Southern Tides September 2022

Southern T ides all about the water

2022

Isle

outhern

all about the water

CREW

Publisher/Editor

Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Assistant Editor Neva Parsons neva@southerntidesmagazine.com

Consulting Naturalist

John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu

The Bitter End Columnist

Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com

The Riverkeeper Report

Meaghan Gerard meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Fishing with Captain Jay Captain Jay Cranford gacharterfishing@gmail.com

Contributors

Nick Riccio, Jr. Wildlife Photographer

Rick Lavender GADNR Wildlife Resources Division

ides

Copyright © 2015-2022

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

Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.

Subscribe to Southern Tides: Visit www.squareup.com/store/ southern-tides-magazine

$35 for one year/12 issues. Thank you for your support!

Letters to the Editor: 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.

In the Tides

Vol. 8, Issue 1 September 2022

7 Editor's Note

9 Fishing with Captain Jay

11 Taste of the Tides

13 Riverkeeper Report

15 Becoming an Outdoorswoman

15 Call of the Swamp Opens

16 For the Birds

23

GAMBA Thanks

24 Lawyers, Guns & Money

25 Did You Know?

26 Saving Ceylon

28 Community Updates

30 The Bitter End

About the Cover:

When Southern Tides Magazine was launched in September 2015, our very first cover photo was of a roseate spoonbill. So it seemed fitting that our cover this month, as the magazine celebrates seven years of publication, also be a roseate spoonbill.

Photo by Nick Riccio, Jr., Wildlife Photographer

When Looking back leads to looking ahead

An old memory crossed my mind recently. When I was a kid growing up in rural Missouri, my parents subscribed to Missouri Conservationist magazine. The content was mostly focused on articles about nature and it was published by the Missouri Conservation Department, which is similar to our Georgia DNR. I loved learning about the animals and plants I saw nearby and although I struggled a bit with some of the science when I was very young, I read every issue cover to cover from the time I learned to read until I left home.

I won’t lead you down the spiraling path that provoked the memory of Conservationist, but it prompted a smile and I went to my desk to look it up online. I fully expected to find that it had ceased publishing decades earlier, but was thrilled to discover Volume 85, Issue 9, September 2022 right there, available for me to look at online via a flipbook similar to what I use for Southern Tides!

As I flipped through those pages two things occurred to me. One was to wonder if the decision to make Southern Tides focused on nature and conservation was a subliminal mimicking of the magazine I so enjoyed as a child. The second was to realize that a lot of the ways they present content would work extremely well in my own magazine.

For example, Conservationist has a feature called “Get Outside” which shares information about what you might find that month if you got outside and explored nature. While of course the ecology and climate is different there, the idea still translates well here. It could include what fish are biting this month, the current water temperature, where shrimp can be found, what native plants are blooming, what birds are nesting or fledging, what edibles you might find, what shells to look for on the beach, any migratory species that will be here, or even tips for escaping the wrath of biting flies or throwing a cast net.

The potential for information is extensive, so I reached out to our resident naturalist, John "Crawfish" Crawford, and asked if he would help me compile information for this feature. He’s agreed and we hope to launch it with the October issue. While ideas are sharable, names are not, so we’re thinking of calling this “Explore Nature.” Unless one of you has a better suggestion? Send it to me!

The pages of Conservationist provoked other ideas for new and interesting content, and its great layout made me realize that it might be time for a bit of a facelift for our magazine as well. This issue marks seven years of publishing Southern Tides, and aside from changing ad sizes in 2017 and fonts in 2020, it looks pretty much the same as it did at the start. I’ll be working on more eye-catching designs and

The very first cover of Southern Tides Magazine in September 2015.

We chose a roseate spoonbill for this month's cover as well, as a small nod to our seven year anniversary. We have some exciting new things coming up as we head into year eight!

Cover photo shown here by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery

interesting ways of presenting content in the coming issues.

Another thing I figured out by looking at Missouri Conservationist is how to handle reader photos. You might remember last month when I put out an appeal for a cover photo and was inundated with submissions – so many of which were stunning images! You can see some examples of those submissions starting on page 16, in our For the Birds feature, showcasing some of those photos of birds. Just beautiful!

But how to use reader photos more? Many of you have asked me about that over the years, but it’s difficult to get your photos to me in a large enough file size for print, and wading through dozens of emails is time consuming. The way Conservationist handled this was to set up a Flickr group where readers can upload photos to be considered for publication and the staff chooses three photos each month in their reader photo section. We can do this! And we have. We’re currently accepting reader photos of shells – no need to stage them, and by no means should the living occupants be harmed, but if you have great photos of shells, we’d love to consider them for a feature layout. Visit www.flickr.com/ groups/southerntides/ to join the group and share your photos. Check back each month to see if there’s a theme or if any coastal photo is acceptable.

I’m excited about these and other upcoming additions! Many thanks to Missouri Conservationist staff: Stephanie Thurber, magazine manager, Angie Morfeld, editor, and Laura Scheuler, circulation manager, for their enthusiasm, willingness to talk with me, and for a great magazine that takes me back to happy childhood memories and gives me inspiration for my own publication! Well done, ladies!

And thanks also to you, our readers, for picking the magazine up each month, or subscribing, for letting us hear from you, and for sharing Southern Tides with friends. We hope you enjoy every page!

See you out there!

Amy Thurman

Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Fishing with Captain Jay

Bring on Fall Fishing!

By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com

It’s hard to believe, but fall is right around the corner and that's my favorite time of the year to fish.

If you want to catch fish on the coast of Georgia, there are excellent opportunities in store for you this fall. The variety of inshore fish available to anglers during this time is exciting. You can target fish that pull hard, (Jacks, drum and redfish) and fish that are also great on the dinner table, such as flounder and trout. In my opinion, some of the best tasting fish are sea trout, flounder and redfish, not necessarily in that order.

Cooler months are coming and as the water cools, trout and reds will move from deeper saltwater into more shallow areas to feed, such as the rivers and creeks from Savannah to Cumberland Island.

You don't need an expensive boat. I've got an old saying I've repeated many times, "I've never seen a boat catch a fish!"

Any 16- to 24-foot boat with a shallow draft can get you to the shell bars and other structure where the fish feed. Just be sure you get out of shallow areas, like small feeder creeks, before the tide goes out or you’ll have a long wait for it to come back in.

Don’t have a boat? You can fish off a dock or a pier, or even the bank in some places.

Moving water is the key to great fall fishing. We have another saying at Coastal GA Fishing, "Live by the tides, die by the tides." We have a tide change twice a day on the Georgia coast; a falling tide is best for reds and a rising tide is best for trout. When you find structure that has water moving on or over it you will usually find the fish.

Structure is sometimes oyster reefs or rakes – the intertidal section of the bank or mudbar where oysters grow. These oyster rakes are plentiful and all kinds of bait fish feed around them, making them prime fishing territory. Other structure could include pilings, jettys, downed trees, or any other solid objects below the waterline that provide shelter for bait fish. The key is to find such a place with current moving past it – fish will feed there.

I like to anchor up-current from the structure and let my bait drift downstream past the feeding area. The current will carry your bait right to the waiting trout and reds since they position themselves to watch for food being washed along. I’ve found the deeper you can get your bait, the better.

Speckled trout have a "paper mouth" so don't set the hook like you’re trying to land a largemouth bass. Redfish, on the other hand, can pull the rod right out of your hand; don't make the mistake of laying your rod down or you may lose it. Yet at other times they can be less aggressive in their bite.

When searching for new areas, go out at low tide. The best time to find shell beds and pilings to fish is when the tide is low and you can actually see the structure. If you’re quiet in your approach, don't

be surprised to see redfish feeding and if you do, cast in front of them for some heart pounding action!

Have a game plan; position yourself ahead of time so when the tide starts coming in you can fish with the current. A few hours later you can go back and position your boat on the opposite side and fish the same structure as the tide falls. A good drift is very important.

You may find yourself set up to catch fish but getting no bites, but an hour or so later you may catch one with every cast! Keep a log of everything you do, including depths fished, water clarity and tide times. It takes patience and time to learn how to work the tides, the right depths and how water flows over or around structure.

And what about bait? I use live shrimp and jigs like the VUDU shrimp or other shrimp imitations. Another choice of artificial is a new company called Fishbites. They have different flavors/scents for targeting different species and are getting more popular with those who prefer artificials.

A popping cork such as the Thunder Chicken, adjusted properly, keeps your bait in the feeding zone. You will be drifting the bait past feeding fish so you usually don’t have to make long casts, just get set up in the right spot to work that drop.

The more time you spend on the water, the more you learn. As you gain this knowledge and find these places to fish, you can catch them. Fall is a great time to catch plenty of fish and fill your cooler. Be a good steward of our waters, don't litter and only keep what you plan to eat. There will be more opportunities the next time you go.

Don't wish ... let's go fish!

Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with you!

gacharterfishing@gmail.com

• www.coastalgafishing.com/

Slot red. Photo by Captain Jay Cranford

Taste of the Tides:

Shrimp & Gravy with Smoked Gouda Grits

I can’t remember where I found the original recipe, more than a decade ago, and I’ve altered it so many times it doesn’t even really resemble the original. One thing I changed initially but later went back to was the use of smoked gouda cheese. For a while I used extra sharp cheddar in the grits because it seemed crazy to pay twice as much for smoked gouda. But let me tell you, I won’t make that mistake again. Get the smoked gouda!

Remember to support your local seafood markets or catch it yourself!

INGREDIENTS

Grits

1 6-8 ounce block of smoked gouda, shredded

2-4 slices bacon, diced

1 tbsp butter

¼ cup white cooking wine

1 large clove garlic, minced

3 tbsp flour

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp ground celery seed

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp Creole seasoning

1 cup chicken stock

DIRECTIONS

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped

1 tbsp chives, finely chopped

1 pound fresh local shrimp, peeled and deveined

In a zippered bag or small bowl, mix:

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp white pepper (can substitute black)

½ tsp salt

¼ - ½ tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)

1 tsp oregano

• Start grits. I would never presume to tell you how to make grits, so make them as you normally would.

• Cook diced bacon over medium heat until lightly crispy. Remove from grease and drain on paper towel.

• Remove all but about two tablespoons of grease from skillet and set aside.

• Add minced garlic and butter to skillet with bacon grease. Saute over medium heat for about two minutes.

• Add white cooking wine to skillet and simmer over medium low heat until reduced by half.

• Whisk in flour, onion powder, celery seed, paprika and Creole seasoning and continue whisking for about two minutes, being careful not to scorch.

• Whisk in chicken stock, stirring frequently until sauce begins to thicken.

• Stir in heavy cream and cilantro.

• Cover and reduce heat to low (or, if stove runs hot, remove from heat). Stir occasionally.

• Add a tablespoon or two of the leftover bacon grease to another skillet and set heat to medium high.

• Add shrimp to plastic bag of spices and shake to coat.

• When skillet is hot, add shrimp and saute a couple minutes on each side until done. Remove to a plate.

• Return skillet with gravy to heat, stirring frequently until warm.

• Add shrimp and bacon pieces to gravy, stirring to coat.

• Add shredded gouda cheese to grits, stirring until melted and combined well.

• Serve shrimp and gravy over grits and sprinkle with chives.

Attention Seafood Markets!

Southern Tides is seeking a recipe sponsor. Contact us to have your company name and logo included here. Attention Coastal Cooks and Chefs!

Have a recipe featuring local seafood you'd like to share? Reach out to us! amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

The Riverkeeper Report

I n the last year, the lower river region has lost hundreds of acres of vitally important wetlands to commercial warehouse developments . These developments in precious wetlands reached a dangerous point last month when Effingham County Commissioners agreed to rezone the property right next door to the drinking water intake for Chatham, Effingham, and parts of Bryan counties. Using language like "We trust the clean water act and the feds to protect us" the commissioners chose to go forward with permitting a warehouse development.

Their reasoning that the warehouse's stormwater discharge would be downstream from the intake avoids the fact that the Savannah River is tidal. 400,000 people rely on Abercorn Creek drinking water source daily. Savannah and Ogeechee Riverkeepers along with One Hundred Miles are working with the communities affected to bring decision makers to the table for rational discussions on how to allow growth without decreasing the protections on this vital drinking water source and without devastating resiliency.

Read more: www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/get-to-know-your-river/

S t. Marys Riverkeeper is one of hundreds on the front lines ensuring that the Clean Water Act is enforced through our own water quality monitoring program, resiliency projects, community partnerships and engagement opportunities, and increasing awareness on how we can be better stewards for our St. Marys River and environment. As a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act in 2022, St. Marys Riverkeeper is partnering with local riverloving businesses this October for our Toast to Clean Water Campaign which includes a series of events and engagement opportunities that will strengthen the clean water movement and connect our community to their waterways. Let’s TOAST to the next 50 years of clean water!

www.stmarysriverkeeper.org/ toasttocleanwater2022/

A ltamaha Riverkeeper invites you to become a Community Water Quality Monitor!

Training will be held at Brunswick UGA MAREX Station on Monday, Oct 10 2022, from 10am – 4pm. No experience necessary. Open to anyone interested in monitoring in any watershed, over age 16. Free. BYOLunch. This training will cover chemical (pH, DO, conductivity, salinity) and bacterial testing. Register at: forms.gle/2KWNN1PcV8oGNvny9

Compiled by Meaghan Gerard Communications & Administrative Director Ogeechee Riverkeeper meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Ogeechee Riverkeeper presents Riverfest at the Mill on the banks of the Ogeechee River, on the Warren and Hancock County lines, on Saturday, October 1. Join us for outdoor events and activities on the grounds of the Ogeechee River Mill, including music, cornhole, rubber duck race, archery, tractor display, mule-drawn wagon rides, raffle paddling and fishing (bring your own equipment), and more! Admission is FREE for Ogeechee Riverkeeper members and children 12 and under. Admission is $10 per person for all others. www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/ events/riverfest/

O n September 7, Satilla Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center filed an amicus brief in the Office of State Administrative Hearings supporting the Brantley County Board of Commissioners' opposition to a proposed landfill situated next to sensitive wetlands and private drinking water wells.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division recently issued a solid waste handling permit to Brantley County Development Partners, LLC to construct and operate a municipal solid waste landfill. The Board of Commissioners is challenging the permit in administrative court, arguing that the EPD illegally issued the permit in violation of public notice and involvement requirements, and the County’s solid waste management plan.

EPD invited public comments on Draft Site Limitations in December 2019. These Site Limitations were drafted based on the applicant's Site Suitability Report. EPD received 9,517 public comments, all but three were in opposition to the draft site limitations. On May 28, 2020, EPD issued a Site Suitability Notice, dismissing virtually all of the public's concerns.

Satilla Riverkeeper will continue to work to protect the river and basin. For more information visit www.satillariverkeeper.org/urgent-issues.html

Becoming an Outdoorswoman

Call of the Swamp Play Opens

Ladies, have you ever wanted to head out to go backpacking or fishing or shooting, but weren't sure where to start? The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division can help! The 11th Annual Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Workshop, scheduled for Nov. 4-6, 2022 at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, provides a practical introduction to a wide variety of outdoor recreational skills and activities.

“BOW workshops focus on learning outdoor skills in a safe and structured environment, giving women from all backgrounds the chance to learn in a positive, non-competitive atmosphere where they can feel confident and have fun,” said Linda Scovanner, BOW coordinator. “Available class activities will include shooting sports, fishing, backpacking, nature photography, outdoor cooking and more!”

BOW is an educational program offering hands-on workshops to women (18 or older) of all physical ability levels and aims to break down barriers to female participation in outdoor activities by providing a supportive learning environment.

Weekend workshops begin on Friday morning and end on Sunday. Between meals, special presentations and events, participants can choose from more than 20 professionally led classes. Sessions range in intensity from leisurely to strenuous.

Participants can choose to bring their own tents and gear, or stay at the lodge at Charlie Elliott, part of a popular complex including a wildlife management and public fishing area.

“Although classes are designed with beginners and those with little to no experience in mind, more seasoned participants will benefit from the opportunity to hone their existing skills and try out new activities,” says Scovanner. “All participants will receive enough instruction to pursue their outdoor interests further when the workshop is complete.”

Registration for BOW is now open (deadline is Oct. 21). Cost per person, which includes food and programming, ranges from $255-$300 (depending on lodging choice). A limited number of scholarships are available to assist individuals with registration costs.

For more information, including registration details and a complete listing of classes offered, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/ BOW or call (770) 784-3059.

St. Marys Little Theatre will open its new season with an original musical dramedy Call of the Swamp on October 14, running two weekends.

Barbara Ryan-Harris, founder and chair of St. Marys Little Theatre says Call of the Swamp is “an adventure into nostalgia framed by some of the south’s most colorful characters.”

The story takes you back to the late 50s when swamp dwellers were asked to relocate in order for the government to expand the wildlife refuge. Nadine Mooney, whose family were original swamp settlers, doesn't take kindly to the government's efforts. The show opens with Nadine sitting on her shack porch with her shotgun cocked and aimed at Feds. From there, the roller coaster ride begins with mystery, intrigue, laughter, and history woven together to deliver a rich tapestry of great entertainment. In addition to Mooney and her wannabe sweetheart, Tommy Lee, you've got your red neck sheriff, a swamp witch, some moonshiners, and dancing alligators anything can happen!

“We’ve taken a bit of local history and mixed it with moments of hilarity and romance,” Ryan-Harris said. “Audiences are sure to exit the theatre still toe tapping and laughing, filled with a memory that will last a lifetime.”

Ryan-Harris, who also wrote the play, said that this particular show has special meaning to her.

“Spending time around the Okefenokee Swamp gave me the opportunity to meet swamp dwellers whose hearts are huge and personalities even bigger,” she said.

Call of the Swamp is produced by Debra Parsons.

Performances of Call of the Swamp are October 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 7 pm and October 16 and 23 at 2 pm at Theatre by the Trax in St. Marys. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Groups of ten or more get a discount. Tickets can be purchased online at www.stmaryslittletheatre.com or in downtown St. Marys at Once Upon a Bookseller. Cash or check at bookstore please. Call (954) 290-9873 for more information.

What on earth? If you want to know more, you'll just have to go see the play! Photo provided by St. Marys Little Theatre

Intro to handgun is one of many outdoors courses offered. Photo provided by GADNR

For the Birds

John J. Audubon, renowned for his portraiture of American birds, once said, "He who follows the feathered inhabitants of the forest and plains, however rough or tangled the paths may be, seldom fails to obtain the objects of his pursuit, provided he be possessed of due enthusiasm and perseverance.” Audubon used pen and ink, but today's photographers need that same enthusiasm and perseverance. Capturing great photos of birds is harder than you might think: getting close enough without startling them into flight, framing a moving subject just so, all the myriad fine-tuning to turn a mere photo into a portrait. The following photographs combine enthusiasm, perseverance and artistic vision.

Opposite page: Glossy ibis, taken at Altamaha WMA, Darien.

Above: White ibis at Cypress Wetlands, in Port Royal, S.C.

Top right: Great egret and chicks at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Right: Fledgling green heron twins, posing for their photo.

Photo by Nick Riccio, Jr.

Photo by Laurie Lohn

Photography

Photo by Heather Doray

Photo by Kathy Neal

Above: A slightly wet, juvenile yellow-crowned night heron.

Photo by Sarah Crawford Below: Tri-color heron, taken on Jekyll Island.

Photo by Nick Riccio, Jr.

Above: Snowy egret stalking through the surf. Photo by Greg Bartush IV Photography Below: Twisted great blue heron. Photo by Sarah Crawford

Above: A reddish egret, still as a statue.

Photo by Nick Riccio, Jr.

Below: A black skimmer, taken on Tybee Island.

Photo by N. Carmela Stock

Above: An adult snowy egret hunting for food. Photo by Sarah Crawford

Top left: A great egret in full mating display. Photo by Kathy Neal

Top right: Seagull lifting off at sunrise. Photo by Amanda Brady

Above left: A great egret coming in for a landing on its nest, taken near the Sidney Lanier Bridge. Photo by William Aspinwall

Above right: A male belted kingfisher perching on a branch. Photo by Steve Thrasher

A special thank you to all the photographers who contributed their beautiful photos to this feature!

Southern Tides would like to invite readers to submit your photos. Three images will be selected and published each month.

To submit your photos, join is on Flickr at: www.flickr.com/groups/southerntides/

Above: A brown pelican, taken at St. Simons village pier.

Photo by Melinda Delacruz

Below: Royal terns about to share a fish, taken on Jekyll Island.

Photo by Steve Kendall

Above: Roseate spoonbills taking time out for a little grooming. Photo by Laurie Lohn Photography

Bull River Marina

Dunbar Yachts

Fish Tales & Ft. McAllister Marina

Georgia DNR

Gilligans Beverage Center

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Hale Marine Services

Half Moon Marina

Hepaco Environmental Hinckley Yacht Services

Hogans Marina

In My Waters

Isle of Hope Marina

Live by the Tides Marine Max

Oyster N Oak Paxton Company

Prop Doctors, LLC

River Supply & River Services

Savannah Bend Marina

Southern Tides Magazine

Sunbury Crab Co. & Marina

Thunderbolt Marine, Inc.

Tortuga's Island Grille Zulu Marine Services, Inc.

Hosted by Savannah Area Lawyers and Friends

Did You Know?

Knobbed whelks (Busycon carica) are a predatory type of sea snail. Eeek! But don't worry, your toes are safe! Although they are carnivorous, knobbed whelks tend to prey on bivalves, such as hard clams, oysters, and something called incongruous arks (look it up!).

They grasp prey with their all-purpose "foot," then pry open the shell of their soon-to-be dinner using the lip of their own shell. Inserting a proboscis, they then feed. They can also use their radula, a sort of ribbon dotted with thousands of tiny teeth, to drill a hole through the prey’s shell.

What is a knobbed whelk?

• A marine gastropod (snail)

• A mollusk

• An invertebrate (having no spine)

Knobbed whelks are dextral, meaning their shells twine and open to the right. Unlike lightning whelks, which look very similar to knobbed whelks, but open to the left.

Whelks grow by producing turns and whorls in its shell around a central axis.

They can be “played” like a musical instrument. Cut the tip of the spire, press it to your lips and voila! A mini bugle.

They retreat into their shell using something like a tiny trap door called an operculum, sometimes referred to as a “shoe.”

If the shoe fits, wear it!

30

MILLION YEARS

How long knobbed whelks have existed

Other creatures will take over empty whelk shells, such as hermit crabs, like the one seen peeking out here.

The egg casing of a knobbed whelk can contain up to 40 capsules, with each capsule containing up to 100 fertilized eggs. Females lay egg strings twice annually, with fall (Sept/Oct) being the most productive season. The long egg casings, which resembled coiled snakeskins when washed up on shore, are sometimes called “mermaid’s necklace” or “fisherman’s soap”.

Georgia Seashell

Compiled by Neva Parsons

Saving Ceylon

By Rick Lavender Communications and Outreach Specialist

GADNR Wildlife Resources Division

water marinas. Then the Great Recession hit. As development plans stalled, a host of partners stepped in, joining with DNR to conserve the property and a Cabin Bluff tract that was added to the WMA.

The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program also stepped up. The program, Georgia’s first source of dedicated funding for acquiring critical wildlife lands and supporting parks and trails, approved three grants totaling $10.6 million over two funding cycles for the targeted tracts. Those grants were key to leveraging more than $70 million in support from private foundations, nonprofit organizations and federal grants.

It’s hard to overstate the value of Ceylon. Now a state-owned wildlife management area, only about two years ago the 24,000 acres in Camden County made up one of the largest unprotected wildlands on the U.S. East Coast.

Jason Lee, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources manager who helped preserve the Ceylon tracts and adjacent land then called Cabin Bluff, can reel off the conservation highlights. Nearly 3,000 gopher tortoises, the most on any state WMA. More than 1,000 acres of mature maritime forest. Georgia’s best unspoiled example of longleaf pine savanna, with intact groundcover and pines dating to the 1860s. Freshwater wetlands teeming with life such as imperiled gopher frogs and striped newts. Some 6,000-plus acres of saltmarsh and 19 miles of frontage on the Satilla River, blackwater centerpiece of a watershed rich in history and rare animals, plants and natural habitats.

“Ceylon is without a doubt the single-most important conservation project I’ve worked on,” Lee said.

Thanks to foresight, partners and the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, it is also a natural treasure that the public will enjoy for generations to come.

Known by its 1800s timber-mill village name – derived from the former British colony and tea mecca now called Sri Lanka –Ceylon seemed destined for high-density development and deep-

DNR acquired the land from project partners in chunks starting in 2021. A conservation easement jointly held by the U.S. Navy and DNR extended the preservation to an additional 3,000 acres. (Ceylon also serves national security as a protective buffer to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay near St. Marys.)

Forest management by Sea Island Co., a previous owner of the properties, had left the natural habitats largely in place, providing a firm foundation for DNR restoration efforts. That work is in full swing. Recent updates include treating more than 2,500 acres to reduce hardwoods, clearing the way to plant longleaf and spur the growth of native groundcover. Plans call for 2,700 acres of prescribed fire this year. There’s hope, too, the WMA will one day be home to endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Partners that proved vital to the acquisitions include The Conservation Fund, Open Space Institute, the Navy, U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Knobloch Family Foundation, Woodruff Foundation, Bobolink Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation.

Outdoor enthusiasts from hunters to birders are flocking to Ceylon. Which is no surprise. That was part of the vision shared when project leaders began working years ago to save the prized coastal lands.

The pre-application period for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program’s 2022-2023 cycle is open until Oct. 14. Details at www. gadnr.org/gosp.

Opposite: Gopher tortoises are among the oldest species on the planet. Photo by Joe Burnam, GADNR Above: An Easter indigo snake, non-venomous and native to the Southeast. Photo by Matthew Moore, GADNR

Below: A gopher tortoise in front of its burrow. Photo by Emily Ferrall, GADNR

CEYLON AT A GLANCE

• 24,000-acre WMA five miles off I-95 in coastal Camden County.

• Named for a mill village built there in 1874 (“Ceylon” derives from the former British colony that is now Sri Lanka).

• Home to game animals, gopher tortoises (Georgia’s state reptile), nine other species listed or considered for federal listing, 24 species rated a conservation concern in Georgia and globally imperiled natural communities: mature maritime forest (1,400 acres), longleaf pine-wiregrass uplands (4,000 acres), saltmarsh (6,400 acres) and freshwater wetlands (1,200 acres).

• Area acquisitions included three Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grants to DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division: 2019-2020 – $2.5 million for Cabin Bluff (included in Ceylon WMA) and $3.5 million for Ceylon phase 1; 2020-2021 –$4.6 million for Ceylon phase 2.

• Project partners: The Conservation Fund, Open Space Institute, U.S. Navy (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program), U.S. Forest Service and Georgia Forestry Commission (Forest Legacy Program), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Coastal Wetland Conservation and North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants programs), The Nature Conservancy, Woodruff Foundation, Bobolink Foundation, Knobloch Family Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation.

Fore more about Ceylon WMA and to plan your visit, go to: georgiawildlife.com/ceylon-wma

2019-2022

Community Updates

ABYC Online Courses

ABYC is hosting a number of online certification courses in October and November. Online course highlights include:

• ABYC instructor leads LIVE online sessions with Q&A

• Recordings of each session available the next day

• Online proctored certification exam Courses include:

ABYC Standards Certification

Oct 11 - Oct 13 (3 days/week for 1 week, 3:00pm – 4:30pm ET each day)

Diesel Engines Certification

Oct 18 - Oct 27 (3 days/week for 2 weeks, 3:00pm – 4:30pm ET each day)

Marine Electrical Certification

Sept 6 - Sept 22 (3 days/week for 3 weeks, 9:00am – 10:30am ET each day)

Marine Corrosion Certification

Nov 1 - Nov 17 (3 days/week for 3 weeks, 3:00pm –4:30pm ET each day)

Questions? Call 410-990-4460 or email education@abycinc.org

Reader Photos Wanted!

Southern Tides Magazine is happy to announce that we'll be adding a new feature in which we'll share a selection of reader photos each month.

We live on a beautiful stretch of coast and taking photos of it is a favorite pastime for many.

The first feature will run next month in the October 2022 issue, and will showcase reader photos of local shells. This layout will be similar to this issue's bird photo feature and multiple images will be selected.

While some months will be themed, in other months readers will simply be invited to share any of their favorite photos of coastal Georgia.

Photos can be submitted online in the magazine's Flickr group. Each month information will be posted about what type of photos should be submitted, along with instructions.

To join the group and submit photos, please visit www.flickr. com/groups/southerntides/

Safe Harbor

Rigging Services, LLC

Proudly Serving Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida

Sunset Cruise

Fossil Hunting

Dolphin Tour

Bird Watching

Golden Isles Tour

Onshore Seining

Inshore Fishing Day & Night

Water Taxi

Kayak Taxi

Please Call or Text for Pricing

231-578-5087

info@safeharborriggingservices.com www.safeharborriggingservices.com

John S. Ramsey, Owner

Authorized Dealer

BED & BREAKFAST INN

Four andard gue r ms & two suites, all wi large private ba r ms. ay wi us and visit Cumberland Island and hi oric . Marys! Pet friendly. Dietary needs met.

Call for special Southern Tides Rates! (912) 882-7490 www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com 209 Osborne . . Marys, Georgia

CIRCA 1870

OODBREA HOUSE

Photo by Nick Riccio, Jr.

GAMBA Social a Success

The Georgia Marine Business Association

(GAMBA) hosted their annual Summer Social on July 28, at the Thunderbolt Marine crew lounge on River Drive.

39 businesses were represented at the event, as were four not-for-profit organizations with marine ties, and multiple other guests, including the Mayor of Thunderbolt, Doug Williams.

Food was provided by Tortuga's Island Grille and guests enjoyed an open bar.

The Georgia Clean Marina Program, of which GAMBA is a partner, was represented and information about the program was available for guests.

Raffle prizes were donated by the following businesses:

Bull River Marina • Dunbar Yachts

Fish Tales & Ft. McAllister Marina

Georgia DNR • Gilligans Beverage Center

Gray's Reef Nat'l Marine Sanctuary

Hale Marine Services • Half Moon Marina Hepaco Environmental • Hinckley Yacht Services

Hogans' Marina • In My Waters • Isle of Hope Marina Live by the Tides • MarineMax • Oyster N Oak Paxton Company • Prop Doctors, LLC

River Supply & River Services • Savannah Bend Marina Southern Tides Magazine • Sunbury Crab Co. & Marina Thunderbolt Marine, Inc. • Tortuga's Island Grille Zulu Marine Services, Inc.

$800.00 was raised in raffle prize ticket sales. Proceeds have been equally divided with $400.00 going to Maritime Bethel Savannah (www.maritimebethelsavannah.com), and $400.00 going to GAMBA's Tom Wright Memorial Marine Trades Scholarship Fund.

GAMBA was organized in 1991 to benefit marine businesses in coastal Georgia. Information about membership can be found at www.georgiamarinebusiness.org.

Tourism Conference Oct 27

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is hosting its 4th annual Coastal Georgia Tourism Conference on Thursday, October 27, at Springfield Legacy Foundation in Midway.

The conference will bring together businesses, tourism officials, government representatives, researchers and community organizations working in tourism and hospitality along Georgia’s coast.

Attendees will be able to network with other professionals while learning about current issues impacting coastal tourism and hospitality sectors.

Presentations will address current industry and travel trends, local economic impact studies, ecotourism training opportunities, revitalization of the Georgia Grown HWY 17 Trail tourism connections for Georgia’s emerging aquaculture industry and cultural tourism planning efforts for the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

To register, visit: gacoast.uga.edu/gatourism

- 4 p.m.

ORK Advocacy Toolkit

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) launched a county-by-county campaign to update planning and zoning ordinances in 2020.

While these efforts are ongoing, ORK is adding resources for citizens to organize and conduct advocacy on their own.

“With 5,500 square miles to cover, ORK relies on the assistance of residents across the watershed,” says Damon Mullis, executive director and riverkeeper. “Reporting pollution issues to attending local municipal meetings to sending photos from a day on the river – all of this helps us keep our waterways safe.”

This tool kit compiles county contacts and ordinances but it also provides lists and ideas for checking the compliance of the proposed project.

“ORK will continue to work with local governments and citizens to pass updated ordinances, but this will give citizens a blueprint for expressing their concerns today,” says Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications and administrative director. “It’s key that residents know they do not have to simply accept destructive development practices.”

The tool kit is available for download at: www. ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/tool-kit-for-citizens/ Contacts and links will be updated as needed.

· Locally harvested oysters and great food

· Live music by CITY HOTEL

2022

Purchase tickets online at gacoast.uga.edu/oysterroast

The Bitter End

Why Dolphins Jump

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

As we get ready to jump from one season into another, I can’t help but think of some of my other friends that love jumping, namely dolphins. If you'll indulge me for a moment, I’d like to lay some groundwork with general dolphin knowledge, then I will finish the jump into jumping dolphins and hopefully stick the landing.

First off, did you know that dolphins are technically and biologically in the small-toothed whale family? Mind blown, right? So next time you’re out boating and come upon a pod of our finned friends, call your human friends and tell them you’re out whale watching.

There are thirty-eight known oceanic species of dolphins and four species of river dolphins. These range from the largest species of dolphin, the killer whale, to the smallest of dolphins, the Maui dolphin which is a sub-species of the Hectors dolphin, of which, sadly, the are only 50 to 65 left in existence. Oddly enough, the Maui dolphin is found off the coast of New Zealand, which leads me to wondering if Vikings named them, like that whole Iceland/Greenland deal.

I spend about a third to one half of my waking hours in pursuit of dolphins, in particular the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, a subset of the coastal or estuarine dolphins. I know, confusing, right? Well, DNA-wise, they’re Atlantic bottlenose, but they derive part of their name from their habitat. These guys and gals prefer living within sight of land or primarily within the saltwater marsh areas.

So, while where they live sets them apart from other dolphin species, there are other subtle differences. Let’s jump into that for a moment. To start with, these are considered resident dolphins, meaning they don’t migrate. Typically, our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live within a 10- to 15mile radius of where they’re born. However, sometimes the males will leave that area to set up their residence elsewhere.

Another difference is size. Coastal dolphins tend to be smaller than offshore dolphins, with females averaging six to eight feet and males averaging eight to 10 feet, but like humans, they can be either larger or smaller than average.

Coloration is another difference; our dolphins are generally a bit lighter in color. The upper backs near the dorsal on offshore dolphins will range from dark gray to nearly black, fading to softer gray down their sides, and then to white on their underbellies. What we normally see when out boating here in the lowcountry is a darkish gray on their backs that fades to white on their stomachs. But, what about the pink bellies on the females? Let me dispel that myth. Pink bellies do not always indicate a female, rather it’s a biological manifestation of excitement or happiness. This coloring can occur

on any dolphin, such as when they’re in the act of procreation, as well as when just playing for fun, and yes, even when jumping. There are multiple other differences between our dolphins and other species that I don’t have time to get into right now, cause now it’s time to JUMP.

I know most all of you have seen dolphins jumping. Sometimes they burst up of the water, freaking us out, sometimes while swimming in our wake as we make way. But why do they jump?

Several reasons. Occasionally because they’re chasing fish that are near the surface – they attack their prey from below, similar to sharks, and their momentum can carry them up, out of the water. It’s believed that males will jump to show off their physical attributes and agility to females, or even to intimidate other males. Another reason could simply be to get a better view of what’s above the surface; their eyesight is as good out of the water as it is in.

Did you know a dolphin sheds its outer layer of skin about every 2 hours? Yep that’s right. In order to stay hydrodynamically clean they can’t have anything accumulating on their skin, so another theory is that by jumping, they’re knocking ectoparasites off their skin.

Have you ever seen a dolphin surfing a wave? If you have, you may have noticed that they don’t move their fluke (tail), they just glide effortlessly. This is because they have virtually zero cost of transport. Their physical expenditure of energy is something like 1.29%, meaning they can surf a wave moving at 10 mph, themselves moving at nearly 10 mph, expending almost no energy. Which is why they often use boats wakes and ocean waves, these moving forces being almost like a dolphin Uber, a means of going from point A to point B.

Regardless of the reasons why dolphins jump, it always brings smiles to our faces when we see our finned friends showing off their acrobatic skills. On a side note, did you know a dolphin can jump higher than a house? Yep! They have very powerful tails, and, well, houses can’t jump.

'Til our wakes cross again, peace and love, and shrimp and grits. I'll see you on the water!

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com

Above: Dolphins surfing and leaping in the wake of Captain Gator's charter boat.

Inset: The pink blush on a dolphin's underside is similar to a human's blush. Photos by Premkuman Mani

for Purchasing a Waterfront Home

“Life is better on the water,” or so the saying goes. For some people, setting up shop near the H2O is a lifelong dream. So, what does it take to make that happen? Buying property on the water, any body of water, is a different path than buying landlocked property.

Whether you’re considering buying a lake house, or a beachfront oasis, there are some things to consider before writing the offer. One, in particular, is nancing. Loans for waterfront property are different than property on land, due in part to higher real estate value near water. The process is often lengthy, so plan ahead and start the process early.

Additions like storm shutters or stainless steel hardware on doors are also considerations. In the salt air, door hinges and locks can become corroded, but stainless steel is not affected by salt. Good things to know before you’re calling the locksmith, key lodged in your front door.

Here are some other tips of the waterfront-home-buying trade:

1. Put the property before the house. You can change everything about a property except the land. Make sure the view is what you prefer, scout the path to the water from the house, and privacy considerations. Some waterfront properties, especially in new developments, have challenges where utilities are concerned. Check the water, trash, gas, and electric services while reviewing the square footage.

2. Buy what you will use. Are you a boat owner? Look for accommodations for your watercraft, either on property or close enough for you to use. If the property doesn’t include your favorite water accessories, investigate what alterations are allowed. The Corp of Engineers is very strict on additions to waterways it controls, like lakes and rivers. Or you might have to get approval from the HOA before building or altering.

3. Preview loan options. Jumbo loans are common with waterfront property because of higher property values. These types of loans usually take more time to process, leaving a longer time between application and approval. Start early so you can get a jump on your dream.

4. Insurance requirements. Waterfront properties take a beating from the elements like no other type of home. Protect your interests by researching the types of policies needed. Flood, wind, or hurricane insurance could be required, but might not be available through the same insurance company. You might be shopping around to piece together every type of policy to cover your deck and your dining room.

Hopefully, this is helpful in getting you closer to the waterfront home of your dreams. Knowing is half the battle, right? Please let us know how your waterfront home search is going. We would love to hear from you!