Latest news with #Loggerheads
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From Jekyll to Wassaw to Tybee, sea turtle experiences in Georgia and education await
Requiem's flapping flippers almost sounded like bird wings fluttering as Morgan Flannagan, a Georgia Sea Turtle Center hospital technician, pulled the green sea turtle from a rehabilitation tank. Flannagan dried the turtle off and took it inside to the center's hospital room. 'Sea turtles don't have health insurance,' said Michelle Kaylor, the Jekyll Island center's director. She and a crowd of center visitors watched Requiem through the hospital room's public observation window as the endangered turtle was fitted with a microchip on June 6. The turtle, whose sex is not known, was nearly ready to be returned to the ocean since arriving May 3 with a large J hook embedded in its esophagus. Kaylor said Loggerhead and Green Sea turtles account for most of the center's patients, many of which have suffered human-caused injuries. In addition to sea turtles, people bring other wildlife in need of triage to the center. Situations could also involve diamondback terrapins as well as birds such as eagles. Sea turtle cases can come from off the coast of Georgia's 15 barrier islands or as far north as the Massachusetts. Some turtles that travel to the Cape Cod area can get cold-stunned because they get stuck in bay due to the land mass shape and, since they cannot internally regulate their body temperature, become hypothermic. Such situations come to the New England Aquarium, Kaylor said. 'They'll triage them, take them in, and then they, with NOAA, coordinate sending them out to different facilities throughout the U.S.,' she said. Providing emergency and rehabilitation care for Loggerheads, Kemps Ridley, Leatherback and Green sea turtles is merely one element in a series of decades-long conservation efforts made by the center and other organizations within the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative, which is coordinated in part by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Conservation Section Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd. Dodd said some conversation efforts started as far back as the late-1960s under former University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology Professor Jim Richardson, who retired in 2016. His research on shrimping trawls leading to stranded sea turtles helped lead to federal protection. He was also instrumental in the early expansion of the use of TEDs or turtle excluder devices, which prevent turtles from becoming ensnared in shrimping and fishing nets. Throughout coastal Georgia, multiple organizations afford turtle enthusiasts to learn such tidbits and more through educational and experiential opportunities. Home Free: Mystic Aquarium released 22 rehabilitated sea turtles back into the wild on Jekyll Island Pump the brakes: Marine Science Center reminds drivers to slow down for terrapin crossings In addition to the hospital viewing room and the ability to observe turtles in the rehabilitation pavilion, the center offers interactive educational activities. It also features a full scale replica of a prehistoric sea turtle in its gift shop. Proceeds from the shop and admissions tickets help fund the center and its programs. The center has rehabilitated and released nearly 750 sea turtles since it opened in 2007. Where: 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia Cost: $9 for ages 4-12, $11 for teens and adults. Yearly supporter membership options are offered as well as group rates. Website: The Caretta Research Project is not a facility. Education and Outreach Coordinator Kristen Zemaitis said its unique program is volunteer operated. People pay to stay on the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge for week. On any given week of the program, six volunteers and two biologists collect data for research. "Everyone who comes out there during the summer learns firsthand what it's like to be a biologist, what it is that these turtles need," Zemaitis said. Roughly 100 people can access the experience each summer, and about 40% of them are returner volunteers who share their experience with others and wind up bringing folks back with them. "We've had people from six countries and all 50 states," she said. Caretta also partners with schools to bring sea turtle education into the classroom. All the organization's efforts serve its mission "to ensure the long-term protection and full recovery of the Northwest Atlantic loggerhead population and the ecological roles that it plays through research, conservation and education.' Where: offices located in Savannah, but sea turtle research and protection activities occur on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge Cost: ranges from $950 to $1,100 per person per week depending on time of registration Website: Tybee Island Marine Science Center's Veterinary Tech Sarah Alley and others offer educational programming for locals and tourists alike. The center's biologists and approved volunteers also actively track and relocate turtle nests on the island, which are up to eight as of June 13. Much like the Sea Turtle Center, the science center on Tybee addresses the needs of and educates the public about more than Loggerheads and Leatherbacks. The public can learn about bird migrations and about wildlife such as horseshoe crabs, sea gulls, diamondback terrapin and more. Tybee's center offers year-round walks on the beaches and in the marshes. It also often shows local artists' works in its Coastal Galleries such as Cat Ward's "Deep Dive" installation. Reach out to see how you might be able to assist with ongoing conservation and research initiatives on Tybee and Little Tybee Islands. Where: 37 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, Georgia Cost: 4 and under are free while children 5-12, seniors and military personnel pay $12, regular admission is $15 Website: Dodd said all the sea turtle conservation efforts across the state aim to to restore turtles to a "viable population that's fulfilling its role in the ecosystem." He said in some ways the population is getting to that point, noting a recent situation at the Jekyll center where a gravid female had to be euthanized. The turtle was brought in because it was missing significant portions of its front flippers. Unlike Requiem, though, the other turtle's injuries weren't caused by humans. Biologists determine that it had been bitten by a shark. In a way, the biologists let natural selection take its course since the turtle could no longer swim or feed. Dodd said getting ever closer to that viable population would mean humans can start to scale back their interventions while continuing to innovate elements such as the TEDs. Zemaitis said full recovery to the Caretta Project refers to "full recovery of the entire North Atlantic recovery unit." She said while Georgia and and Florida may appear to have huge spokes in nesting, challenges could still be facing turtles on the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina. Cape Romain, South Carolina, for example, typically sees 1000s of Loggerhead nests, the largest amount outside of Florida. "It is now almost completely inundated at high tide due to sea level rise, and their dunes have been flattened from hurricanes," she said. Over 98% of this year's sea turtle nests in Georgia belong to the Loggerhead species. Six are Green Sea Turtle nests and four are unknown. While Greens and Leatherbacks are commonly spotted foraging off the Georgia coast, they tend to nest elsewhere. Dodd expects this to be an average year, in relation to the last decade's worth of counts, with around 2,500 nests. DNR logged the most nests in a single year back in 2022 with over 4,000 documented throughout the state. When Dodd started at DNR in 1999 the Collective was tracking roughly 1,500 nests a year. Dodd said macro data implies turtles nest about every two to three years, so its not surprising the numbers are average this year. DNR knows this because, every year, the contents of a single egg from each found nest is sent to DNR and University of Georgia (UGA) Senior Research Scientist Brian Shamblin for maternal DNA analysis. All member organizations of the state's Sea Turtle Cooperative contribute to the DNA collection, which now has decades of data that can pinpoint nesting habits of individual turtles, some of which are are 70+ years old. He said while the statistics are complicated, DNR believes it has identified a grandmother Loggerhead. 'So that's a female that's over 100 that is still reproductively active,' he said. Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@ and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Sea turtle conservation in Georgia has been decades in the making
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia's 100 miles of coastline offers many treasured views. Here are four worth taking in
One thing Georgians don't take for granted is the more than 100 miles of coastline, fringed with spartina grass, where land meets sea in saltwater marshes. Of the state's 15 barrier islands—from Cumberland Island on the south to Tybee Island on the north—only four are accessible by car. The rest remain minimally developed and largely wild, protected as state and national preserves with pristine beaches where sea turtles return each summer to lay their eggs, the heavy limbs of hundreds of years-old oaks bow gracefully toward the ground, and the nation's fraught history and equally hopeful ideals swirl in the brackish eddies where salt and fresh water collide. This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking―and perhaps, underappreciated―views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure. [ Most Treasured Views in America: National | West | South | Middle America | Northeast ] From the busy Savannah River to the sun-bleached boneyards of old growth maritime forests, these four views are unmatched along the Eastern Seaboard―and all are within a day's drive if you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama or Florida. A short hike through scrubby marsh and undulating dunes leads to one of Georgia's most breathtaking sites: a sculpture garden handcrafted over centuries by wind, salt and water. Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is the final resting place of live oaks and other trees that were around when Gilded Age families with names like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller 'wintered' at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club. Once tethered to the uplands, beach erosion and storms have liberated them from their sentinels, tossing them in gnarled heaps along the north end of the island where tides both soften and harden their resolve. The best time to visit this special place and take in the stunning views is at dawn, just as a fiery sun appears on the horizon; its reflection melting into the Atlantic. The view is both haunting and awe-inspiring, and because it changes daily, it is a reminder that all things—memory, time, stuff—are impermanent. Buy a photo: Purchase select prints of Driftwood Beach and other treasured views Things to Do: Ride bikes across the miles of trails that traverse the island, taking you from the grandeur of the Club to the peaceful sounds of tides along the shore; visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center where endangered Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, Green and Kemps-Ridley sea turtles get their strength back to be released into the ocean; take a kayak tour with the guides at the Tidelands Nature Center; then, cool off at Summer Waves Water Park. Cost: Daily parking passes, $10 Details: I-95 to US-17 to the Jekyll Island Causeway to the northernmost end of Beach View Drive. Pull into a small sandy parking area on the west side of the road across from an unmarked trail, Like an Arch of Sabers, 400-plus oaks line the 1.5-mile road at the entrance of Wormsloe State Historic site, the former colonial-era estate of Noble Jones, a carpenter who traveled with Gen. James Oglethorpe in 1733 at the founding of Savannah. The tabby ruin of Jones's plantation is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. Most of the trees along the allée, called the Avenue of Oaks, date to the 1800s. Some of the trees are even older. But one of Savannah's most iconic and photographed views was in danger of disappearing until, in 2021, the Savannah Tree Foundation and the Rotary Club of Savannah partnered to plant 75 healthy oaks in place of those that had been lost to disease, storms and degradation due to car exhaust and other pollutants. Now, brides and nervous guys staging proposals will continue to have the picture-perfect backdrop of their dreams. Things to Do: Grab (and split) a heaping roast beef sandwich and some black and white cookies from Rocky's NY Deli & Italian Catering in nearby Sandly; drive to 45 Diamond Causeway and have a picnic at Butterbean Beach, between the fabled Moon River and Skidaway River; stop in at Pin Point Heritage Museum, in the former A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and Crab Factory to learn more about coastal Georgia's rich Gullah-Geechee culture. Admission: Adults (18-61), $12; Seniors (62+), $9; Youth (6-17), $5.75; Children under 6, $3.25 Details: Open Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas); 7601 Skidway Road, Savannah, Ga.; 912-353-3023, Due South: These are some of the most breathtaking views in the South. Take in our top picks Meat Sweats: Ride with us as we sample some of Coastal Georgia's best barbecue joints At eating and drinking establishments along the Savannah River's working waterfront, a ritual takes place every time one of the massive container ships makes its way to the port with the aid of a local pilot. Guests who dine in former cotton warehouses and carriage shops raise their glasses in salute and take another sip. When traffic is heavy, it's hard not to get tipsy. But the grit of weathered ships that have voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean and the grace with which they maneuver the narrow river channel is a site to behold and worthy of respect. The freighters' loud horns echo the past, anchor the present, and call to the future—reminders that Savannah's arms have been open to the world since its beginnings and that its future is tethered, in part, to some distant spot on the horizon. Things to Do: On the one hand, you can explore the ancient and exotic at Plant Riverside District where dinosaur fossils hang out with massive geodes and crystals. You can catch a concert, browse baubles, dine waterside or sip near an Electric Moon. On the other hand, you can stroll the river walk to The Thompson Hotel for a pop-up dinner at Fleeting before a nightcap up on the roof at Bar Julian. Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours Details: Anywhere along River Street in downtown Savannah between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on the west and Eastern Wharf on the east, The Forsyth Park Fountain has witnessed countless first kisses, prom group photos, proposals, elopements, buskers and en plein air artists more than any other Savannah, Georgia, landmark. To say it has played an important role in Savannahians' lives is an understatement. The elegant cast iron fountain, ordered from a catalog in the mid-1800s, was patterned after the one at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Covered with acanthus leaves, swans and tritons send falls of waters into a pool of that turns green every St. Patrick's Day. Visitors to Georgia's First City make their pilgrimage to the fountain and snap selfies with it to prove they were here. But they may lose their way in the coming months, when the city of Savannah will send the fountain off for some much-needed TLC—its first restoration in nearly 40 years. Things to Do: On Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., more than 30 purveyors of fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef and pastured pork, cage-free eggs and fresh-baked goods line up on the south end of the park for the Forsyth Farmers Market; the Sentient Bean on Park Avenue serves up coffees, teas and vegetarian lunches and breakfasts; right next door at Brighter Day Natural Foods, pick up vitamins and a baked cheese sandwich with fresh avocado; and if you're still around at 4 p.m., grab a beer at American Legion Post 135, near the birthplace of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours Details: North end of Forsyth Park at the intersection of Gaston and Bull streets, Amy Paige Condon is a content coach, editor and reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at ACondon@ Richard Burkhart is the visual journalist for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at RBBurkhart@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Enchanting excursions along Georgia coast with breathtaking views
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Developer submits Loggerheads 138-home plan after appeal win
Detailed plans have been submitted for nearly 140 new homes in a village after campaigners lost a battle to block the Homes won its appeal earlier this year to overturn Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's decision to refuse planning permission for up to 150 homes in Loggerheads, developer is now seeking approval for "reserved matters" including appearance, landscaping and layout of the 138-home developer said the scheme would include 42 affordable homes. More than 400 people objected to the original planning application and members of the Save our Village group also went to the planning originally blocked the proposals, earmarked for land north of Mucklestone Wood Lane and east of Rock Lane, over concerns about limited public transport and the effects on the countryside, as well as the Grade II listed White House Farm.A planning inspector disagreed with the decision however, ruling that the site was in a "suitable location" with good access to services and other needs in the village.A planning statement submitted as part of the application said the area was connected by regular public transport to Market Drayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hanley and further afield."A range of house types, sizes and tenures will be provided on site, made up of two, three and four bedroom dwellings," it said."The proposed dwellings will be one and two storeys and garages will be provided at single storey scale."All homes will benefit from private gardens and allocated parking spaces."Open spaces and play areas of various types and sizes will be provided around the perimeter of the site and will be well connected to the residential dwellings via a network of footpaths and cycleways." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
