all about the water February 2017
Exploring the Savannah Wildlife Refuge
Happy Valentines Day! Melt her heart but keep her drinks cold with Yeti!
Reel him in with a new rod and reel combo!
Blind ‘em with your love but protect their eyes with Costa!
River Supply has the perfect gift for your special boater! The premier marine, aerospace, and industrial supplier on the Georgia Intracoastal Waterway
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05 Editor’s Note 06 Community Updates 08 Ebb & Flow 09 Taste of the Tides - Grilled Oysters
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10 Around the Reef 11 Did You Know? Ospreys! 12
Savannah Boat Show Preview
16 Coastal Advocacy Conference 18
The “Go-for-her” Tortoise
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20 Exploring the Wildlife Refuge 22 The Bitter End
Top: A diver exploring Gray’s Reef among beautiful soft coral. Photo by Greg McFall for NOAA Center: A Sneak peak of the boat show. Photo provided by JBM & Associates Bottom: A miniscule shark tooth on a dime to show scale. Photo by Captain J. Gary Hill
About Our Cover:
A red-tailed hawk trailed the Holden family as they explored Savannah Wildlife Refuge. See Refuge on page 20. Photo by John Holden
February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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Captain Tripp Lang’s Charters Staff Publisher/Editor – Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com Around the Reef Columnist - Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov
Inshore Fishing & Sightseeing Cruises 912-674-1085 or 912-674-0838
www.FishSaintMarys.com
Ebb & Flow Columnist - Trey Leggett info@southerntidesmagazine.com Taste of the Tides Chef - Forrest Westendorf info@southerntidesmagazine.com Contributing Writer - Cohen Carpenter cohen33c@gmail.com Contributing Writer - Ryan Holden rehryan@gmail.com Writing & Photography Contributors - John and Lisa Holden jpholden56@gmail.com
Copyright © 2015-2017 All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC.
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SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
E ditor’s N ote
offer, to connect with the people and the natural world, and support something I truly love. If I were to grow this magazine into a conglomerate that covers the whole Southeast, I’d no longer be able to focus on those things. To make it successful, I’d have to devote all my time and energy to the bottom line and instead of a publication that people truly connect with, it would become just another magazine laying on someone’s coffee table for a month. That sounds more like the death of a dream than the fulfillment of one. I wouldn’t mind expanding up to Charleston at some point. Still a beautiful area and geographically similar to here, still the same Southern values and lifestyle, and not so far away that it would be difficult logistically. But I don’t see it growing much past that, with regard to region. I want to be able to get out on the water every month and write about the people here, our way of life, and our ecology. I’ve also discovered that I actually enjoy the design process, though I never would have guessed that as much as I struggled with it at first. I still want to expand, but in terms of number of pages, more great content, being active in our community through charitable events, and giving back. The bottom line is that I’d rather be an amazing “local” magazine (and yes, I still want glossy paper!) that’s valued by our readers, advertisers and the organizations we partner with, than a big, but average publication that has no real value to you. That’s not where my heart is. My heart is here, in the lowcountry and coastal empire.
Where the Heart is ...
W
hen I first started Southern Tides, there was a thought that with enough hard work, I could expand it into other coastal communities from Myrtle Beach, SC, to South Padre Island, TX. It could be a good-sized, glossy magazine (like Garden & Gun, which is my second favorite magazine), one day covering the entire Southeast. I considered that God willing and with a bit of luck, I could have at least 20 years left in my working life to make it happen. Last year, the first full calendar year of the magazine, brought a lot of changes, both personally and professionally. I met someone who has become an important part of my life, I became a grandparent for the first time, and I made some new friends who quickly became good friends. I had some major struggles with keeping the magazine going but managed to overcome them, got to spend some time out in the field, on the water, doing what I love doing (though never enough time), the magazine welcomed several new regular contributors who are as happy to be part of the crew as I am to have them, and feedback from readers has been overwhelmingly positive. I also spent a lot of time thinking about what’s important and how to achieve it, which lead to last month’s column about goals. Sometimes writing helps me clarify my thoughts and after I wrote about the big picture view last month, I looked more closely at my big picture view for Southern Tides. Last month I mentioned “glossy paper, great features, perfect ad to content ratio, and giving back to the community in significant ways.” Nowhere on that list does it mention “build an empire” because that thought doesn’t even cross my mind anymore when I think about what’s truly important. What is? The people in my life, doing what I love to do, and this amazing place we live. Where we live – the beauty, the water, the people, the ecosystems, boating, our way of life – is originally why I started the first publication and why starting Southern Tides was a natural for me. It gives me a chance to focus on this amazing area and all it has to February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
Amy Thurman
Editor-In-Chief
amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
Home is where the heart is and getting out on the water, experiencing all that our amazing coast has to offer, is what Southern Tides is all about. Photo by Tony Mills
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Community Updates
UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Off to a Great Start in 2017
UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography associate professor Aron Stubbins was one of just a handful of researchers cited in the journal Limnology and Oceanography for authoring two of the journal’s top scientific papers over the past 60 years. In its recently published 60th anniversary issue, the journal collected and republished the 10 most cited research papers for each of the last six decades. Stubbins authored or co-authored two of those papers, one in 2008 and the other in 2010. Assistant professor Julia Diaz recently co-authored a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. The paper examined the production of a type of oxygen molecule called a superoxide by the Porites astreoides species of coral. Interim director Clark Alexander was honored by the coastal environmental group One Hundred Miles as one of their One Hundred Miles 100, to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts to support the health, vitality and future of Georgia’s coastline. He was also appointed to the Ossabaw Island Foundation Board of Trustees. Skidaway Institute’s WERA radar system is back on line after being knocked out by Hurricane Matthew. The two low-power radar installations, located on Jekyll Island and St. Catherine’s Island, Interim Director Clark Alexander. monitor the speed and direction of surface ocean currents on the continental shelf. Tireless work Photo provided by UGA SkIO by research technician Gabe Matthias now has both systems functioning. Skidaway Institute researchers are in the process of configuring a new shallow water survey boat to enhance their capabilities for collecting high resolution bathymetric data. The new hydrographic survey launch will greatly extend the range of tides and conditions available for survey missions.
Wilderness Southeast Hosts Fish Gotta Swim, Folks Gotta Eat
Fish Gotta Swim is a public education program that engages middle school students in hands-on experiences in our local rivers and saltwater marshes. In its 12th year, the program depends on private funding to operate. Wilderness Southeast is pleased to host a fundraiser Fish Gotta Swim, Folks Gotta Eat, on Thursday, February 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event will be held at The Armstrong House, in Savannah. It will feature food prepared by local celebrity chefs and include a silent auction. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.naturesavannah.org/ about/event/.
Slow Down, Save a Life. It’s North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season, December - March in Georgia Waters.
Photo Courtesy of Georgia Wildlife Resources Division OneHundredMiles.org/RightWhaleProclamations
Satilla Riverkeeper Hosts Roastin’ on the River
The Satilla Riverkeeper invites you to attend their Roastin’ on the River event on Saturday, February 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, at Hungry Hillbilly’s in Jessup, Ga. The affair will feature roasted local oysters, tasty barbecue, beer and wine, desserts, live music, a guest speaker, and raffle items. Ticket price includes a 1-year membership in the organization dedicated to protecting the Satilla River. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.satillariverkeeper.org/events.html, or call (912) 510-9500. Illustration by ED HOSE
2017 Georgia Fishing Regulations Available
The Georgia DNR has released the 2017 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations Guide, in print and online. This is “the place to start for any angler looking for new places to fish, changes to laws and regulations or other information,” said John Biagi, fisheries management chief. The guide also includes color fish identification charts for both fresh and saltwater fish, license purchasing information, trout stream listings, public fishing area information, state record fish listings, as well as complete fishing regulations for Georgia. The guide is available at most boating supply stores, marinas, and bait and tackle outlets, as well as online at http://www.eregulations. com/georgia/fishing/
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Bait Thieves and Good Eats By Trey Leggett
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912-398-3547
liz.seniorfit@gmail.com
nce upon a time … that’s how many stories are started; unfortunately, that’s also how it is when you’re fishing for sheepshead and wonder where your bait went. Once upon a time it was on your hook, and now it isn’t. This is something that all of us experience when sheepshead fishing. Sheepshead, also known as the convict fish, is a narrow, yet tall fish with dark vertical stripes on its body and sharp dorsal spines. Their teeth look very similar to sheep’s teeth (hence the name sheepshead) and they have several rows of crushertype teeth to devour their shelled forage. You can successfully catch sheepshead on fiddler crabs, oysters, barnacles, clams, and shrimp. Their habitats range from deeper water offshore, wrecks and reefs, to inshore areas of structure. Inshore structures include oyster beds, jetties, rocky outcrops, and bridge or dock pilings. Sheepshead can reach the 30-inch mark, but normally range from 12 to 20 inches in length. The actual catching of sheepshead can be a daunting task because of their knack for stealing bait. They approach the bait and nibble it right off your hook with their hillbilly-like teeth, without you even noticing. The trick is to downsize your hook and check for a bite often. I use a long shank hook – it’s small, but strong. I bait my hook, lower it to the desired depth, usually just off the bottom, and check for any resistance every few Top Left: A freshly caught sheepshead. seconds. The amount of weight Above: Trey with another, caught near structure. you should use will depend on Photos provided by Trey Leggett several factors: water, current, speed, and whether you are offshore or inshore. Chumming is always worth the effort. Bring your own items to chum or utilize the natural chum in the area. If inshore, you can smash and scrape barnacles or oysters from pilings and let them fall into your fishing zone. Fishing for sheepshead from a kayak is very advantageous. Kayaks are highly maneuverable, easy to tie up or anchor and can access more areas than a larger vessel. Please be courteous when tying up to anyone’s dock, they may not appreciate you attaching your line to their dock or making a bunch of noise. Sheepshead, although ugly and very smelly when cleaning, are a very fine table fare. You can cook them any way you prepare other fish and they have a nice flaky texture and very good taste. Consult your state’s regulations for fishing methods, size, and creel limits. Tight lines and stay safe. Trey fishes for Hobie Kayak Fishing, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, SouthEast Adventure Outfitters, and Coastal Georgia Kayak Fishing. Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com 8
SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
Taste of the Tides
Grilled Oysters By Forrest Westendorf Kitchen Supervisor
Love is in the air and what better way to celebrate Valentines Day with that special someone than over a plate of grilled oysters! INGREDIENTS 2 cups butter, softened 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper 1/2 tsp. hot sauce 2 dozen large oysters on the half shell
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INSTRUCTIONS
• Preheat grill to 450°. • Place first eight ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined. • Arrange oysters in a single layer on the grill. Spoon two tablespoons of butter mixture onto each oyster. • Grill uncovered for seven minutes or until edges curl. • If weather prohibits grilling outdoors, oysters can be prepared in broiler by placing oven rack three inches from heat and placing oysters on a baking sheet.
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Photo by Karin Westendorf
February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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606 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, GA 31410 www.sailharbormarina.com
A round the Reef
Gray’s Reef on the Road By Skye Mills
Communications Intern Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
G
for years to come,” says Sarah Fangman, superintendent of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. “We’re excited to take it on the road across Georgia. Just like our local fishermen and divers feel a special connection to Gray’s Reef, our inland neighbors can learn how magical it is, too!” In particular, the exhibit’s display of stunning underwater animals inspires visitors to help protect our ocean and to develop a passion for ocean conservation and America’s national marine sanctuary system. Funding for “Gray’s Reef on the Road” came from several organizations dedicated to the health and preservation of our marine treasures, including the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation; and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Closely involved in creating the exhibit is the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which provides opportunities locally to coastal residents and friends that wish to preserve and protect Gray’s Reef.
Email: michelle.riley@noaa.gov
ray’s Reef is unveiling a new way to bring Georgia’s amazing underwater park and its ocean wonders to the community. This month, the sanctuary and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation launch their first-ever traveling exhibit, “Gray’s Reef on the Road.” “Gray’s Reef on the Road” has been more than a year in the making and debuts at the Trustees Theater at this year’s Gray’s Reef Film Festival. Following the film festival, the exhibit moves to the Bull Street Library, which is the hub of Chatham County’s Live Oak Public Library system. Many Savannahians will be able to get their first close look at Georgia’s hidden gem, without ever leaving town. Unlike Gray’s Reef exhibitions found inside museums and aquariums around the Southeast, the mobile exhibit allows visitors to learn about the sea creatures in a new, interactive way. The visitor can “dive in” to the reef surrounded by a school of fish and ocean sounds before moving on to the exhibit’s interactive panels that bring the reef to life. An array of colorful, moving features includes video displays, virtual dives, fish sounds and captivating 3D animals, including loggerhead sea turtles, goliath groupers and other unique marine animals, to provide an authentic and memorable experience of Gray’s Reef. A primary purpose of “’Gray’s Reef on the Road” is to educate students across Georgia about the sanctuary and why it is important to protect it for future generations. “Gray’s Reef on the Road” is enticing to people of all ages – from 9 to 90 – and will help nurture imagination and curiosity about the sanctuary
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D id Y ou Know? Ospreys are unique among North American raptors, feeding almost exclusively on fish - they collect their prey by plunging into the water talons first!
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• Ospreys can be found around most bodies of water, from ponds to salt marshes.
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• Barbed pads on the soles of their feet help them grip slippery fish. After catching a mullet, trout or other fish, they position the fish head first to decrease wind resistance. • Ospreys often build their nests on telephone poles, channel markers and other manmade structures near water. • Typically, the male will collect most of the nesting material and the female will arrange it. The pair will continue to add materials to their nests every year and can end up with nests over 10 feet deep and three to six feet in diameter.
The Waterline Up crew would like to thank all of our loyal customers for your business!
• Ospreys can lay from one to four eggs (typically three) and both parents help incubate the eggs.
Compiled by Rachel Walman with Coastal Kingdom Sources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Geographic Photos: Top - Osprey eggs. Photo provided by Coastal Kingdom Bottom - Coming in for a landing. Photo by Tom Murphy
February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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Waterline Up is proud to support our coastal boating community and Southern Tides Magazine! Look for us on Instagram!
Boat Show Preview A Sneak Peak of the 15th Annual Savannah Boat Show The Savannah Boat Show will kick off on Friday, March 3, and run through Sunday, March 5. The show is celebrating its 15th year and the crew of JBM & Associates, who produce the show, look forward to this being the best year yet. Here’s a little taste of what you can expect at the 2017 show. Visit SavannahBoatShow.com for updated information on vendors and features. 12
Edited by Amy Thurman All photos provided by JBM & Associates
SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
2017 Vendors
Where
Adam’s Boat Shop, Inc. All Seasons Outdoor Power Equipment Burnside Bopper, LLC Butler Marine Cape Romaine Marine Carolina SEALEGS Charleston Harbor Resort Charleston Power Sports Coastal Boating Center Cove 2 Coast Marine Custom Marine Cutco Cutlery Deco Power Lift, Inc. Extreme Audio Freedom Boat Club Freedom Fidos Gillis Marine Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Hale Marine, Inc. Hall Marine Savannah Hickory Bluff Marine Hinckley Yacht Services LeafFilter North of South Carolina, LLC Longshore Boats Mackay Marine Maricom Navigation Matthews Marine Miss Geico Racing Morningstar Marinas Naval Sea Cadets Palmetto Boat Sales Rhineland Cutlery of Georgia River Supply/River Services Savannah Jack’s Sea School SeaTow Shoco Marine Softub South State Bank Star Glow International The Landings Marinas Thunder Boat & Motor Sales Towboat US Savannah TrueStim Tybee Light Sail and Power Squadron U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Webster’s Marine
February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
1 International Drive Savannah, GA 31402
When Friday, March 3, Noon to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tickets
Adults: $8.00 Children 4 to 12: $5.00 Children 3 & Under: Free Seniors (65+) & Military: $5.00
Parking: $5.00 or take the River Street Ferry for Free
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Watercraft on Display
Action Craft BlackJack Boston Whaler Bulls Bay Carolina SEALEGS Carolina Skiff Chaparral Coach Pontoons Cobia Contender Crevalle Crownline Edgewater Everglades EZGO Frontier G3 Grady White Hewes Hurricane Kawasaki Jet Ski Key West Maverick Mitzi Nautic Star Parker Pathfinder Pioneer Ranger Tugs Regulator Robalo Scarab Scout Sea Chaser Sea Fox Sea Hunt Sea Pro Sea Ray Sea-Doo Skeeter Sportsman Stingray Sweetwater Sylvan Pontoons Tidewater Triumph World Cat Yamaha Yamaha Jet Ski
Boat Show Features Meet Wicked Tuna’s Captain Dave Carraro Captain Dave Carraro is the captain of FV-Tuna.com on National Geographic’s smash hit show Wicked Tuna. Dave holds a U.S.C.G 100-ton Master License and has an invaluable 32 years of experience with Gloucester Fishing Charters. He began fishing with his dad as a kid and has fished almost every day for the past 33 years! Meet & greet Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fishing Seminar Saturday 1:30 p.m - 2:30 p.m.
Visit with Mermaid Kelly Mermaid Kelly is a professional mermaid who swam all the way from Florida to join us! She will be having a meet & greet and a photo op both Saturday and Sunday all day. She will bring a smile to everyone and she can’t wait to meet you! Meet & greet Saturday and Sunday.
The Plundering Pirates Of Paradise Enjoy Histories & Mysteries, a delightful show for all ages that will deliver history in a humorous, but accurate fashion. Come along as they debunk common urban legends, yet reveal how the secret world of piracy was really conducted. History told, mysteries solved, but a few things are still to unfold. Will you help us find the truth? So many players & so many parts, but with your help, we shall discover the greatest mystery of pirating. Located in the meeting room by the Coastal Kids Zone.
Saturday and Sunday 14
SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
Savannah Fishing Expo
The Savannah Fishing Expo, held Saturday and Sunday during the boat show, will feature fishing seminars from some of the top fishing experts in the Coastal Empire!
Captain Brian Woelber One More Cast Charters “Catching Cobia” Saturday 11:00 a.m.
Captain Jack McGowan Coastal River Charters “Inshore Fishing” Saturday 3:00 p.m.
Captain Matt Starling “Catching Your Trophy” Saturday 12:15 p.m. Sunday 2:30 p.m.
Trey Leggett Coastal GA Kayak Charters
“Kayak Fishing” Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Additional Show Features Georgia DNR’s Fishing Simulater
Open throughout the show
Tybee Light Sail and Power Squadron’s Boating Skills Virtual Trainer Open throughout the show
Coastal Kids Zone Saturday and Sunday
Live Music:
Chuck Courtenay Band Friday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bucky & Barry
Saturday Noon - 5:00 p.m. Sunday Noon - 4:00 p.m.
JBM & Associates, LLC 864-250-9713 www.SavannahBoatShow.com
Food, soft drinks, and adult beverages will be available for purchase throughout the weekend. Visit www.SavannahBoatShow.com for more information.
February 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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Coastal Conservation in Action: Choosing to Lead I
By Cohen Carpenter
n early January, I joined other advocates at the Coastal Conservation in Action: Choosing to Lead conference held by the notfor-profit organization, One Hundred Miles. This meeting, which is intended to become an annual event, had many objectives, including to inspire, educate, connect coastal advocates, and celebrate Georgia’s beloved coast. From my perspective as a young researcher and writer with an ever-growing love affair with the Georgia coast, the appeal of the conference was enormous. Plus, Chris Fisher of OCEARCH, was to give the keynote address. Yeah, Chris Fisher, the pioneer in great white shark research! That one! One Hundred Miles CEO, Megan Desrosiers, initiated the theme for the conference in her opening plenary comparing coastal advocacy to the baton in a relay race. She urged those of us running the current leg to carry the baton with urgency to the next racers: our children. This call-to-action resounded, as speakers continued to intertwine this metaphor into their talks throughout the day, providing a motivational well to draw from that was both immediate and lasting. All fired up, we broke out into multiple morning sessions. I participated in a leadership activity put on by Emergent Savannah, an organization focused on preserving culture through community conversation. Participants rotated through small groups and engaged in conversations around several topic questions including: What does leadership mean to you? What do you care about enough to act on? (What matters to you?) Identify 3 attainable ways in which you can address what matters to you. I invite readers to consider your answers to these questions on leadership. Better yet, have a conversation with others. While I thoroughly enjoyed the entire conference, I couldn’t get over this session. Still can’t. Engaging in healthy discussion with the diversity of stakeholders within these small group communities felt like productivity. We were a team. With the same goals. And by
Waterfront Dining Fresh Local Seaf d Live Music
creating dialogue, we increased our connectivity and the potential to have a positive impact after leaving the conference. To give an idea of the diversity in the group, I traded ideas with county commissioners, researchers, non-profit representatives, and naturalists, to name a few. I was even able to put faces to names that I knew to be some of the brightest minds in coastal conservation. (Just a reminder that these types of conferences are awesome networking tools!) During lunch, Chris Fisher, founding chairman of OCEARCH and expedition leader, detailed his research efforts and vision for selfless science in his keynote address saying, “Anything is possible if you do not care who gets the credit”. I may be slightly biased as my graduate research has focused on sharks, but the OCEARCH team has created one of the most innovative research efforts of our time. The project includes a realtime global shark tracker, found at ocearch.org, where you can follow tagged sharks like Mary Lee, who was recently in the Savannah and Charleston areas, and who has over a hundred twitter followers! Although slightly star-struck after listening to Fisher, I next listened as several wildlife researchers discussed issues they face as researchers, and fielding questions like “What keeps you up at night?” For Mark Dodd, Georgia Sea Turtle Program Coordinator, and Kris Williams, Caretta Research Project Director, issues like incidental turtle bycatch in shrimping vessels, habitat degradation (human induced), boating impacts, and garbage (balloons in particular), were at the top of their lists. Check out carettaresearchproject.org, where you can volunteer to take part in real, hands-on sea turtle research on Wassaw Island. Tim Keyes, GA DNR bird biologist, pointed to extreme tide events, which are detrimental to nesting habitat, the emergent threat of coyotes to nests, and shore birds being chased by dogs on the beach. Many shore birds use Georgia’s barrier islands to rest and fuel up during enormous seasonal migrations. Keyes compared the impact of being chased by dogs to that of an ultra-marathon runner who is attempting to “carbo-load” before a big race, only to continually have his pasta plate kicked away while he runs after it. This can only result in an energy deficit. Great analogy, Tim, however unfortunate! In a later session, Charlie Phillips, of Sapelo Sea Farms, presented the message to attendees that, if you like oysters it’s important to consider what you do in your own yard. Oysters serve as estuarine water filters; pollutants that enter storm drains as residential runoff can directly affect the delectable bivalves. Phillips even compared oysters to the canary in a coal mine in their reliability as indicators of estuarine water quality. That evening, we gathered for the finale, in which One Hundred Miles presented the One Hundred Miles 100, a group of 100 individuals and organizations honored for their work as coastal champions of Georgia. One honoree, Sinkey Boone, of Darien, GA
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(awarded posthumously), was known for creating the first turtle excluder device, or TED. His device led to enormous reductions in sea turtle bycatch by the shrimping industry since its widespread implementation in the late 1980s. The other 99 are just as valuable of course, and a full list of recipients can be found at onehundredmiles.org. Without a doubt, all conference objectives were met from my perspective. I was inspired, I learned, I connected, and I celebrated with old and new friends. I look forward to the 2nd annual event, and if you are even remotely interested and wondering if it’s the type of thing for you … it probably is the type of thing for you. Hope to see you there!
One Hundred Miles 100 honorees pose in front of a mural of Driftwood Beach. Photo provided by One Hundred Miles
Cohen’s Take-Home Messages
If you feel strongly about some aspect of your coastal area and want to make an impact on it, celebrate it, or simply experience it more fully, start here:
Identify your “why” (Why do you care about your landscape, the waterways, wildlife, etc.?) Educate yourself ·It’s easy to advocate from an emotional standpoint because we love our coastal critters and waterways. But when operating from a purely emotional place without a healthy balance of knowledge, it’s easy to be more isolating than inclusive, reducing the chance of getting the outcome we want. ·Sign up for newsletters, follow policies, attend meetings, and pick up a field guide to get to know your favorite species. Set an example for the kids! (They will soon carry the baton, so take the young people in your life outside more.) Engage with your community ·Share your ideas, concerns, and appreciation. (Go to meetings like this!) Stay connected with fellow advocates and organizations (Use social media; this is the era of connectivity, take advantage of it.)
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e uld b o c s i ! Th office r u o y
ISLE OF
HOPE
MARINA
The “Go-for-her” Tortoise: A Look at Social Interaction in Gopher Tortoise Populations
Herpetology Technician, University of Georgia Research at Georgia Sea Turtle Center
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By Ashley LaVere
“A male tortoise emerges from his burrow and, with a confident gait, heads towards the burrow of a neighboring female, opportunistically snagging a few bites of a cactus on his way, to settle his stomach. As a gentleman, he approaches the entrance of the burrow, not yet entering, and beckons her out through well-rhythmed head bobs, up and down, personifying the racing heart inside his shell…”
L
ove is in the air, and gopher tortoises will soon emerge to get their own share of it. Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are native to the Southeast, inhabiting the long-leaf pine ecosystem that has dwindled to 4-percent of an original 90-million acre range. Within these ecosystems gopher tortoises create neighborhoods of burrows, forming communities based on social interactions and hierarchies. Male-female interactions not only hold the spotlight in our favorite films and for a whole day every February, but continue to play their premiere role in populations: providing the foundation on which a Gopher tortoise #37, a male relocated population will grow. During courtship season, from tortoise that was originally found in the same burrow with male tortoise #38 April through June, males tortoises guard territories, defending their claim on nearby females and upon excavation. Both were relocated to the new site and found sharing a engaging in combat with other males. This involves burrow a few weeks later. lunging, biting, and flipping their opponent onto his Photo by Lance Paden back; a display of strength and technique, as well as temporarily immobilizing their competition. Even after defeating all male competitors, he still has to win the approval of the female. If interested, the she’ll join him for a tortoise tango, bobbing their heads to the melody of shuffling feet as they circle each other. The dance will conclude with a kiss on the hand … well, a series of gentle bites and nudges on the front legs, to seal the deal. If uninterested, she’ll retreat back to her burrow or make a break for it, leaving him behind in a spray of sand. Social interactions extend beyond romance and into good neighborly conduct. Both male and female, juvenile or adult, are often found visiting neighboring tortoises, of either sex, and sometimes residing in the same burrow with them for extended periods of time. With expanding development in recent years, hundreds of gopher tortoises are being forced from their homes and communities and relocated, sometimes hundreds of miles away. Relocation has proven to be an effective means of management in areas pressured by silviculture, surface mining, or development, but with acceptable relocation habitats dwindling, mosaics of gopher tortoise colonies are being pieced together. As a species with a complex social structure, these new neighbors may affect community infrastructure. Gaining insight on social dynamics between tortoises can allow us to better understand the effectiveness of relocation. The Applied Wildlife Conservation Lab (AWCL) at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Ga., in cooperation with the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology and Southern Ionics Minerals LLC., plans to study the social interactions between a resident group of tortoises at a state-owned wildlife management area in southeast Georgia, and those we have relocated to the same site. Through tracking and the use of wildlife game cameras, we’ll be able to visually capture interactions between these groups. With the additional analysis of genetics, extracted from eggs laid during breeding seasons both prior to and post-introduction of our relocated tortoise population, we will be able to further confirm any mating events between the resident and relocated communities of gopher tortoises which would provide insight into the success of the integration of these two populations. 18
SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
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Exploring the Wildlife Refuge: Unexpected Family Fun
By Ryan Holden
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can honestly say that birding is not one of my favorite pastimes. Constantly craning my neck upwards, eyes on the sky, looking for something, anything, to fly by, is not the way I generally care to spending a Friday morning. But alas, when you live in California and are visiting your family in the lowcountry, your time home is an education in your parents’ new-found passions. But I’m not complaining. My older brother, Johnny, lives in Savannah so my parents suggested we all venture to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. My dad, John Holden, who recently became a contributor to Southern Tides, has been delving into the world of photography for the past year and shooting wildlife has become an unexpected talent of his. My mom, Lisa, has become a savvy animal spotter and has a stockpile of bird knowledge that I challenge most anyone to try and match. With their combined skillsets, my brother and I were set for a day of exploration and education we otherwise may not have stumbled upon ourselves. We met at the main lodge of the refuge where we were greeted and shown around the facility. We were given the option of watching a video that explained the history of Savannah and how animals and humans alike have utilized its unique ecosystem to their benefit. It wasn’t a long video, and there wasn’t a pop quiz at the end which, oddly enough, was everyone in my family’s main concern. After the video, we hopped in the car and drove for about 10 minutes down the road to Wildlife Drive. The roughly 4-mile road is surrounded on either side by water, marsh and trees. I expected to sit in the car, stare idly out the window and maybe see a few different birds that I wouldn’t actually be able to tell apart if not for my mom’s expertise. I was wrong. Along with a multitude of birds, ranging from really big ones to really small ones, really dark ones to really light ones (see, I know my birds), we spotted one of my personal favorites – alligators. Johnny and I took some artistic liberty and narrated the thoughts of each kind of bird we saw in different cartoon voices to give each other a laugh. At one point, a duck (that we named Dale) had a near brush with death as it swam straight toward an alligator, but the gator slide under water as Dale boldly swam over its body, passing unscathed. We remain convinced that Dale has a bad boy reputation and that gator knew better than to dare ruffle his feathers. We also played the game “Alligator or Log?” which actually turned out to be more of a challenge than either of us expected. We cruised the loop steadily for about an hour, occasionally stopping so my dad could hide behind the car and take pictures of the creatures covertly. One encounter had him slapping the trunk – an alert my mom to ease her foot off the brake as he crept behind the car – hoping to get just the right shot of some unknowing bird. A bird that I’m sure rarely finds itself in the mood for paparazzi. My brother and I posed for documentation of our first family birding trip by jumping 20
SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
Opposite page: The author and her brother take birding very seriously. Above: Photographic evidence of the Holden’s stalking hawk. Photos by John Holden
into the air simultaneously while looking through our binoculars. I smacked myself in the face with the binos more than I’d care to admit, but the final picture was totally worth it. After finishing Wildlife Drive we broke for lunch, popped the trunk of the car and had a makeshift picnic. We’d packed sandwiches and snacks (and by ‘we,’ I obviously mean my mom). Afterward, empty bellies satiated, we explored a walking trail that didn’t present half as many critters, but we did encountered one curious hawk that seemed to stalk us along our entire jaunt. This hawk was so unbothered by our presence that my mom began trying to talk with it … as mothers are wont to do with most living things. If you know anything about Lisa Holden, you know that she’ll attempt to talk to any and all animals. At any time. Anywhere. And more often than not, the animals respond. This hawk was not one of those animals, but he kept up with us until we headed back to the car to make our way home. As I said, I’m not one for birding. But when you head into any adventure armed with an open mind and a sense of humor, sometimes newfound appreciations blossom. I would happily head back to the Wildlife Refuge to see the other trails it has to offer, and to see if our hawk and Dale the Duck are still out there holding their own.
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Openin in Febr g uary Zachry ’s Rive : r Restau House rant
T he Bitter End
measure only 10 to 12 inches and weigh just a scant couple of pounds; nowhere near as threatening as their bigger cousins. The variety of sharks out there is a whole ‘nother topic though, and I guess I better get back to the point before I get sidetracked talking about these fascinating creatures. And the point is, fossil hunting a great way to get the family out of the house. It’s a great excuse to put down the remote and the video games, unplug the Wi-Fi, and have some put-on-themuck-boots-and-get-your-hands-dirty sort of family fun that will stay with your children for a lifetime. Are shark’s teeth all that I’ll find? Most likely not. Many fossil hunts have yielded vertebrae from whales and other animals, as well as whale teeth. Prehistoric horses left an abundance of teeth and bones, and we’ve even found camel’s teeth. Many trips have
Of Things Great & Small
By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
W
elcome once again to this game of writing whack-amole that we call The Bitter End. Typically the winter months aren’t a time most of us think of being on the water recreationally. Although normal temps this time of the year usually hover anywhere from the 30s to the low 50s, I think we can agree that this winter has been anything but normal. With that expectation, many people put your boats away before, or just after, the holidays, with no plans to take them out until spring. Sadly, you’ve missed some of the best boating weather imaginable; other than a few windy or rainy days, boating weather has been great this winter. One favorite local pastime, that can be fun in any moderate weather, is fossil hunting. When talking of fossil hunting, one of the first things that comes to mind is shark’s teeth. When talking shark’s teeth, the first thing that comes to mind is the number one guy, that denizen of the deep, the megalodon – kind of a great white on steroids. At lengths of 50 feet or more and weighing upwards of 40 to 50 tons, they were an undisputed apex hunter some 23 to 2.6 million years ago. However, the meg was only the tip of the tooth, so to speak. On the other end of the spectrum is the present-day dwarf lantern shark, which can be found just off the coasts of Columbia and Venezuela. These living dinosaurs 22
yielded antique bottles and trade pipes, and I’ve seen cannon balls from the civil war as well. So how does one actually hunt for fossils? Often, teeth are found lying right on the surface. However, some folks like to do a little excavating; they’ll build a screen board and run sand or soil through a shaker screen. Typically, after a spring, or very high tide is a good time to search, or after big rain storms, as the added water tends to wash away topsoil exposing teeth lying just under the surface. I find the best time for hunting is a between mid-tide on an outgoing tide through to mid-incoming tide. Remember that in coastal Georgia you can hunt as far up the beach as the high tide mark, but ALWAYS check for private property so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law. If you’re unsure how to hunt on your own, you can always find a guide. From Hilton Head to St. Marys, you’ll find an abundance of charter companies that can get you out there. How much does something like this cost? It might be less than you’d think, with prices averaging $75.00 to $90.00, on a per person basis, or a private charter for up to six people that could range from $175.00 to $350.00. Why a charter? Those of us who do these sorts of trips know the best locations and will tell you what you need to know to make it a productive and fun hunt. There’s nothing like the look on your child’s face than when he or she comes face to face with history. When they can hold it in their hands it becomes tangible and real. So give it a shot! See ya’ll on the water! Photo above: Whale vertebrae in the top left corner, below that are horse teeth and a whale tooth. The shark teeth on the right side of the image are a range of mako, megaladon, and sand tiger. Photo at left: A 4 ½-inch megaldon tooth. Photos by Captain J. Gary Hill
Email: jgaryhill@gmail.com SouthernTidesMagazine.com February 2017
Selling Savannah with Southern Hospitality
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