the year.
Impacts and Protection
The "grit" outcrops are impacted by several human disturbances. All terrain vehicles (ATVs), trash dumping, and unsuitable forestry practices with intensive site preparation on shallow soils are the major threats to this fragile environment. The surrounding native longleaf pinewiregrass community is disappearing due to decreased traditional burning ofpineland and control of all natural fires. The native slash pine flatwoods are being drained and converted to commercial pine plantations.
The Freshwater Wetlands and Heritage Inventory Program of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) documents rare plant, animal and natural community occurrences. For example, whenever suitable Altamaha Grit outcrops are found, comparisons are made with all the known examples, and the best of the remaining habitats are considered potential projects for efforts to preserve natural areas in Georgia. Sometimes measures are taken

on state lands to protect such habitats: also, other conservation agencies and organizations may be called upon to pursue protection efforts on other lands.
Notable attributes of the coastal plain sandstone outcrops include aesthetic appeal, rare plant associations,foraging habitat for animals of surrounding sandhills, and the fact that, with only one exception, the habitat is found only in Georgia. To the
phytogeographer (one who studies the distribution of plant species) the sandstone outcrops of the Altamaha Grit Country provide opportunities to contrast floras on sandstone and granite, as well as to study numerous examples of unusual plants. No other state can boast of such expanses of residual, cross-bedded deposits laid down by rivers during the Miocene Epoch. The "grit" region is one of the best examples of a unique habitat in Georgia. Hopefully, a few outcrops will be managed to preserve some of the natural diversity still apparent in south Georgia.

The featherleaf heardtongue is an attractive member of the foxglove family, occurring only in Georgia' s sandstone outcrop community.

15

Bits 'n Pieces Spotlight: Nongame Wildlife
OfNews from throughout DNR

Biologists assume dairy wetlands like these will be just as attractive to wildlife as ecologically-productive natural wetlands.

Dairy Wetlands

Provide Habitat

A n innovative new project designed by the U.S Department of Agriculture ' s Soil Conservation Service to treat wastewater from agricultural operations has the potential of not only improving water quality in Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, but also providing new wetland habitats for wildlife.
The Wetland Assimilation ofDairy Effluent (WADE) program currently consists oftwo constructed wetland sites at dairy farms in Putnam County Animal waste-laden water from storage lagoons enters a series of three shallow impoundments that simulate a natural wetland; as the water trickles from one impoundment to another through a series of pipes and weirs, microorganisms and aquatic plants break down animal waste and assimilate harmful substances.
Biologists from the Game and Fish 16

Division and Georgia College are currently monitoring both impoundments to determine wildlife usage. Natural wetlands are among the most productive of ecosystems in overall plant and animal diversity; the biologists studying these sites assume that the constructed wetlands will be just as attractive to wildlife.
Eventually theWADE program may be incorporated into the approximately 200 dairy hog and chicken operations in the five-county Lake Sinclair-Lake Oconee basin. Funding and materials for the project have been provided by the Oconee River Resource Conservation Development Council, DNR 's Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Power Co.
-Dwight Harley

DNR Sponsors
Nongame Wildlife
Poster Contest!
D NR'sNongameWildlifeProgram and The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia are cosponsoring a poster contest for school children in kindergarten through fifth grade, during the 1990-1991 school year The contest was intended to heighten awareness of nongame wildlife and how everyone can play a role in conserving this valuable resource.
"We hope the Give Wildlife a Chance! poster contest will be an incentive in getting both school teachers and children interested in all aspects of nongame wildlife conservation. We encourage all schools to make the poster contest a prominent event," says Terry Johnson, Nongame Program coordinator for DNR's Game and Fish Division.
Each school will hold the contest and select a winner from four divisions: Kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade and fifth grade. The Nongame Program and The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia will coordinate judging of one state winner from each division. One overall winner will be chosen from the four state finalists at the Weekend for Wildlife, February 8 through I 0 at The Cloister on Sea Island. Graphics Atlanta and Southeastern Colour Lithograph of Athens have offered to print the poster, which will be distributed statewide.
For more information on the contest, contact the Nongame Program at Rte. 3, Box 1&(), Forsyth, Ga. 31 029 or The State Botanical Gardens, at 2450 South Milledge Ave., Athens, Ga. 30605. Or, those interested may call DNR at (912)994-1438; or the Botanical Gardens at (404)542-1244.
-Robin Russell

The Subject is Snappers

Snappers grow to be the largest freshwater turtles in the western hemisphere.
D NR 's Game and Fish Division recently completed field work for a two-year study on the Alligator snapping turtle of South Georgia. The turtle is found throughout the southeastern U.S. in rivers and creeks that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. It grows to be the largest freshwater turtle in the western hemisphere. The largest specimen on record was found in southwest Georgia in the late 1970s, and weighed in at (a whopping!) 316 lbs .

The Georgia study was initiated during spring 1989 to determine the population density of alligator snappers on the Flint River between the fall line and Lake Seminole. The area was heavily trapped to supply turtle meat to the soup industry during the 1970s and there is concern that the species may have been severely overharvested. Over 4,000 turtles are believed to have been captured for market from the Flint River between 1970 and 1983.
Preliminary results of the study indicate most of the remaining turtles are fairly small (three to 86 lbs.). They are thought to represent turtles that were not large enough to be processed for meat in the 1970s and were released from the commercial traps at that time. Initial population density estimates from study data indicate a population ofaround three turtles per linear river mile exists at present. This is in sharp contrast to much higher pre-1970 populations. The biggest threat to the turtles now appears to be siltation and trotlines and set hooks set for catfish.
-Steve Johnson

Good Reading for Wildlife
A ttracting Wildlife to Your Backyard in Georgia is the title of a 54page, full color book featuring original line drawings and written by DNR interpretive naturalists and wildlife biologists. The publication will give the Georgia homeowner, or anyone wishing to attract wildlife, a number of practical tips on how to entice wildlife to your backyard. Chapters will cover, among many other topics, attracting and feeding birds; creating a butterfly

Falcon Silhouette Available

This falcon silhouette is designed to keep the birds from flying into windows.
A new falcon silhouette for your window is now available from DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program.

Birds are often injured or even killed when they fly into windows. Usually, these collisions occur at certain locations like the window closest to a bird feeder. The accidents take place for many reasons, for example, birds being chased into the window or being "fooled" by reflections ofthe surrounding landscape.
Those interested can help reduce this danger by placing the falcon silhouette on the inside of any window where bird strikes have taken place in the past. The silhouette has a 13.5-inch "wingspan" and is perfect for most size windows. To obtain a falcon silhouette, or for more information on creating safe habitat for birds or feeding birds, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Nongame Wildlife Program, in care of the Game and Fish Division, Rte. 3 Box 280, Forsyth, Ga. 31029 oreal! (912)9941438.

garden; hummingbirds; wildflowers; and how to deal with "problem" animal guests.
The book is a Georgia State Parks projects, coordinated by chief interpretive naturalist Chuck Gregory Contributing authors include DNR wildlife biologist Terry Johnson, who coordinates the state's Nongame Wildlife Program; Jerry McCollum, director ofthe Georgia Wildlife Federation, and Jerry Hightower, naturalist for the U.S. Park Service. The book will be available at all 64 Georgia state parks and historic sites and will cost approximately $5. Be sure to get in line for your copy!
17

This stranded manatee was rescued by DNR' s Coastal Resources Division. It later swam away.
Marine Mammal Stranding Symposium Held in Athens

A t the Marine Mammal Stranding Symposium held October 5-6 at the University ofGeorgia, approximately 100 people from various state and federal agencies and other groups gathered to focus on the status of marine mammals and stranding occurrences in Georgia.
To date, there have been 19 different species of marine mammals spotted in Georgia; 15 species of whales and dolphins, three species of pinnipids (seals and sea lions); and the manatee. By far the most common species are dolphins, manatees and whales. From time to time, these animals strand, or beach, themselves on Georgia's beaches. Sometimes, the cause is obvious (i.e. hit by a boat, tangled in a net), but often the cause is unknown. In cooperation with various state and federal agencies, the National Marine Fisheries Service operates the Marine Mammal Stranding and Salvaging Network which helps biologist learn more about this unusual occurrence.
The Symposium was sponsored by the University of Georgia Museum of Natural History in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and the UGA Institute of Ecology, Department ofGeology, and College of Veterinary Medicine. Presentations and discussions were held with experts from the Smithsonian Institution, the New England Aquarium, Sea World Research Institute and the Dolphin Project. /8

Topics presented at the symposium included an overview of the marine mammal stranding network and salvage program, a review of stranding causes, and a review of southeastern and Georgia stranding statistics. A status report on the manatee and the Dolphin Project in Georgia was also given.
Of particular interest to CRD biologists was a presentation on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. As more evidence is gathered on this elusive species, it is pointing to the fact that Georgia waters may be the species' only calving grounds. In the past it was thought that this species may have also calved in other waters, but new evidence has revealed this is unlikely
Coastal Resources Division personnel said the symposium generated a number of different ideas that would help strengthen and further coordinate the efforts of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Methods to enhance the usefulness of data collected by CRD's Nongame/Endangered Species Program staff and on-call biologists was also presented.
The Symposium wrapped up with a training workshop conducted by Dr. Charlie Potter of the Smithsonian Institute. CRD provided a pygmy sperm whaleandanewborndwarfsperm whale which had stranded on the Sea Island beach the week before for the necropsy Necropsies of animals, similar to autopsies of humans, help biologists deter-

DNR Imposes
New TED Rule
0 n November 15, 1990, a new, stricter set of rules regarding the use of Turtle Excluder Devices, or TEDs, by commercial shrimpers went into effect in Georgia waters. The rule was passed in October 1990 by the Board of Natural Resources.
The new rule requires that all commercial shrimpers fishing in Georgia waters (within three miles of shore) use TEDs in shrimp nets to protect threatened and endangered sea turtles.
It is hoped that the stricter rules now in effect in Georgia will reduce the number of turtles that drown each year in shrimp nets. Turtles often become trapped in shrimp nets and drown before the net is raised. TEDs are designed to keep turtles out while still allowing shrimp to get in.
Under the new rule, TED use is required from April I through November 30 north of the Altamaha River and from April 1 through December 31 south of the Altamaha River. TED use is also required in the sounds in the event that they are opened to commercial shrimp trawling.
The main difference between Georgia rules and the federal regulations is that they extend the time period during which shrimpers must pull TEDs. Under federal regulations, TEDs must only be used between May 1 and August 31
mine the cause of death and may help them learn more about why animals purposely strand themselves on beaches. Necropsies also provide biologists with valuable information on the eating habits and life history of the different species.
Two publications are currently under preparation as a result of the symposium: "An Illustrated Identification
Guide 'to the Marine Mammals of the
Southeastern United States" and "A Manual on the Policies and Procedures forthe Salvage and Necropsy ofStranded Cetaceans." Both of these publications should be available sometime next year.
-Dottie Sweat

Warning:
Whale Crossing!
M ost people are surprised to learn that Georgia's offshore waters are the only known calving grounds of the endangered right whale. It also surprises them to learn that the right whale is the official "Georgia Marine Mammal." But both statements are true!
Right whale populations were decimated in the 1700s and 1800s by whalers who considered this species the "right" whale to harpoon. Though the species was later granted total protection from commercial harvest, it has been very slow to recover. It is estimated that no more than 12 calves are born each year, making recovery of the species very slow
Right whales are usually seen in Georgia waters from January through March. The DNR, Coastal Resources Division maintains a toll-free number for people to call and report right whale sightings. To encourage sighting reports, CRD has created a sticker for car or boat which is given to all people

A mother right whale and her calf as they may appear sighted off Georgia's coast.

reporting a sighting. A poster has also been produced and placed at coastal marinas and boat ramps to let boaters know what to look for
Right whales often appear as a 30- to 50-ft. "dark patch" on the water. They have no dorsal fin and are easily identified from other whale species by the callosities, or callous like growths, on their heads. Sometimes, the whales may be with calves.
If you spot a whale off the coast stop

the boat motor immediately and do not approach the whale. Record the latitude and longitude, Loran C coordinates, or identify the location with reference to markers. Then contact the Coastal Resources Division to report the sighting. The toll-free number is 1-800-2-SAVEME. Information from these sightings is used by biologists to help learn more about this endangered species.
-Dottie Sweat

Georgia Water Resources Conference Planned for March
T he Center for Continuing Education at the University of Georgia will host a one-of-a-kind conference on important water resource issues in Georgia on March 19 and 20, 1991
The conference will give those interested in these issues an opportunity to hear from and talk to those involved in research and day to day water management activities throughout the state. Participants can choose from over 100 presentations over the two-day conference. Topics will include wetlands, water conservation, erosion control, river basin management, legal issues, regional reservoirs, lake management and drinking water
For information, contact Alec Little at the Institute of Community and Area Development at (404) 542-3350; or Kathy Hatcher at the Institute of Natural Resources, (404) 542-1555.

Historic Preservation
Annual Preservation Conference Slated for February 14-16, 1991

The Towns , Persons Page House is located in Talbot County.
T he annual Georgia Preservation Conference, cosponsored by the Preservation Section of DNR's Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division and the Georgia Trust for Historic Pres-

ervation, will be held in Columbus February 14-16, 1991. This year's theme is Georgia's Living Places, which will focus on historic domestic architecture and its associated gardens and landscapes.
In addition to an opening plenary session which will introduce this overall theme, workshops will be held in four major areas, including Old House Rehabilitation; Landscapes and Historic Gardens; Neighborhoods; and Historic Museums. The conference will conclude with a luncheon address by Edward T McMahon, president of Scenic America, Inc. He will discuss the importance of preserving America's natural and historic landscapes. For more information on the conference, please call Carole Moore or Darlene Jones at DNR's Historic Preservation office, (404) 656-2840.
-Carole Moore
19

State Parks
Making Tracks With Nongame Education Trails

T rails, trails and more trails! People who travel trails come closer to nature and can explore up close all that it has to offer- unique plants and animals included. Approximately $50,000 has been set aside for the construction of nongame wildlife trails at eight Georgia state parks for fiscal years 1990 and 1991
In addition to the Birdberry Trail (see story, page 12) at Will-A-Way Recreation Area, part of Fort Yargo State Park near Winder, trail projects slated for 1990 include a new Factory Ruins Nature Trail at Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park in Lithia Springs. Nongame trail signage and an interpretive kiosk will be installed for visitors to enjoy
Construction of a teaching station along southwest Georgia's famous Gopher Tortoise Trail at Seminole State Park in Donalsonville will begin soon. The wildlife viewing platform will serve as an "outdoor classroom" for the many school groups and outdoor enthusiasts that visit the park.
Trail projects for 1991 include plans at Red Top Mountain State Park in Cartersville to transform the park into an active center for environmental education and nongame wildlife management. Much of the initial funding will be set aside to upgrade the parks' existing trail signage and outdoor interpretation.
20

North Georgia ' s Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, which recently opened a new lodge facility , has already drawn many more visitors. The park, known as the southern terminus of the 2, 150-mile Appalachian Trail that leads from Georgia to Maine, is seeing increasing numbers of visitors on its trail. Plans are being made to place kiosks along the trail that would interpret the nongame plant and animal life at the park. Other improvements will include updating interpretive signage.
At Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge, plans are underway to improve the Brantley Nature Trail. Several interpretive signs and kiosks will be added to explain the park's wildlife.
Nongame signage will be added along the 1/4-mile Trembling Earth Nature Trail at Stephen C. Foster State Park, to improve educational interpretation of the park's diverse plant and animal species. These include some 223 species of birds, 41 species of mammals, 54 different reptiles and 60 species of amphibians.
Finally, at Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, the 3.5mile Coastal Plains Nature Trail explores a variety of typical South Georgia habitats. Plans to place signage along the trail are underway, to help visitors identify and appreciate the abundant wildlife at Reed Bingham, including endangered species such as thB..(Jopher Tortoise. For more information about State Park Nongame Wildlife Trails, contact Chuck Gregory, DNR's chief interpretive naturalist, at (404)656-6539. Or, write the Department of Natural Resources, 205 Butler St. S.E., Suite 1352, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.
-Lisa Dudley

Coming Attractions
Hummingbird Garden ....
To Premiere

--'---'-------.1.----'---- --- -------------

T he Hummingbird Garden, a spectacular eight-by-10foot traveling exhibit of living plants and flowers, will premiere February 8th during Weekend for Wildlife, at The Cloister on Sea Island.
The garden features many of the nectar-rich plants that are favored by hummingbirds, including sweet william, sage, daisy, salvia, zinnia and hollyhock, along with a flowering tree. An arbor with clinging vines and a hummingbird feeder highlight the exhibit. As visitors walk through the garden, they will learn how to create an environment that is both healthy and attractive for hummingbirds.
Response to a recent Hummingbird Helper Survey conducted by DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program showed

that many people want to know more about attracting hummingbirds to their homes. To educate Georgians about these fascinating creatures and their habitat, the Nongame Program joined forces with The State Botanical Garden of Georgia to cosponsor the Hummingbird Garden.
Designed by O.D. Dalton of Outdoor Design Group in Athens, the garden will also be on display March 6 through 10 at the Atlanta Flower Show. At both showings, experts from DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program and The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will be on hand to discuss the garden and give advice to those who want to create their own hummingbird habitat. Garden plans and hummingbird seed packets will also be available.
21

Give Wildlife a Chance
Support (jeorgtas State Tax Check!if
For Wildl!fU
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Get your copy of DNR's Nongaine Wildlife Poster (And aT-shirt too!)
Thomas Smith
Yours with a donation of $25 or more to Georgia's Nongame Wildlife Fund

DNR's Nongame Wildlife Poster is a beautiful, full color print featuring

outstanding photography that depicts the diverse forms of wildlife and plants

found in Georgia. Send your contribution to the NONGAME WILDLIFE

PROGRAM, Department of Natural Resources, Rte. 3, Box 180, Forsyth,

Ga. 31029. Telephone: (912) 994-1438.

Yes, I want to HELP GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE! Rush me a poster and

T-shirt! Name Telephone No.

T-shirt sAizded(rleasrgs-e-, -x-i-o-r-x-x-l-)-_-_-_-_-_-_-_--_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_--_-_-

(Sorry- there are no small or medium sizes available)

I he Department ol :>l atural Rc,ourcc' "'ubjcctto T1tk VI ol the C.v1l R1ghb Act of 191>4 and the Rchabihtalion Act ol 197.' dod olle" all person' the opportumt\

to pd1llt'1 p~ttc m tb. puhhc program~ tcgardlc!<.:o, of rt~cc. color. national ongtn, age. \CX. or hand1cap ,\ ..,a rectptent ot lt:daallund~ Irom the Dep<trtmcnt ol Inter or

the I kp,utmcnt\ program' mu't be operated h cc Irom d1scnmmatwn If you believe that \OU h<l\e been d1scnmmated agam't man) program or acll\lt) or 1f )OU

dc-..uc lurthc mformation regarding the prnh1bilion of d"cnmmat1on. plea'e \HUe to

f4ual Opportunit Ll S Department ol the lntcnm. Otficc ol t e

20240

DNR Outdoor Report Georgia Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler St. S.E. Suite 1252 Atlanta, Ga. 30334

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Permit No. 1043 Atlanta, Ga. 30334