all about the water
February 2018
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all about the water CREW Publisher/Editor - Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com Editorial Assistant - Lila Miller lila@southerntidesmagazine.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com Around the Reef Columnist - Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Ebb & Flow Columnist - Trey Leggett info@southerntidesmagazine.com Taste of the Tides - Karin Westindorf info@southerntidesmagazine.com
I n the T ides 5
Editor's Note
7
Ebb & Flow - Outdoors
9
Around the Reef - Turtles
111 Did You Know? Fiddler Crabs 112 Snakes Alive! Eastern Diamondbacks Hurricane Debris Clean-up 115 H 118 L Leadership Conference Recap 221 Right Whale Update
Southern Tides is pleased to welcome Lila Miller to the crew! Lila has been hired as an intern through Armstrong State University and will serve as our Editorial Assistant for the spring semester. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Fla., she loves the water and is eager to get more involved in our coastal community. Lila is a senior, majoring in professional communications and is also the editor in chief of Armstrong's newspaper, The Inkwell. Welcome Lila!
22 The Bitter End A Sailor's Valentine Regu Regular content, including Community Upda Updates, Taste of the Tides, and What What's Going On, will return next month month, along with more great features a and articles!
Copyright Š 2015-2018 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.
PO Box 30724 Wilmington Island, GA 31410 (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Follow us on Instagram @ southerntides_mag Follow us on Twitter @ AllAboutTheWater Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, GA
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About the Cover: Driftwood and Dunes. Shot on Jekyll Island while working on this month's feature about rattlesnakes, with Joseph Colbert and Cailin Lutz. Photo by Amy Thurman
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E ditor’s N ote I
f you’ve met me, you might describe me as an upbeat, outgoing person. And most of the time I am. But this time of year, I struggle to keep that attitude. I don’t like being cold, I don’t like feeling as though my only two choices are to freeze or stay inside, and I don’t like short days that restrict the activities I enjoy in warmer months. This time of year, I have to work at not giving in to the winter blues. How do I do that? My thoughts on the subject all have a basis in one of my favorite quotes, by Allen K. Chalmers, who was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said, “The grand essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” And to my way of thinking, he nailed it. Something to do. As Trey suggests in his Ebb & Flow column (page 7), get outside. I’m personally not a fan of the 35-degree mornings we’ve been experiencing for weeks, but most afternoons have warmed up nicely. Sunshine, vitamin D, and exercise are all proven mood-lifters. Take the dog for a walk, go fish off a pier, stroll on the beach after lunch, visit a local lighthouse, or even park farther away than you normally do and give yourself a longer walk to your office or the grocery store. When outside isn't working for you, give yourself something to do inside, as Captain Gator suggested in The Bitter End. Visit a local indoor attraction, take up a hobby you’ve always found interesting, or tackle a project you’ve been putting off. If it’s something you enjoy, it’ll lift your spirits, if it’s something that needs to be done, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete it. Something to love. Surround yourself with the people and things that make you smile. Have lunch with a friend, arrange date night with your other half, build a fort in the living room with the kids, have neighbors over for a potluck dinner, or even make time to sit on the floor and hug your dog. Those times when the company of those you care about isn’t practical or possible, look to things that make you smile. I have a small oil painting of sailboats on the wall in my office. It’s in shades of teal with splashes of yellow and reminds me of sun breaking through fog over the water. It lifts my spirits every time I look at it. Surround yourself with the people and things you love. Something to hope for. This is a big one for me. “Do,” and “love” are easy for me, but I sometimes struggle with having something to hope for. I’m not talking about the things everyone hopes for – the health and happiness of loved ones, career success, world peace. I’m talking about something that I have some control of actually making happen – something I can plan and look forward to. It could be as big as a real vacation somewhere far away, to something smaller like a weekend getaway, or something even more immediate, like having lunch with a friend. It isn’t always easy to plan those big things that require time and money to accomplish, but the smaller more immediate things can be just as much fun to look forward to. Right now I’m looking forward to watching the Superbowl with Todd and eating some awesome game-time munchies, I’m looking forward to having lunch with Liz next week, and I’m looking forward to seeing my friend Kathleen in March. And right this second, I’m looking forward to finishing this column, then uploading the magazine to the printer and having the rest of the day off!
I hope you each can find something to do, something to love, and something to hope for and that a good balance of those things brings you your own happiness. Enjoy the issue, we'll see you next month!
1 Harbor Road Jekyll Island, Georgia
Amy Thurman
Editor in Chief
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Ebb & F low Fall in Love with the Outdoors
By Trey Leggett
O
ften, our daily views are of walls and computer screens, as we deal with financial decisions and the stressors of a job, followed by driving in hectic traffic, and herding children. A good way to get away from it all and unwind is to spend time outdoors. Whether your idea of the outdoors is sitting quietly in the backyard, or something a little further afield like paddling or boating, hiking a wooded area, fishing, or hunting, you owe it to yourself to reconnect with the benefits of nature. There have been more occasions than I can remember when I was fishing, hunting, or hiking in the woods, and I became so relaxed and calm I forgot about everything else in my hectic life. Nature has a way of doing that to you. It embraces you, soothing your stresses, and making all that you thought was important become irrelevant. Many people flounder through their lives, doing the same thing every day and every weekend. Stress builds and builds, which can lead to depression, domestic issues, drugs or alcohol, or bad decisions. They have no way to escape or relieve the daily stressors of life and have no idea of how to fix it. I’m not going to give you a money back guarantee, but you should try getting outside. Even if all you do is sit outside with a cool drink and relax, watch the birds fly, the squirrels run around, listen to the wind and feel it touch your skin and ruffle your hair, you’ll feel better. As a child I would sometimes take a break from playing outside and lay in the grass while watching the puffy clouds move by slowly in the sky. I would imagine that they resembled animals or something familiar to me. Even on a warm day, the grass would be cool to the skin and like a cushion under my body. It felt like Mother Earth herself was relaxing and energizing me, body and mind. I didn’t think about school, fighting with siblings, or what kind of trouble I’d be in when mom found out I hadn’t made my bed that morning. Now, in my fifties, I still love taking a walk in a wooded area or engaging in numerous other outdoor activities, just to get outside and get away from the hustle and bustle of my daily stress-filled life. Throughout the year, millions of people flock to outdoor locations to experience nature and its wonder, beauty, and the way it makes them feel. Forests, lakes, oceans, beaches, mountains, deserts, and rolling hills are just a few locations that people visit to rejuvenate. Most would say it’s the activity that drives them to that location, whether it be skiing, hiking, hunting, or scuba diving, among others, but is it really? If they actually thought about it, February 2018
Southern Tides Magazine
Top: Egret on the hunt. Photo by Trey Leggett Above: Take a walk down a quiet lane. Photo by Amy Thurman
would they concede that just being in that natural setting made the trip worth it? Make yourself a promise this year to fall in love with your inherent connection with the outdoors and spend more time there. It will help you, and in turn maybe you’ll be able to help someone else. Stay safe and tight lines.
Trey fishes for Hobie Kayaks, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, ENGEL Coolers, and SouthEast Adventure Outfitters.
Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com 7
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A round the Reef
and who are the ‘vacationers,’ here to enjoy (and nest on) our local beaches! Generally, sea turtles have nesting grounds – beaches -- like Tybee, Wassaw and Ossabaw, and then separate foraging grounds where they eat and plump up for their next nesting season, a few years down the road. The nesting females that researchers see on beaches are probably from far away. Females swim back to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. The groups of nesting females usually are closely related, like sisters are, so there’s a lot of evidence that points to baby sea turtles returning to or nearby their ‘natal’ beaches, the beaches where they were born, to lay their eggs. Therefore, Gray’s Reef may serve as developmental habitat for juveniles (“teenagers”), inter-nesting habitat for females, and yearround feeding habitat for males and females, all different groups of loggerheads.
By Michelle Riley
Communications & Public Outreach Coordinator Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
GRNMS: Can you tell us a little bit about what you see when you observe loggerheads at Gray’s Reef? KR: The loggerheads at Gray’s Reef that I’ve seen while diving are either swimming around -- perhaps looking for a tasty crab or sponge for lunch -- or they’re nestled under a ledge for a midday snooze. During one of my first dives at Gray’s Reef after having been gone since 2006, a smaller turtle swam around me a few times. I took this as a kind of welcome back “hello!” At one point, it even looked as though the turtle considered reaching out its fin to give me a high five! Of course, we don’t approach the turtles or give chase, especially if we are not conducting specific, targeted research on the turtles. Loggerheads are listed as threatened on the U.S. Endangered Species Act register. They face many challenges, such as entanglement in discarded gear, ship strikes and navigation hazards, habitat destruction, and polluted waters. They certainly don’t need to be bothered by researchers. When we do conduct research activities, all our activities are permitted and approved. We try not to cause further harm to the turtles, but instead to find out more about them. Then we can better understand their needs and help these populations bounce back.
A
mong the thousands of sea creatures living at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary are loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Although a threatened species, loggerheads are a common sight in the sanctuary; boaters often see them at the surface of the ocean and divers delight in observing them near the ocean floor. We sat down with Kim Roberson, the sanctuary’s research coordinator, to discuss loggerheads at Gray’s Reef. Kim has conducted extensive research on leatherback sea turtles in Nova Scotia and on hawksbill and green sea turtles in the Caribbean, and she knows quite a bit about loggerheads. Kim spent some time in 2006 mapping fish, corals and sponges in Gray’s Reef for a different division of NOAA, before she joined the team in 2016.
michelle.riley@noaa.gov Left: A loggerhead sea turtle in profile, at Blackbeard Island. Photo by Molly Martin/US Fish and Wildlife Service Below: A loggerhead swimming near researchers at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, near Galveston, TX. Photo by G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
GRNMS: Kim, where do the loggerheads at Gray’s Reef come from? KR: Well, we don’t really know - yet. Several of the local research projects conducted on nesting beaches have tagged and tracked loggerheads swimming north and south of Georgia’s barrier islands, and our acoustic tagging program at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary recently picked up a tagged turtle from South Carolina. I suspect that some turtles at Gray’s Reef are from nearby nesting beaches and some may be from far away. As technologies improve and costs decrease, it will be likely that more loggerheads that both nest and live around here will be outfitted with satellite transmitters that reveal where they go. And as the sanctuary’s research coordinator, I hope to help solve some of these mysteries myself! GRNMS: Most coastal Georgians and Lowcountry residents have learned that loggerhead females born on our beaches swim far away, and only come back to our area 35 years later when they reach maturity, to nest. Do they all really swim far away, or do some of them live at Gray’s Reef all those years? KR: There probably are several different groups of loggerheads that use Gray’s Reef in different ways. The turtles we see out at Gray’s Reef may be adult females during their nesting season, or others -male and female -- who live at Gray’s Reef year round, or even older female teenagers about to become nesters themselves. We don’t have data on individual turtles at Gray’s Reef. I plan to learn more about the sea turtles who use Gray’s Reef and find out who are the residents February 2018
Southern Tides Magazine
9
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• Fiddler crabs can regrow a lost claw. If the major claw is lost, the minor claw enlarges to replace the major claw, and a new claw grows out to be the smaller claw. • Males make rasping sounds, stridulations, when fiddling. This sound is used during courtship and as a threat to adversaries. • Fiddler crabs feed on algae and decaying plant materials, such as marsh grass, by sifting through mud or sand. • Fiddlers dig burrows that are up to three feet long in the mud or sand. They'll fight to defend their burrows), and protect their homes from the tide by plugging the entrance when the tide rises. Their burrows aerate the sediment, affect nutrient cycling, and play a vital role in the health of salt marshes. • There are four species of fiddler crabs in our coastal area: the most populous is the red-jointed fiddler (Uca minax), the sand fiddler (Uca pugilator), the mud fiddler (Uca pugnax) and, the mangrove fiddler (Uca thayeri).
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February 2018
Southern Tides Magazine
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Snakes Alive!
By Amy Thurman
point out different varieties of trees, even breaking off a couple leaves and encouraging me to smell them. The wax myrtle leaves had a pungent scent, red bay leaves can be used used in cooking, and Joseph explained that leaves from the yaupon holly tree had been used by native Americans to brew a caffeinated tea that he highly recommends everyone try! After a short walk, the trail opened onto the marsh. The tide was out, leaving sandy expanses lined with marsh grass and other native plants, including sea pickles. This low-growing plant had woody stems and sprouted small plump pods. Although tiny, Joseph assured me they tasted great on a salad. I brushed off the sand and tasted a couple and decided he was right. They were a bit tangy, a bit salty, and had the consistency of bean sprouts. As we made our way across the sand flats, we saw multiple animal prints that Joseph and Cailin identified as deer, racoons, and even the bobcats that reside on the island. I’d hoped we might encounter one of the small cats, but they’re extremely shy.
I
arrived on Jekyll Island one sunny Monday morning recently to spend a few hours with island wildlife manager Joseph Colbert, and Cailin Lutz, AmeriCorps wildlife conservation member, and learn about the animals they study and work to protect. Like most of our barrier islands, much of Jekyll is undeveloped maritime forests, marshes, dunes and beaches where a wide variety of wildlife make their homes. Each of these natural habitats support an array of plants and animals that coexist in an almost circular fashion. There are a plethora of native flora on our barrier islands and Jekyll is no exception: live oaks, cedar, rusty staggerbush, red bay trees, thistle, several species of marsh grass and so much more. Multiple species of fauna make their homes among these plants, including tree frogs, various species of shore birds, and mammals, such as deer, racoons, minks, rabbits and squirrels. But our focus on this warm January morning was a little closer to the top of the food chain: predators. Predators are a good indication of a healthy habitat, and Jekyll Island’s top three priorities are bobcats, alligators and Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus), which we would be looking for specifically. After weeks of freezing temperatures, the warm sun felt wonderful as we stood at the path on our first stop. Cailin unfolded a metal device that somewhat resembled the metal TV antennas mounted on rooftops in the days before cable. It was an antenna, but it was attached to a receiver and used to track tagged Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. She demonstrated how the device worked, then we set off down the trail. Along the way, Joseph paused periodically to 12
Southern Tides Magazine
February 2018
Near a point where several small game trails converged at the edge of one of the flats, Joseph pointed out a trail camera they’d mounted which had captured several images of wildlife that inhabits the area. We followed the game trails around the edge of a hammock, the small “islands” hold clusters of trees and undergrowth on slightly elevated solid ground, surrounded by marsh. As we rounded the point, Cailin turned on the receiver and held up the antenna. As she turned it toward the hammock, a beep sounded that resembled a sonar ding on a submarine. The closer the antenna got to a large live oak, the stronger the ding became. A rattlesnake! We picked our way over small branches and stepped up onto solid ground as Cailin located the source of the ding. “This is Marcy,” Cailin said, referring to the rattlesnake. She was coiled under sections of the oak’s root system that had broken free of the dirt, creating a canopy of sorts, a couple inches off the ground. Bits of wrack, dirt and leaves covered the tops of the roots, creating a dark little nook for the rattlesnake to sleep, or to hibernate when it’s cold. “One day, I hope she gives birth to many more little diamondbacks that can protect marsh habitats from being overgrazed by small mammals,” Joseph said. Although only inches away from the snake, Joseph and Cailin assured me there was no cause for alarm. Joseph and Cailin have located Marcy beneath “Rattlesnakes are so misunderstood,” he said. “They’re ambush the root system of a tree, on a hammock in the marsh. predators, meaning they lay still and wait for prey to approach, then Photo by Amy Thurman strike. They aren’t fast-moving animals. If you see a snake stretched out, it’s on its way somewhere. Just wait for it to pass or go around the tail end in a wide berth and keep going. They aren’t going to chase you. These snakes have three main concerns – to eat, reproduce, and hibernate, then start over. They don’t want to die and won’t risk confrontation if theyy can avoid it.” “What about when it’s coiled and rattles at you?” I asked. “The rattle is kind of a last resort for the snake. They’ll usually either try to get away, or remain still and quiet hoping their camouflage will keep them hidden and the potential threat will move on. If it doesn’t, the rattle serves to alert whatever threat is ne nearby ear a by that the snake is present. I’ve heard it said that the s o u n d might have evolved to prevent hooved animals, like deer, pig, cows, or horses from stepping on the snake and wounding it. “There are accidents, of course. If a snake has had a bad experience it might be more likely to strike if cornered, but it’s rare. There are more deaths from people trying to get snacks out of vending machines and knocking them over on themselves than there are from rattlesnake bites each year.” I did a quick search and found multiple websites, all stating that there are only 7-8000 snakebites in the U.S. each year, and that only one in 50 million people die from snake bite venom. Although the hemotoxic venom of the Diamondback is toxic to humans and many other mammals, it isn’t toxic to all – opossums, for example, are immune to this venom. We moved on to the next stop, on the south end of the island. At first we followed a shaded trail Opposite page top: Hannibal moving across the dunes shortly after being released. This diamondback has been part of the study since 2012. He was young and inexperienced when first captured, but now has learned his way in the wild and is thriving. Opposite page bottom: Palehorse (named after Joseph's Marine Corps unit callsign when he was stationed in Iraq), has a transmitter implanted. Both photos opposite page by Bre Ondich This page, right: Most snake bites fall into three categories. The first is men between the ages of 18 and 35 with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit, getting bitten in the hand while trying to pick up a snake. Next is people getting bitten while trying to kill a snake, and the third is snake owners attempting to handle their pets. Accidents are rare, and all are avoidable. Photo by Yank Moore
February 2018
Southern Tides Magazine
13
Above: Snakes will cross the road to reach what they need to survive, which often leads to their demise. When a vehicle approaches, the snake will usually freeze, hoping its camouflage will conceal it, not realizing it stands out against the pavement. Photo by Bre Ondich Top right: One of the island's bobcats, caught on a game cam. Photo provided by JIA Far right: Racoon tracks in a sandflat. Right: Sea pickles - perfect for salads, just make sure you wash off the sand! These two photos by Amy Thurman
that wound through cedar and lichen-covered buckthorn trees, over wooden walkways that spanned small freshwater ponds, to a sandy wildlife viewing area. There we spotted several sets of raccoon tracks, more deer, multiple tracks from birds and even trails from various species of bugs. We moved past the viewing area, around a huge dune and came to a beach, where a couple lonely pieces of driftwood were the only occupants. A light breeze that smelled of salt blew in off Jekyll Sound and small waves lapped at the hard-packed sand. We walked along the beach for a short distance, then angled back along a game trail that divided sand from marsh. Cailin opened the antenna and turned on the receiver and within moments, the ding sounded. This diamondback, Hannibal, was also coiled under a raised root system. As at the previous location, Joseph took temperatures of the air, ground, and hibernaculum (burrow), and Cailin logged the data. Again we were inches away from the snake, but in no danger. “He knows we’re here. He can sense us with his heat pits and probably feels the vibration from our footsteps, but if we leave him alone, he’ll leave us alone,” Cailin said. Snakes do hibernate, though not necessarily hiding away through the entire winter. “It depends on the snake,” Joseph explained. “If they haven’t eaten well during the warmer months and their fat reserves are low, they may stay near the surface and venture out to eat.” Rattlesnake diets consist mostly of small mammals, such as rabbits, mice, rats, and squirrels. “How do the island’s residents feel about living so close to venomous snakes?” I asked. “When we first started tagging and tracking these animals, there was some hesitation, but now residents have gotten to know these snakes and appreciate how important they are to the ecosystem. Now people are even protective of the snakes,” Joseph said. Part of Joseph and Cailin’s jobs is wildlife response. If a call comes in about a deer, gator, raccoon or a snake somewhere it isn’t supposed to be, they go take care of it. “Snakes and gators, we relocate, take them wherever we think they might have been trying to get to, or somewhere nearby with the right habitat,” he said. “Being caught is pretty traumatic for them though, and most alligators and snakes will avoid places where they’ve had a bad experience in the past, so they’ll seldom go back.” In addition to diamondback rattlesnakes, bobcats, and alligators, there are also a few cottonmouth snakes on the island, but no copperheads or pygmy rattlers (much to Joseph’s dismay, as he’s fond of pygmies). Look for an article on alligators in the future!
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Fundraiser Launched for Hurricane Debris Clean-up
T
he community focus group Wilmington River Hurricane Clean-up Committee (WRHCC), has created a GoFundMe page to raise money for hurricane debris removal in the Wilmington River. Hurricane Matthew left large sections of the Wilmington River cluttered with hazardous debris, above and below the waterline, from docks and other structures torn apart during the storm. Much of this debris contains bolts, nails, and jagged pieces of metal, and is still in sections large enough to present a hazard to life and property in navigable waters. There is also significant debris present in protected areas and wildlife habitats. Funding to remove this debris in a safe manner is not readily available at the county or state level, leading WRHCC to organize a fundraiser to tackle the project at the community level. Committee members Joe Powers, a local homeowner, and Amy Thurman, publisher of Southern Tides Magazine, have agreed to serve as project administrators. A local environmental clean-up company, Zulu Marine, has agreed to donate their vessels and equipment and do the work at cost (labor, fuel and related expenses). Chatham County has agreed to provide disposal as the debris is removed. The estimated cost of $70,000 will cover the worst section of the river; additional funds raised will be used to expand the area of focus. “I’ve watched countless pieces of lumber of all dimensions drift down the Wilmington River on the outgoing tide. What’s more worrisome are the 50-foot pilings and heavy sections of broken docks floating just under the surface creating a potentially serious hazard to boaters, water skiers, kids out tubing, and boat hulls and motors,” said Powers. “In some cases these heavy pieces float by in the channel
on the outgoing tide only to float past again on the incoming tide.” “It’s imperative we get these hazards cleaned up before the spring boating season begins,” adds Thurman. To contribute to the fundraiser, visit: www.gofundme.com/wilmington-river-hurricane-cleanup For more information about WRHCC, email: amy@southerntidesmagazine.com, or visit the group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/matthewdebriscleanup.
Helpful Links www.GoFundMe.com/wilmington-river-hurricane-cleanup www.facebook.com/matthewdebriscleanup www.zuludiscovery.com amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
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Coastal Leadership Conference Recap One exhibitor showcased the Georgia Coast Atlas, a collaboration between several departments and centers at Emory University. This publicly available digital atlas, aims to redefine the concept of a traditional atlas by providing digital scholarship, linked to a geographic context. To learn more visit www.georgiacoastatlas.org. The lunchtime keynote speaker was Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist, author, and renowned advocate of everything water-related. He discussed how water-related experiences can have cognitive, emotional, psychological, and social benefits as it relates to the individual, and how healthy waterways contribute to that by their ecological, physical, and economic benefits. Dr. Nichols acknowledged that many conference attendees, as coastal residents, know this great feeling the water gives us, referring to it as “Blue Mind,” and he challenged us to share it with others. Late that afternoon keynote speaker, Dr. J. Drew Lanham, a wildlife ecologist with a passion for birds, closed out day one with a call to share our personal passions for the coast with others. “Nature isn’t some faraway place, it’s here,” he said, referring to our beloved coastal marshes, creeks, and beaches. He went on to define conservation as “a mission of love” and “the intensification of care,” when we love something so much we want to save it, so others
By Kristen Deason Senior Scientist Environmental Services, Inc.
A
s residents of the low country and readers of this magazine, most of us have an appreciation for our coast and the many treasures hidden within and around it. Some of us may even go a step beyond this love and become an advocate. Others may have the desire to “do more,” but don’t know where to start. The second annual Coastal Conservation in Action: Choosing to Lead conference, hosted by One Hundred Miles on Jekyll Island in January, gave individuals the tools and motivation to be an advocate for our coast. Day one of the two-day conference was filled with inspirational speeches, invigorating conversations, educational workshops, and exhibitors ready to share information with individuals eager to get involved. The morning started with the opening welcome by One Hundred Miles’s CEO, Megan Desrosiers. Megan quoted Mary Oliver’s thought-provoking poem, Extending the Airport Runway, then went on to inspire the audience to continue to advocate and educate others as stewards of the coast. Following the opening speech, attendees participated in workshops, choosing three of the 15 options. Topics included coastal wildlife, faith and the environment, climate change, sea level rise, communication skills, utilizing local coastal crops, and the neuroscience of healthy waterways, among others. One workshop that was of particular interest to me, focused on the complex decision-making process that businesses go through, regarding the environment, while aiming to please a variety of interested groups. The session included a panel of four individuals from four diverse businesses who shared personal accounts of how their companies balanced their own needs with the interests of others. One panelist, Hope Moorer, from the Georgia Ports Authority, discussed the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). Hope informed listeners that although the deepening project has a 7:1 benefit to cost ratio, significant funds are used to restore parts of the river to its “pre-engineered” state. Many businesses face a challenge in finding a balance between responsibility to the environment and the need to expand or improve. But like the Georgia Ports Authority, many businesses can find a middle ground. Throughout the day, attendees visited with exhibitors to learn about local non-profits and other organizations, and gain knowledge they could take back to their organization or use in their everyday lives. One organization, Coastal Wildscapes, provided information about the many benefits of using native plants, and lists of options. They hosts a bi-yearly native plant sale in the spring and fall; visit www.coastalwildscapes.org for dates and more information. Another group, Leave No Trace, was handing out small reference cards on how to “leave no trace” before, during, and after trips in the outdoors. www.lnt.org
Above: Conference hosts One Hundred Miles offers "Adopt A Mile" allowing supporters to adopt their favorite one-mile stretch of the Georgia coasst. Below: Leave No Trace shares information with conference-goers. Photos by Kristen Deason
18
Southern Tides Magazine
February 2018
might experience it as well. “Science is the scripture for what we do,” Lanham said, and encouraged us to share our passions with others, whether it be a passion for fish, shrimp, oysters, birds, dolphins, plants, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, or hiking. The take home message from Lanham, and many others throughout the conference, was to share these passions, to show people that nature is right here in our backyard and to share “Blue Mind.” In addition to day one, packed full of inspiration and useful information, new to the conference this year, were optional field trips on day two. These outings were to offer attendees to help model ideas and put them into action. Participants collaborated to pick an example service project and were then lead through an exercise meant to provoke thought as to what was needed to accomplish the project and prioritize items. Varying backgrounds helped to keep the creative juices flowing and individuals left with materials to bring this
thought process back to their own organizations. Throughout the two-day conference, positive energy was evident. Attendance increased almost 50% over last year’s inaugural event and organizers hope it will continue to grow. “As I listened to our keynote speakers on Saturday, I couldn’t help thinking that I wished everyone who lives in and loves coastal Georgia could have been there to hear their important messages,” said Catherine Ridley with One Hundred Miles. “Choosing to Lead is meant for anyone and everyone who loves our coast.”
Left: A digital atlas of the Georgia coast is available at www.georgiacoastatlas.org. Above: Attendees participated in field trips to learn how to put plans into action. Photos by Kristen Deason
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Right Whale Update
This surfacing whale is an adult female known as #3546 "Halo." She last calved in 2014 and could be pregnant! Photo by Sea to Shore Alliance, taken under NOAA permit #20556.
By Melanie White
Simons Island, GA. The New England Aquarium has identified both individuals as females. One, known as "Halo," gave birth to her first calf in 2014. Yearly right whale calving numbers have been low, with only five calves born last year. For a population of around 450 individuals, healthy adults and high calving numbers are urgently needed in order to keep this population from becoming extinct. An unprecedented 17 right whales died in New England and Canadian waters in 2017, many from entanglement in commercial fishing ropes and vessel strikes. An 18th right whale was found dead entangled in fishing rope offshore of Virginia in January. The combination of low calving and historically high levels of mortality is why the population is declining, and why there's such concern over the possibility of extinction in coming decades if nothing changes. Aerial surveys will continue to be conducted into March. As the season progresses, optimism that more sightings will come continues to be the daily driving force.
Project Manager GADNR Right Whale Conservation Program
T
his right whale calving season has been unusual in the lack of sightings logged. Weather has played a major role, with longer than normal stretches of adverse conditions, causing survey efforts to be less consistent than anticipated. Unfortunately, along with the weather, there has been an absence of right whale sightings within the only known calving grounds that exist for this fragile species. Aerial surveys have been underway since December with teams from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/ Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and Sea to Shore Alliance, scouring the ocean surface off the coasts of Florida and Georgia in hopes of finding these whales. On January 31, 2018, typically in the heart of the calving season, the Georgia-based team spotted two right whales off of Little Saint
February 2018
Southern Tides Magazine
For more information on right whales, visit: georgiawildlife.com/conservation/rightwhales 21
T he Bitter End A Sailor's Valentine By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
Day after day, day after day We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.
S
ome of you may recognize this passage from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by English poet Samuel el Taylor Coleridge. Today, we take the luxuries of making passage for granted. We simply turn a key or press a button and thee magic genie fires up to take us on our next adventure. But journeys ys that are now measured in days or a week or two, were once measured red in months or sometimes years. For example, Liverpool to New York was advertised as 21 days for fast passage and 29 days for the slower crossing in the earlymid-1800s. ly- to mid-1800s Working ships, like whalers from Nantucket, were often gone for periods measured in years. Life at sea during those lengthy voyages could be harsh at times. You didn’t wake up to a buffet of steak and eggs, pancakes and gluten free rolls. Your days were mostly filled with work, either processing the catch, or keeping the ship seaworthy. But, you did have your down time, such as days when the ship was becalmed as the passage from The Rime refers. Many a sailor found ways to entertain themselves, and many were surprisingly talented artists and craftsmen of sorts. One product of this talent was the Sailor’s Valentine. In our picture, you can see the valentine encased in an octagonal box. The size of these boxes could range from as small as eight inches to as large as eighteen inches across. Small shells were used to decorate the valentines, often said to be gathered on their journeys. The center most typically was a heart, however if you had a picture of your beloved, that could have been used instead. If you’ve been to Nantucket, or New Bedford, Mass., you may have seen sailor’s valentines in the tourist shops, and might have even been told that the practice originated there. While it is quite possible, researchers are now finding evidence there was a cottage industry in Barbados that created most of these works of art, and most of those from a little store called the New Curiosity Shop, on McGregor Street in Bridgetown, Barbados. And from there, many sailor’s valentines made their way around the world. Due to their construction and the age of these pieces of art, they are considered quite collectable, and are very rare. If you have an interest in searching for one of these romantic antiques, be sure to make sure you are getting a true historical piece and not one made last week in someone’s back room craft shop. Many original works were found to have pieces of a Barbados newspaper in the backing. So before shelling out the big bucks be sure to have it authenticated. So, whether first made by sailors, then turned to a cottage industry
or not, I find them quite lovely and fascinating. While still locked in the clutches of old man winter, why not take time to visit the Ships of the Sea martime museum, or just museums in general and see what you might learn. And if you have kiddos, be sure to load them up as well, let them unplug from the old interweb, and experience life before the modern age. As always, it's been a pleasure! Until next time, I'll see y'all on the water!
Email: jgaryhill@gmail.com 22
Southern Tides Magazine
February 2018
6 Modena Isl. Drive
MODENA ISLAND This exclusive waterfront luxury home was redesigned and increased in size in 2015 and is located in a gated community. From the matching Savannah Grey Brick fireplaces to the exquisite, gourmet kitchen, no upgrade was forgotten. Just under 6800 square feet allows private space for all. Guest quarters on the first floor open majestically to a pool, fire pit and expansive waterfront views. The master suite with two closets is on the main floor and just one floor up is a media room, 3 BRs, 2 BAs and an office. Almost every room boasts a view. Entertain with formal flair or have drinks by the pool. $2,150,000 RINCON Custom built brick home on over 15 acres. Large open floor plan with split BR plan. Master separate. Huge office, DR, very open kitchen. Pond and lots of woods on acreage. Lots of seasonal vegetation and fruit trees. Close to Savannah for shopping and work, but Effingham County for privacy. Roof 4 yrs. old. $519,500
6349 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 912.352.1222 BUCKHEAD
214 McLaughlin Court
VERNONBURG Perfect home situated on 1.5 acres with beautiful marsh and deep water views. Amazing master suite on the main floor with luxurious bath and huge closet. Two additonal bedrooms on this floor plus two BRs and baths upstairs. Very open floor plan featuring living room, great room, office, dining room, breakfast area and fantastic kitchen. Beautiful hardwood and porcelain floors. Lovely patio. You will fall in love. $699,500
ISLE OF HOPE New construction on Isle of Hope. Located on a corner lot in desirable area. Great room with fireplace and built in book shelves. Two master suites, one down and one up. Third bedroom and huge bonus room upstairs. Jack-n-Jill bath allows access and privacy for all. Lovely side porch off of the kitchen. Swing on the fantastic front porch and watch the world go by. $479,000
BURNSIDE ISLAND Deep waterfront on a special island. This community is amazing. 150’ on deep water canal with roofed dock house, floating dock. Single story open floorplan with multiple living spaces. LR, sunroom, Bonus, DR, office. 3BR, 2 BA. Huge utility room allows fantastic potential for a bonus suite. $625,000
422 Hunt Drive
BURNSIDE ISLAND Buildable deep water lot with a dock and floating dock. Almost half an acre. Stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Cleared and ready for your contractor. Bring your boat. Our community is waiting for you. $475,000
101 Melinda Circle
49 Tidewater Road
HERB RIVER BEND 5 bedrooms plus a bonus room and 5.5 baths. This stunning brick home in sought-after gated community has it all, from the largest lush backyard in the area to private baths for each bedroom. Kitchen has all the upgrades you could want and butler’s pantry makes entertaining a breeze. Luxurious master on the first floor. $749,000
112 Caroline’s Retreat
lyn@coldwellbanker.com
Live on the nicest street in Buckhead. 3 Bedrooms plus a bonus room with bath that could be a 4th bedroom. Split plan with 3 bedrooms downstairs. Renovated kitchen with granite counters, huge sink, under counter lighting and breakfast area. Spacious master bedroom with trey ceiling and patio access. Lovely deck with gazebo overlooking private back yard. $332,700
424 Forest Haven
110 Robin Road
Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927
BURNSIDE ISLAND Located on a deepwater canal with fantastic covered dock in a great area. Perfect for multi-generational living. 2 BR, 2 BA on ground floor with efficiency kitchen, playroom and living room. Separate 1 BR, 1 BA apartment. Main living area has 4 BR and 2 BA, soaring pine ceilings, and hardwood flooring. Huge great room, dining room, very open floor plan. $585,000
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