Windknot
04-17-06, 05:23 PM
Following are three news releases from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division.
SUMMARY OF RELEASES FOR APRIL 17, 2006
STATE BIOLOGISTS DOCUMENT 94 NESTING PAIRS OF BALD EAGLES
Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) have documented 94 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Georgia during the 2005-2006 nesting season. The figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous season's total of 82 active nests. Among the documented nests this year, 76 were successful in fledging 120 young eagles, the highest total since the state began recording the data in 1978.
PREDATORY BEETLES TO COMBAT SPREAD OF HEMLOCK PESTS
North Georgia's majestic hemlock trees are under attack from a tiny insect with a voracious appetite, and their best defense could prove to be a predatory beetle that feeds on the pests. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is helping to fund the development of a beetle lab at the University of Georgia as part of a long-term effort to stop the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid. Other partners in the project include the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Georgia Forest Watch, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Georgia Power Company and the Lumpkin Coalition.
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER OFFERS WILDLIFE CAMPS THIS SUMMER Is your 7 to 14-year-old child interested in wildlife and the outdoors? If so, send them to either the "Wild Summer Days" Day Camp (ages 7-10) or a "Wild Summer Week" overnight camp (ages 11-14) at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Mansfield, Georgia! These camps are hosted and organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
For more information, contact:
Ben Johnson, WRD Public Affairs: (770) 918-6787
Jim Ozier, WRD Sr. Wildlife Biologist: (478) 994-1438
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATE BIOLOGISTS DOCUMENT 94 NESTING PAIRS OF BALD EAGLES IN GEORGIA Nests yield 120 fledglings
FORSYTH, Ga. (April 17, 2006) - Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) have documented 94 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Georgia during the 2005-2006 nesting season. The figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous season's total of 82 active nests.
"The bald eagle population in Georgia had apparently flattened out over the past three years, with known nesting pairs numbering in the low 80s," said WRD Sr. Wildlife Biologist Jim Ozier. "It is extremely encouraging to see that figure increase this year, along with the number of young produced."
Among the documented nests this year, 76 were successful in fledging 120 young eagles, the highest total since the state began recording the data in 1978. Last nesting season, 62 nests were successful in fledging 94 young eagles. The state's previous highest documented production of young was 107 in 2004.
"Just a few years ago, conservation agencies were spending thousands of dollars per bird to release captive-reared eaglets into the wild," Ozier said. "Now, wild eagles are doing a much better job on their own, and on a broader scale." Because the large raptors often eat fish, waterbirds and even turtles, most eagle nests in Georgia are found along the coast and near major rivers or reservoirs. Some nests are located near smaller bodies of water if food is abundant.
Bald eagles in Georgia usually nest atop tall pine or cypress trees, and typically use the same nest year after year. WRD biologists conduct aerial surveys each year to observe known nesting sites and to investigate potential new sites. The increase in documented nests this year includes some new nests, as well as the discovery of several previously unknown nests.
Biologists are also interested in receiving reports of possible nesting activity from the public, which occasionally leads to the discovery of new nests. Eagle pairs normally return to their territories by late summer or early fall and lay eggs by December.
The fall or winter presence of a pair of adult eagles near a body of water might indicate nesting activity.
Scientists believe the widespread use of the pesticide Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) dealt a serious blow to the bald eagle population in the 1950s and 1960s, and no active nests could be found in Georgia during most of the 1970s. Since the banning of DDT in 1972 and the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the species has slowly made a recovery in Georgia and throughout the country.
The majestic birds are listed as endangered under Georgia's Endangered Wildlife Act, and are federally listed as a threatened species. Georgia's bald eagle population has steadily increased during the past 25 years, climbing from one nesting pair to the current total. Based on the bird's continuing recovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with a proposal to remove the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. If the bald eagle is delisted, it will continue to be protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
"The bald eagle is a great conservation success story in Georgia and across the nation," Ozier said. "With continued funding and support from public and private organizations, we hope to see similar examples with other species in the future."
Georgians can support conservation of bald eagles and other nongame wildlife by purchasing a license plate featuring a bald eagle or a hummingbird for their vehicle, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Sales of the wildlife license plates are the primary source of funding for the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section.
For more information about bald eagles and other protected wildlife in Georgia, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/forum/www.georgiawildlife.com). To report nesting activity of bald eagles, call the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section at (478) 994-1438.
###
For more information, contact:
Ben Johnson, WRD Public Affairs: (770) 918-6787
Matt Elliott, WRD Natural Heritage Program Manager: (770) 918-6411
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PREDATORY BEETLES TO COMBAT SPREAD OF HEMLOCK PESTS
Georgia DNR, partners fund UGA beetle lab to control hemlock woolly adelgid
[See Ted's post in General Info forum! DD ]
For more information, contact:
Melissa Cummings, WRD Sr. Public Relations and Information Specialist - (770) 918-6788 Jamie Gibbs, WRD Wildlife Interpretive Specialist - (770) 784-3059
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER OFFERS WILDLIFE CAMPS THIS SUMMER
MANSFIELD, Ga. (April 17, 2006) - Is your 7 to 14-year-old child interested in wildlife and the outdoors? If so, send them to either the "Wild Summer Days" Day Camp (ages 7-10) or a "Wild Summer Week" overnight camp (ages 11-14) at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Mansfield, Georgia! These camps are hosted and organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
During the 2006 "Wild Summer Days" day camp, children will be engaged in the natural world around them. Hiking, fishing, live animal programs and wildlife arts and crafts are just a few of the fun activities that will get your child outdoors and learning about nature. Day Camp session times are 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Dates for the summer day camp depend on the age of your child: Age 7-Session I (June 6-9); Age 8-Session II (June 20-23); Age 9-Session III (June 27-30); Age 10-Session IV (July 18-21). The cost for the day camp is $75 per child, which includes instruction, T-shirt, program materials and a Chick-Fil-A lunch on Friday (campers will need to provide their own lunch Tuesday-Thursday).
For children 11-14 years old, CEWC is offering week-long overnight camps that will give kids a "behind-the-scenes" look into the world of wildlife and their habitats. During their stay at the CEWC Lodge, campers will participate in hands-on activities that focus on the biology, natural history and management of our natural resources. Through their experiences, kids will take home the tools they need to become life-long stewards of the environment. Two week-long opportunities are available: Session I (June 12-16) or Session II (July 10-14). The cost for the camp is $250 per child for the entire five-day session, which includes food, lodging, instruction, program materials and a t-shirt.
The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is located on 6,400 acres of forests, fields and lakes, making it the perfect natural setting for a child to spend a week this summer! Registration is open through May 20, 2006, but space is limited.
For a registration packet or additional questions, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/forum/www.georgiawildlife.com) , select "General Information," then "Wildlife Education Centers," then "Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center," or call (770) 784-3059. ###
SUMMARY OF RELEASES FOR APRIL 17, 2006
STATE BIOLOGISTS DOCUMENT 94 NESTING PAIRS OF BALD EAGLES
Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) have documented 94 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Georgia during the 2005-2006 nesting season. The figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous season's total of 82 active nests. Among the documented nests this year, 76 were successful in fledging 120 young eagles, the highest total since the state began recording the data in 1978.
PREDATORY BEETLES TO COMBAT SPREAD OF HEMLOCK PESTS
North Georgia's majestic hemlock trees are under attack from a tiny insect with a voracious appetite, and their best defense could prove to be a predatory beetle that feeds on the pests. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is helping to fund the development of a beetle lab at the University of Georgia as part of a long-term effort to stop the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid. Other partners in the project include the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Georgia Forest Watch, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Georgia Power Company and the Lumpkin Coalition.
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER OFFERS WILDLIFE CAMPS THIS SUMMER Is your 7 to 14-year-old child interested in wildlife and the outdoors? If so, send them to either the "Wild Summer Days" Day Camp (ages 7-10) or a "Wild Summer Week" overnight camp (ages 11-14) at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Mansfield, Georgia! These camps are hosted and organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
For more information, contact:
Ben Johnson, WRD Public Affairs: (770) 918-6787
Jim Ozier, WRD Sr. Wildlife Biologist: (478) 994-1438
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATE BIOLOGISTS DOCUMENT 94 NESTING PAIRS OF BALD EAGLES IN GEORGIA Nests yield 120 fledglings
FORSYTH, Ga. (April 17, 2006) - Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) have documented 94 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Georgia during the 2005-2006 nesting season. The figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous season's total of 82 active nests.
"The bald eagle population in Georgia had apparently flattened out over the past three years, with known nesting pairs numbering in the low 80s," said WRD Sr. Wildlife Biologist Jim Ozier. "It is extremely encouraging to see that figure increase this year, along with the number of young produced."
Among the documented nests this year, 76 were successful in fledging 120 young eagles, the highest total since the state began recording the data in 1978. Last nesting season, 62 nests were successful in fledging 94 young eagles. The state's previous highest documented production of young was 107 in 2004.
"Just a few years ago, conservation agencies were spending thousands of dollars per bird to release captive-reared eaglets into the wild," Ozier said. "Now, wild eagles are doing a much better job on their own, and on a broader scale." Because the large raptors often eat fish, waterbirds and even turtles, most eagle nests in Georgia are found along the coast and near major rivers or reservoirs. Some nests are located near smaller bodies of water if food is abundant.
Bald eagles in Georgia usually nest atop tall pine or cypress trees, and typically use the same nest year after year. WRD biologists conduct aerial surveys each year to observe known nesting sites and to investigate potential new sites. The increase in documented nests this year includes some new nests, as well as the discovery of several previously unknown nests.
Biologists are also interested in receiving reports of possible nesting activity from the public, which occasionally leads to the discovery of new nests. Eagle pairs normally return to their territories by late summer or early fall and lay eggs by December.
The fall or winter presence of a pair of adult eagles near a body of water might indicate nesting activity.
Scientists believe the widespread use of the pesticide Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) dealt a serious blow to the bald eagle population in the 1950s and 1960s, and no active nests could be found in Georgia during most of the 1970s. Since the banning of DDT in 1972 and the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the species has slowly made a recovery in Georgia and throughout the country.
The majestic birds are listed as endangered under Georgia's Endangered Wildlife Act, and are federally listed as a threatened species. Georgia's bald eagle population has steadily increased during the past 25 years, climbing from one nesting pair to the current total. Based on the bird's continuing recovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with a proposal to remove the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. If the bald eagle is delisted, it will continue to be protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
"The bald eagle is a great conservation success story in Georgia and across the nation," Ozier said. "With continued funding and support from public and private organizations, we hope to see similar examples with other species in the future."
Georgians can support conservation of bald eagles and other nongame wildlife by purchasing a license plate featuring a bald eagle or a hummingbird for their vehicle, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Sales of the wildlife license plates are the primary source of funding for the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section.
For more information about bald eagles and other protected wildlife in Georgia, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/forum/www.georgiawildlife.com). To report nesting activity of bald eagles, call the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section at (478) 994-1438.
###
For more information, contact:
Ben Johnson, WRD Public Affairs: (770) 918-6787
Matt Elliott, WRD Natural Heritage Program Manager: (770) 918-6411
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PREDATORY BEETLES TO COMBAT SPREAD OF HEMLOCK PESTS
Georgia DNR, partners fund UGA beetle lab to control hemlock woolly adelgid
[See Ted's post in General Info forum! DD ]
For more information, contact:
Melissa Cummings, WRD Sr. Public Relations and Information Specialist - (770) 918-6788 Jamie Gibbs, WRD Wildlife Interpretive Specialist - (770) 784-3059
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER OFFERS WILDLIFE CAMPS THIS SUMMER
MANSFIELD, Ga. (April 17, 2006) - Is your 7 to 14-year-old child interested in wildlife and the outdoors? If so, send them to either the "Wild Summer Days" Day Camp (ages 7-10) or a "Wild Summer Week" overnight camp (ages 11-14) at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Mansfield, Georgia! These camps are hosted and organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
During the 2006 "Wild Summer Days" day camp, children will be engaged in the natural world around them. Hiking, fishing, live animal programs and wildlife arts and crafts are just a few of the fun activities that will get your child outdoors and learning about nature. Day Camp session times are 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Dates for the summer day camp depend on the age of your child: Age 7-Session I (June 6-9); Age 8-Session II (June 20-23); Age 9-Session III (June 27-30); Age 10-Session IV (July 18-21). The cost for the day camp is $75 per child, which includes instruction, T-shirt, program materials and a Chick-Fil-A lunch on Friday (campers will need to provide their own lunch Tuesday-Thursday).
For children 11-14 years old, CEWC is offering week-long overnight camps that will give kids a "behind-the-scenes" look into the world of wildlife and their habitats. During their stay at the CEWC Lodge, campers will participate in hands-on activities that focus on the biology, natural history and management of our natural resources. Through their experiences, kids will take home the tools they need to become life-long stewards of the environment. Two week-long opportunities are available: Session I (June 12-16) or Session II (July 10-14). The cost for the camp is $250 per child for the entire five-day session, which includes food, lodging, instruction, program materials and a t-shirt.
The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is located on 6,400 acres of forests, fields and lakes, making it the perfect natural setting for a child to spend a week this summer! Registration is open through May 20, 2006, but space is limited.
For a registration packet or additional questions, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/forum/www.georgiawildlife.com) , select "General Information," then "Wildlife Education Centers," then "Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center," or call (770) 784-3059. ###