Southern Tides November 2020 by Southern Tides Magazine

Southern Tides all about the water

November 2020

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In the Tides CREW

Issue No. 63/ November 2020

Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com Editorial Assistant Jennifer Farmer info@southerntidesmagazine.com

7 Editor's Note 9 Call for Posters 9 UGA Updates Fishing Guides

Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu

11 Art on the Coast Georgia Fish Art Contest

The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com

Recycled Art Contest 12 Sea Turtle Season Recap

Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Contributors Kelly Simmons UGA Public Service & Outreach

15 Saving Gators 17 New Birding & Wildlife App 19 Whale Week 2020

Beth Quillian GADNR Communications/Outreach

20 Community Updates

C.J. O'Brien Emory University MDP Candidate

22 The Bitter End

Tim Keyes Georgia DNR Wildlife Biologist

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, S.C.

(912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on social media: www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Instagram @southerntides_mag Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.

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An adult female sea turtle making her way back to the water. See "Sea Turtle Season Recap" starting on page 12. Photo provided by Caretta Research Project

November 2020

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We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses listed above. 5

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Editor’s Note Thankful

t’s been a challenging year for our society and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been impacted by the events of 2020 in one way or another. Either financially, physically, emotionally, or in our relationships with others, in some way, the events of 2020 have touched most of us. There are enough challenges to deal with in our personal lives, but when things outside of our personal realm interfere, it can feel dark, overwhelming and chaotic. I firmly believe though, that if we focus on the good in our lives it gives the darkness and negativity less power, less importance, and can take away that feeling of chaos that seems so prevalent. And no matter how bad things get, there’s still plenty of good left in the world if we can open our eyes to it. One way of focusing on the good is to look at the things we each have to be thankful for. Sometimes those things are right there in front of us, and sometimes we have to dig deep to find them, but there are things in every life for which to be thankful, grateful even. I challenge each of you to find the things in your own lives to be thankful for, and to get you started, I’m going to tell you about some of mine. I’m thankful for living in this amazingly beautiful part of the world and to be part of a community that values that beauty and takes steps to conserve and protect it. (Come on, you knew that was going to be the first thing on my list!) I’m thankful for the talents and skills that give me the ability to earn a living doing something I enjoy, and for my clients and readers who continue to make that possible. I’m thankful for all the random moments I get to enjoy: • Seeing a great horned owl and red-tailed hawks hunting in my yard. • Getting a call, text or email from people I enjoy talking with. • Praise from clients and associates for doing a good job. • When a stranger smiles, holds the door, or says a kind word. • A great passage in a book that makes me think. • When my neighbor’s horse comes to the fence to greet me. • Having a new recipe turn out great. I’m grateful for the things that make life easier: the cozy cabin I live in, a reliable vehicle, a comfortable bed, a wellstocked pantry and refrigerator, power and indoor plumbing, and reasonably good health. I’m grateful for the things that bring pleasure: music, books, art, good food, sunrises and sunsets, the first warm days of spring, the first crisp days of fall, the scent of the marsh, moonlit nights, and the rocking chairs on my front porch. I’m grateful for the activities that bring pleasure: fishing, kayaking or any time on the water, sitting around a fire pit with friends, oyster roasts, conversations with the people in my life, exploring someplace new, playing with my animals, hiking a nature trail, front porch sitting, and spending time with those I care about, to name a few. I’m thankful for the opportunity to rescue a kitten and a puppy and see them grow and thrive – and enjoy all their antics! I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve others in an organization that does so much good in our chaotic world (Team Rubicon). I’m thankful for the family I chose – the people I’m grateful November 2020

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My dear sweet Charlie passed away in early September, I'm sorry to report. But I've been blessed in adopting these two. Meet Hemingway (top), and Remington, Remy for short. It's true that the pets you rescue, rescue you in turn. Hemingway is three months, Remy is seven months, and they quickly became buddies. These two never cease in providing smiles, laughter and snuggles!

to call friends. It would be a darker world without each of you. I’m thankful for the family I was given – my sister and two brothers, who I didn’t know existed until recently, and for their spouses, children and grandchildren, for the brother I grew up with and his family, and for my own children, grandchildren and stepdaughter. Family is everything. Everything. I, we, could have it so much worse. For every challenge or downturn we face, there are countless others who have it far worse. So take a little time and look closely at your life to find the good, and be thankful for it. Focus on that, rather than on the negative, and you might find that the chaos going on around us has a little less power. Happy Thanksgiving to you all See you out there!

Amy Thurman

Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com 7

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Climate Conference

UGA Updates Fishing Guides

Call for Posters

ooking for the best fishing hot spots in coastal Georgia? You’ll find them and more in the Guide to Coastal Fishing in Georgia map series, recently updated by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant thanks to a Coastal Incentive Grant from the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia DNR. The series includes six guides, one for each of Georgia’s coastal counties: Chatham, Liberty, Bryan, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden. Originally published in the late 1970s, the guides provide information about recreational saltwater fishing in Georgia. Each guide includes a map of the inshore coastal waters within each county and features popular fishing spots for different types of species. “Whether you are new to saltwater fishing or a seasoned pro, the updated guides will help better connect anglers to our state’s coastal resources, while highlighting the importance of responsible harvesting practices and coastal stewardship,” says Bryan Fluech, associate director of extension at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and lead on the map project. “Although the guides were originally designed for recreational fishermen, anyone who is interested in learning about coastal Georgia will benefit from their content and maps.” The updated guides feature locations of public boat ramps, marinas, tackle shops and public fishing locations, as well as how to measure fish, guidance on tying different types of knots, and tips on responsible harvesting practices for finfish, blue crab, shrimp and shellfish. In addition to reprinting the maps, the project team worked with the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government to design a digital version of the fishing maps that allows anglers to search for their favorite fishing locations from their computer, tablet or smartphone. The interactive map allows users to turn on and off various layers to find out where to go when targeting specific species or locating boat ramps and marinas. Information about Georgia’s artificial reefs and recreational shellfish harvesting areas along the coast is also featured. Downloadable, high-resolution PDFs of each county-based map are part of the new online resource. The Coastal Georgia Online Fishing Map along with details on how to obtain physical copies of the new guides can be found at: gacoast.uga.edu/outreach/resources-outreach/fishing-resources/.

he Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division will host a Climate Conference on Jekyll Island, Georgia, April 28-29, 2021. The conference will include concurrent sessions, a poster social, two keynote luncheons, continuing education credits, and networking opportunities. This conference provides an excellent opportunity for practitioners and researchers working on disaster coastal hazards in Georgia to present results of recent studies, discuss works in progress, and share ideas. The theme is "Minimizing Georgia’s Risk, Maximizing Georgia’s Future." Topics will include mapping, invasive species, local government, law and policy, tools café, resiliency and adaptation, habitat and impacted species, research, economics and industry, communications, energy, agriculture, public health, state efforts, emergency preparedness, private sector, media, social vulnerability, general education, weather and climate, living shorelines, and marine fisheries. Oral and poster presenter biographies will be provided to registered conference participants. Proceedings will not be published. Continuing education credit availability will be formally announced at least one month prior to the conference. Guidelines for posters Posters should be no larger than 100 cm (40 in) tall by 150 cm (60 in) wide. We will provide poster stations with a foam-core display board, easel, push pins, and tape, if needed. Presenters will be notified of their poster stations at the start of the conference. We ask that posters be in place by 3:00 pm on the first day and stay up until noon on the second day. Poster authors are required to be present at the poster social the evening of April 28th to answer questions. Instructions for submitting posters The deadline for submitting poster information is February 1, 2021. Submitted information must conform to the style provided online at gadnr.org/call-posters-georgia-climate-conference-2021. Submitters will be informed if their abstracts have been accepted by March 1, 2021. Biographies must be submitted in MS Word format to Jan Mackinnon at jan.mackinnon@dnr.ga.gov. Please include Climate Conference 2021 in the subject line. For more on the conference visit georgiaclimateconference.org/ November 2020

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Art on the Coast - Call for Entries Georgia Fish Art Contest

Recycled Art Contest

Presented by the Port Royal Sound Foundation to help bring awareness to Beaufort County’s 2018 plastic bag ban and keep the water and land of the Port Royal Sound Area clean and healthy. Artists are invited to participate in the third annual Recycled Art Contest. The theme for all artwork should relate to the Port Royal Sound – think ocean, animals, beaches, local culture & history, and fun in the sun! Entries must be recently created from at least 80% recyclables or trash material. $2000 in prize money will be awarded in several categories. *Contest is limited to 100 entries. Individuals, clubs, schools, families and businesses are all encouraged to participate. Maybe a life-size sculpture of a loggerhead turtle? Or your own version of a seagrass basket – use your imagination to help us bring awareness to keeping our community and the Port Royal Sound Area clean! Important Dates: • Entries are due to the Maritime Center between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., December 11th OR 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. December 12th. • Judging will take place the week of December 14th. • Winners will be notified & announced on social media Saturday, December 19th. • Winning entries will remain on display at the Maritime Center through January 31, 2021. • Items not picked up will be picked up by our trash company on January 11, 2021. Awards: Best school entry: $300 Best group (clubs, families, businesses, neighborhoods, etc.) entry: $300 Best individual entry: $300 Best use of recycled materials: $300 PRSF Award – Best represents the Port Royal Sound: $300 Best in Show: $500 How To Participate: To enter, visit PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org/artcontest for more information and fill out the registration form; registration is $10 and can be paid online or mailed to the Port Royal Sound Foundation.

10th grader Ziche Wang was the first place winner in 2017 with this piece depicting a redfish. Image provided by GADNR/WRD

Go Draw a Fish! Students have the opportunity to win prizes and recognition while learning about state-fish species, behaviors, aquatic habitats, and conservation. Using art, the Georgia Fish Art Contest (part of the international Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art® Contest) ignites children’s imagination while teaching them about fish and fishing. There are many award categories for the 2021 contest, including the Guy Harvey Award and the Go Fish Georgia Award. The Go Fish Georgia Award celebrates fish species found in Georgia which are commonly sought by anglers. Contestants may choose to apply in just the Georgia Fish Art Contest or in any of the additional award categories, or both. More info about award categories can be found at www.statefishart.org. To enter, young artists create an original illustration of their chosen fish from the official Fish List. Many new species have been added, including the Shoal Bass (Micropterus cataractae), which is now recognized as Georgia’s State Riverine Sport Fish. Please note, if entering any of the additional award categories, be sure your entry meets all necessary requirements. All Georgia contestants must complete the Georgia-specific entry form. Entries are due by Mar. 31, 2021 and can be submitted via email to FishArt@WildlifeForever.org or by mail to Marion Baker/Go Fish Education Center (1255 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069). Entry form can be found at www.statefishart.org (be sure to select the Georgia entry form). Complete information about the State Fish Art Contest is available at www.statefishart.org. November 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Sea Turtle Season Recap Not everything went wrong in 2020 - 170,170 sea turtle hatchlings emerged on Georgia beaches this year! Check out this season's stats, and for more information and updates, visit seaturtle.org.

671 Unique Females 2,793 Nests 1,993 DNA Samples Assigned 60.1% Mean Hatch Success First Nest: April 26 Cumberland First Emergence: July 9 St. Simons Last Nest: August 25 Wassaw Last Emergence: October 2 Cumberland Photo by Joe Pfaller, Caretta Research Project

Photo provided by Caretta Research Project

Nest Count Blackbeard - 313 Cumberland - 889 Egg Island - 0 Jekyll - 136 Little Cumberland - 84 Little St. Simons - 124 Little Tybee - 3 Ossabaw - 541 Raccoon Key - 0 Sapelo - 117 Sea Island - 86 St. Catherines - 258 St. Simons - 3 Tybee Island - 13 Wassaw - 226 Williamson - 0

Unique Species Nests 2,778 Loggerhead 1 Kemp's Ridley 7 Green Turtle 7 Unknown

Photo provided by Caretta Research Project

Photo provided by Jekyll Island Authority

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Saving Gators UGA & Okefenokee Swamp Team up to Protect Native Alligators By Kelly Simmons UGA Public Service and Outreach Ecologist Kimberly Andrews with a captured gator prior to its release. Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant

partnership between University of Georgia researchers and the Okefenokee Swamp Park focuses on conservation and education efforts needed to maintain the swamp’s native alligator population, which is vital to the economic vitality of the region. On Aug. 27, UGA’s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and the Okefenokee Swamp Park (OSP) signed a commitment to continue its Alligator Education and Research Project, work that informs the OSP on conservation and management of the swamp, provides a better understanding of alligators, and enhances wildlife education. “Applied research like this project in south Georgia is helping communities throughout the state address critical, local challenges,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for UGA Public Service and Outreach. “This is a great example of how UGA is fulfilling its mission as Georgia’s land-grant and sea-grant institution.” The OSP first began funding the project in 2017 and since then UGA scientists have conducted field research in the swamp to inventory the current alligator population by sex, age and size. “The American alligator remains a conservation concern for a number of reasons, including human persecution and loss of native habitat,” said ecologist Kimberly Andrews, a faculty member with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “It is important for us to understand how these reptiles are adapting to survive in a human-dominated environment.” Using satellite tags and cameras Andrews and her team at UGA have tracked seven adult alligators in the swamp, observing interactions between the sexes and age classes, courtship between males and females, maternal care and interaction with other species, such as bears or otters. They regularly survey areas of the swamp to get approximate counts of the alligators there and their activity levels during day and night, from season to season and under changing environmental conditions. So far, their research has shown that adult females and their guarded young, ages one to three years, are typically the most visible while the males are on the move, and mid-size subadults are more covert. Alligator activity and their visibility in the swamp is influenced by social structure and the presence of dominant individuals and changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature and rainfall. UGA researchers have collected tissues samples from every November 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

animal they have caught. These samples will reveal more of the story about the swamp alligator’s diet and family tree. “We are excited to renew our partnership with Dr. Andrews and UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant,” said Dr. William Clark, an ophthalmologist in Waycross and chair of the OSP Board of Trustees. “So far, the results of the alligator research have already changed the way many people view this apex predator and we look forward to increasing our collaboration for years to come.” Alligators are a conservation success story: they were the first species to be listed federally as an endangered species. Alligator farming replaced overharvesting from the wild that caused their decline and alligator populations began to rebound. Alligators are apex predators, consuming a diversity of food sources and regulating prey populations. At the swamp, researchers have seen that a single adult alligator may eat prey that range in size from a moth to a deer. When alligators are lost from a system, this balance is lost and the ecosystem instability impacts many other species, including people who rely on predators to manage prey populations, such as deer, that pose risk to our safety when overabundant. Alligators are the engineers of their economy, creating habitat that is used by other smaller animals. During drought, alligators create “wallows” or use den sites that retain water after it becomes scarce in other areas. These wallows can be critical for breeding habitat for frogs. The loss of alligators in some ecosystems has contributed to subsequent declines in amphibian populations in many of their habitats where they have been removed. The Okefenokee is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, serving as the headwaters of the St. Mary’s and Suwanee rivers. Most of the swamp is located in Southeastern Georgia and is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the state. Protected largely by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness, the swamp has an array of habitats including cypress swamps, peat bogs, marshes, open lakes and wooded hammocks. The diversity of ecosystems encompasses an assortment of over 620 plant species (including four carnivorous plant species), 39 fish, 37 amphibian, 64 reptile, 234 bird and 50 mammal species. Learn more about the project at gacoast.uga.edu/research/ major-projects/alligator-research/ 15

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Get Out There!

Apple or Google Play store. While travel can be a challenge during the pandemic, getting outside is a great way to recreate responsibly and enjoy nature. Follow social distancing guidelines and check with individual trail sites before planning a trip to determine the latest visitation policies. Additional tips are available at responsible-recreation.org. Visit georgiabirdingtrails.com to learn more about Colonial Coast Birding Trail sites, brush up on birding basics, download the mobile app and print a species checklist to carry with you. Hit the trail and discover why so many people are Wild about Georgia!

New birding & Wildlife Trail App Available By Beth Quillian Communications/Outreach, GADNR

eeing wildlife while exploring historic sites along Georgia’s coast is easier and more engaging thanks to a new website and app features announced recently by the GADNR. The launch of georgiabirdingtrails.com and the addition of a trail function to the Go Outdoors Georgia app are part of DNR Wildlife Resources Division efforts to expand its Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails program. The upgrades offer improved accessibility to wildlife viewing resources and support Georgia’s strong interest in birding and other wildlife watching, activities that pack a $2 billion annual economic impact statewide. The Colonial Coast Birding Trail, developed in 1999 and Georgia’s premier state wildlife trail, is the first trail updated under the new Birding and Wildlife Trails program. The Colonial Coast Trail includes 17 sites stretching from Fort Pulaski National Monument and the beaches of Tybee Island south to Cumberland Island National Seashore and the swamps of the Okefenokee. Shorelines, salt marshes, old rice fields, woodlands, tidal rivers and freshwater wetlands offer an array of habitats that showcase unique communities of birds and other wildlife. The trail includes federal, state and local sites that provide the opportunity to encounter wildlife, connect with nature and visit historic places. The Colonial Coast Trail’s wild blend of nature and history is especially evident at the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center. Built between 1826 and 1830, the canal was used to transport crops and goods from inland plantations to the shipping port of Savannah. Connie Shreve, also known as Connie the Canoe Lady, is the master naturalist at the center. “The native and non-native birds that visit the SavannahOgeechee Canal daily and seasonally are phenomenal,” Shreve said. “It's amazing seeing how many varieties of birds frequent the canal on their migration journeys." The Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails website introduces each trail site with access tips, a map, a list of amenities, wildlife highlights and a link to eBird hotspots. Wildlife viewing resources include a printable species checklist with seasonality data, as well as information on birding basics, Georgia Audubon chapters, citizen science projects, bird curricula and conservation organizations. A new program logo showcases the great blue heron, a familiar species found throughout the state. The Colonial Coast Birding Trail has also been added to the free Go Outdoors GA app developed by Brandt Information Services. The mobile platform provides an on-the-go resource for trail users to learn about trail sites, get directions, keep a species checklist and browse recent eBird sightings. And even more upgrades are coming soon. The app can be downloaded on mobile devices through the November 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Black-bellied whistling ducks. Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR

Three alligators basking in the sand. Photo by Clint Peacock, GADNR

Cattle Egret Photo by Tim Keyes, GADNR 17

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Whale WEEK Nov. 30 - Dec. 6 By C.J. O'Brien Emory University MDP Candidate

You can get Whale Whiskey during Whale Week at Ghost Coast while supplies last. It's delish! Photo provided by Whale Week.

said Paulita. “In a historically is the calving season of male dominated realm, we are the North Atlantic right whale! watching conversations about While most people are gearing ocean conservation become more up for the holidays, coastal inclusive. With more perspectives communities in north Florida we can build a culture of and Georgia are getting ready to stewardship that is lasting.” welcome the right whales with Whale Week has been active in excitement as they make their building awareness all across the voyage home for the winter. state, bringing the message to the During the month of December, state Capitol in 2019 “we play an these majestic marine mammals essential role in the future of this migrate from their feeding grounds endangered species and the ocean in the North Atlantic waters to plays an essential role in our own the Georgia and North Florida lives, we should be a steward of coastlines to give birth to their their future”. As a response to calves. Unfortunately, right whales these efforts Governor Kemp were hunted for over 900 years officially proclaimed December and have yet to recover from the as North Atlantic Right Whale Embedded photo by Sea to Shore Alliance, taken under NOAA pressures of historic whaling. Awareness Month statewide. Two of the current threats to research permit 20556 Building on this support in its third these whales are vessel collisions year, Oceana and Whale Week will host Boston Globe’s David Abel and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. The latter is usually the for a movie screening event, and the Susie King Taylor Institute will result of fisheries in the North Eastern US and Canada. There are host Michaela Harrison for a Musical event. now approximately 360 right whales in the current population, with All 2020 events take place between November 30th - December as few as 100 reproductive females. Research suggests that without 6th and will be virtual. Due to the virtual nature of this year’s serious conservation efforts we could lose all the reproductive age program, we get to cast a wider net of participants for events that female whale within 23 years, and that would signal the beginning cover history, science, arts, performance, advocacy and more. You of the end of a species. To combat their extinction and raise can find out more about events at WhaleWeek.org. Events are awareness about these curious creatures, Whale Week emerged in made possible by amazing partners and supporters at the City of 2017. Whale Week brings together the Savannah community and Savannah Weave A Dream, Oceana, Susie King Taylor Women’s beyond to build awareness and to honor the species - reminding Institute and Ecology Center, Georgia Conservancy, Ghost Coast local boaters to be mindful of mothers and calves off our coast Distillery, Loop It Up Savannah, TMG Creative, Tybee Island each winter. Marine Academy, Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Gray’s Every December, as the whales return to our offshore waters, Reef Marine Sanctuary, and Loop It Up Savannah, Lisa D. Watson, Whale Week’s co-founder Paulita Bennett-Martin pulls together Rachael Flora, and Nancy Daves, all working toward a common groups and individuals in Whale Week to create a schedule of goal, protecting North Atlantic right whales from extinction. events featuring local and national experts and artists. “This RSVP for events at WhaleWeek.org year audiences can hear from marine scientists, disentanglement When you are on the water, go slow, it’s calving season! experts, environmental artists and youth leaders. It’s also exciting And if you see a whale please report it by calling 877-WHALEto see the women in whale conservation coming together as well HELP. as African American women taking a lead in these conversations” November 2020

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Georgia is offering a helping hand to projects that help people experience the animals, plants and natural habitats emphasized in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Grant proposals can include facilities, improvements and other initiatives that provide opportunities for the public to observe nongame animals, plants and natural habitats. Notification of awards will be made by Feb. 22, 2021. Grants at a Glance • Project proposals should provide public opportunities to observe native wildlife and natural habitats, with an emphasis on species considered conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan (georgiawildlife.com/WildlifeActionPlan). • Deadline to apply: Jan. 8, 2021 • Grants are limited to $3,000 each. Funding is provided through Georgia’s Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund. • For details, including how to apply, visit: georgiawildlife.com/ WildlifeViewingGrants

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Safe Harbor

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This painting of a painted bunting was selected for the Pre-K - 2nd grade division. Painting by Jayden Lee, 2nd Grade

Grant-supported binoculars, platform and signage at Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll Island. Photo provided by Georgia 4-H Foundation

Recovering Americas Wildlife Act

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) will use their funds to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations. These funds will accelerate the recovery of the more than 12,000 species of greatest conservation need across the country by implementing the strategies identified in each state’s congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plan. The RAWA online story provides a map that allows you to click on any state and see current, ongoing conservation work being done. In Georgia programs include Sea turtle hatchlings. the loggerhead sea turtle nest Photo provided by Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. protection program and the Georgia Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. To view the story map, learn more about RAWA and how it's used, visit bit.ly/wildlife_act. 20

Southern Tides Magazine

November 2020

Boat Handling for First Responders

Every public safety department is familiar with EVOC – the Emergency Vehicles Operators Course that teaches first responders the necessary skills to operate an emergency vehicle safely. But what happens when the vehicle is a boat? Operating a recreational vessel on a swiftmoving river or stormy lake requires boat handling skills not taught in a classroom. In partnership with the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), TowBoatUS Lake Allatoona, a 24-hour on water towing and assistance service based in Cartersville, Ga., recently hosted a threeday “Essentials of Close Quarters and Open Water Boat Control” on-water instructor certification course for local first responders. The course was one of many offered across the country each year by local partners and NSBC, a national public private coalition that provides safe boating educational resources, outreach programming, and training opportunities. All NSBC courses include certified instructors who train boat operators in close quarters maneuvers such as docking and fueling sites, then progress TowBoatUS Captain and NSBC-certified instructor to advanced open water maneuvers, Capt. Chris Day (right) teaches on-water boat increasing handling skills and confidence. handling skills to a group of first responders. Training vessels are provided and course Photo provided by BoatUS pricing varies by location. Course content conforms to the American National Standard for on-water skills as verified through an independent third-party assessment process. To find out more about any of the NSBC’s training courses visit safeboatingcouncil.org.

Ken’s Seafood Support Your Local Seafood Industry! Oysters Shrimp Fish Gator Tail Crawfish Blue Crabs Scallops And More!

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Call Ahead For Oysters!

After School at the Aquarium

The UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant have been offering virtual events called After School at the Aquarium. Marine educators at the UGA Aquarium will host virtual after-school programs designed to inspire wonder and curiosity about the Georgia coast by featuring various activities and animals. These After School at the Aquarium programs will include a mix of art, nature journaling, science demonstrations and virtual animal encounters that provide exciting learning experiences for participants. Children of all ages are welcome, but activities are designed for children ages 6-12 with an accompanying adult. There are no programs scheduled for December but visit the website because there will be more coming in January! You can find out more about the programs and stay updated on their upcoming events at gacoast.uga.edu/uga-aquarium/public-programs/.

We’re working for you! • Protects, defends and restores the watershed by monitoring pollution and polluters. • Talks with legislators about bills that could better protect the watershed. • The 14,000 miles of the Altamaha watershed includes Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ohopee and the Golden Isles.

We can’t do it without you, become a member now! www.altamahariverkeeper.org

Blue crab, from a recent program, "Seafood Snack Time." Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant November 2020

Southern Tides Magazine

Fishable Swimmable Drinkable Water!

The BitterEnd A Hidden Gem By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

ood day, one and all! This month I’m going to take you up the coast a bit further than our magazine reaches. As you drive up Coastal 17 there are a multitude of spots just off the highway. Many of you have likely driven past them, perhaps on trips to Myrtle Beach or Charleston. As the summer grind was coming to an end, I decided to take a few days off for a road trip back to a couple of my favorites along that route. My first task was a quick internet search to determine what would be open and the hours and such. With COVID-19 still an issue, one never knows. My destination: Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the home of Brookgreen Gardens. I know you are thinking, “Why is a Gator heading for a garden?” Though this place does contain a few gardens, its main crop is not artichokes, but rather art itself. Brookgreen is home to the largest outdoor sculpture garden in America and quite likely the world. Comprised of four old rice plantations and taking its name from one of those, the property is over 9000 acres total with the sculpture garden covering up to 80 acres. This vast treasure trove has been the epicenter of many adventures for me over the last twenty years. Brookgreen Gardens was a gift from Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, and founded in 1931. To give you a brief history of this generous and affluent couple, Anna was mostly a selftaught sculptor, though she did some formal studies. Her father was a professor of paleontology and was the source for her keen understanding and observation of animals and their forms. Miss Hyatt made a move from Massachusetts to New York, and in 1915 became the first woman to create a public monument of a woman, featuring none other than the historical figure Joan of Arc. It was around this time she caught the eye of Archer Huntington. Archer’s family was part of the early development of the Transcontinental Railroad, which, of course, meant that he was quite wealthy. His inheritance amounted to about one billion dollars at todays rate. However, it wasn’t money that brought them together, rather a love for art and nature. Love blossomed and the two were wed, Anna in her 40s and Archer in his early 50s. Sadly not long afterward, in 1927, Anna contracted tuberculous, though she did finally recover from it by 1937. It was during her illness that they moved from New York to Pawleys Island, finding the southern winters and climate to be much better for Anna and allowing her to continue her work. With their intense love of the arts as motivation, Archer and Anna set about creating Brookgreen gardens, initially intended as a site for Anna to display her own sculptures. Laid out in the form of a giant butterfly, the walkways and sculpture gardens are simply astounding, and frankly, can be a bit overwhelming in the depth and variety of pieces found there. As I mentioned early on, I have been visiting this art oasis for over 20 years now.

Above: Don Quixote, by Anna Hyatt Huntington, 1947 Below: Alligator Bender, by Nathan Choate, 1937 Photos by J. Gary Hill

Ever changing, yet still the same, some pieces are static due to their size, some have moved about, and of course new pieces have been added through the years. If you’re in the holiday spirit come December and you want a quick getaway, consider a short drive up the coast for The Night of A Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. For info check out Brookegreen.Org, then calendar of events. There is so much more to this place than I have space for here today, plus I don’t want to spoil it for you, merely wet your curiosity. Go see for yourself and enjoy! In the meantime, peace and love, shrimp and grits … I'll see you on the water!

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com

Southern Tides Magazine

November 2020

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This spacious condo gives you an incredible view of the Wilmington River with breathtaking sunsets. The property has beautiful live oaks throughout The views will make you fee like you are always on vacation. The condo has a split floor plan that leads to a balcony where you can enjoy the breeze coming off of the river. Enjoy these nice warm days by the Olympic size pool or enjoy some golf at the Savannah Country Club. $335,000

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Southern Tides November 2020

Articles inside

The Bitter End

Community Updates

Whale Week 2020

Saving Gators

Art on the Coast

Editor's Note