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	Sandhills inventory documents unique habitat, rare species SOCIAL CIRCLE — A survey of an unusual Coastal Plain habitat in Georgia will provide new information about rare species such as the gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division began the sandhills inventory in 2006 to assess the conservation needs of rare plants and animals in these areas, and hopefully preserve and restore the biological integrity of one of the state’s most bio-diverse habitats. The project is scheduled for completion by early 2009. Sandhill environments are areas of deep sandy soils that generally feature a mix of longleaf pine and scrub oak ... Read Article »
	Bear sightings not common this time of year The sighting, though a seemingly rare experience for metro Atlantans, comes as no surprise given that seasonal bear activity is increasing. This time of year, young male bears are roaming and often stumbling into what’s considered non-traditional bear range, including urbanized areas. When most people think bears, they immediately think mountains. Yet, a black bear sighting in an urban area, especially during the spring, isn’t unusual. That’s because during the spring and summer, young male bears on their own for the first time are experiencing territorial competition with other adult bears. Adult males typically force these young males out of ... Read Article »
	Team lands deep sea treasure Well, hello my friends, Ole’ Tight Line here. I’m sorry I missed you all last weekend, but I’m happy to report there was some good catches around the coastal area and Yellow Bluff Marina. Jason Jones, Jeff Dean and Jim Deloach landed 80 vermillion snappers, two groupers and four red snappers. Now that’s what I call a deep-sea treasure. Eddie and Casi Thrower went out with Larry and Tammy Horner and they caught 50 trout and 25 black sea bass. That’s a double date Lowcountry style. Brian McDole and Tommy Poindexter landed a nice mess that included 22 whiting, two ... Read Article »
	Web cam offers insight into falcons ATLANTA — The public can again follow the private lives of downtown Atlanta’s most prolific peregrine falcons. A Web camera at www.georgiawildlife.com provides frequent updates on two adult peregrines and their three nestlings from a 51st-floor nest outside the offices of the McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm. These protected raptors, which typically mate for life, are one of two peregrine pairs nesting in Atlanta. The down-covered nestlings pictured in the high-level planter home are almost 4 weeks old. They fledge at about five weeks. Jim Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, ... Read Article »
	Camping Georgia: Sapelo Island Sapelo Island enables visitors to see virtually every facet of a barrier island’s natural community, from the diversified wildlife of the forested uplands, to the vast expanses of salt marsh and the complex beach and dunes systems. The Visitor Center, located near the mainland ferry dock, brings to life both the natural and cultural history of Sapelo, while guided tours of the island enable visitors to experience the African-American community of Hog Hammock, the University of Georgia Marine Institute, and the Reynolds Mansion. Guale Indians, Spanish missionaries, English freebooters and French royalists fleeing a revolution all occupied Sapelo Island before ... Read Article »
	WILD Facts: The spin on tent caterpillars The web-like masses you see in tree branches every spring are the handiwork of eastern tent caterpillars. After over-wintering as a little black blob of eggs, hundreds of hairy caterpillars hatch out and form a silky nest. Although common, the larvae are quite beautiful: black with white, orange and yellow stripes, plus pale blue blotches on the sides. The caterpillars must leave the nest daily to munch on tree leaves, but they return for protection from predators and the weather. In a few months, after reaching about 2-1/2 inches long, the larvae venture away for good to spin a cocoon. ... Read Article »
	Georgia plant partnership will be exhibited at U.S. botanic garden SOCIAL CIRCLE — This year’s summer exhibition at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington will focus on sustainability by showcasing displays by organizations from around the world, including one from Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announces that the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, of which the DNR is a charter member, has been invited to participate in the five-month exhibition titled “One Planet — Ours!” on the National Mall. Other members of the GPCA include the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The exhibit will ... Read Article »
	Right whales head north BRUNSWICK — After spending the winter in the warm waters off Georgia and Florida, North Atlantic right whales are heading north for the summer. Research survey results indicate that the number of individual right whales spending the winter in the South increased this year. The last of the right whales were seen heading north at the beginning of April, signaling the end of the calving season. Right whales spend the summer in the cooler waters off Cape Cod Bay and Canada, returning to Georgia and Florida in the winter. Research done by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the ... Read Article »
	Effort to knock out invasive flathead catfish species seumes in Satilla River WAYCROSS — Last year’s efforts to eradicate the unwelcome, invasive flathead catfish from the Satilla River resulted in the removal of exactly 4,399 of the fish. This year, those efforts continue as biologists and fisheries personnel with the Satilla River Flathead Catfish Project team, a part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division, kick-off the 2008 sampling season with the second round of tagging studies. WRD asks any angler who catches a tagged fish to mail the bright orange tag to the WRD Waycross office, mailing address: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 2089, Waycross, Ga., ... Read Article »
	Buford trout hatchery hosts guided bird walk May 4 BUFORD — Spring is a great time to observe many species of colorful birds known as neotropical migrants. Just north of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division’s Buford Trout Hatchery offers a combination of habitat that is attractive to neotropical migrants, making it the perfect location to spot a beautiful summer tanager or orchard oriole. Bird expert Karen Theodorou will lead a bird walk along the hatchery’s Lincoln Sparrow Trail May 4 at 8 a.m. Lincoln Sparrow Trail is a half-mile loop that’s easy to walk, and features two wildlife-viewing blinds and an observation deck which ... Read Article »
	Project spotlights life in birds' nest ITHACA, N.Y. — What could be cuter than baby birds all atwitter in the nest? But amid the “oohs” and “aahs” are real data about the rhythms of bird biology and how they may be changing as the result of human activity. Combine the “wow” factor of the former with the scientific value of the latter and you have NestWatch, a new, free citizen science project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and funded by the National Science Foundation. Participants visit nests during spring and summer to collect simple information about ... Read Article »
	High winds stall fishing Hello friends, ole’ Tight Line here. With last week’s windy weather we didn’t get much fishing done, but we still have a few good reports to give you from Yellow Bluff. Bill Gerald caught a nice mess of trout and spottail bass. This week, Bud Delte and party landed six trout and 12 whiting; David Rogers, Jake Harten and Matt Tucker caught 15 bass, 12 trout and 15 whiting; Matt Tucker and party landed 15 spottail, eight trout and eight whiting. Rayburn Goodman said he still has plenty of shrimp and minnows at his Yellow Bluff Marina store. He said ... Read Article »