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GC Staff Favorites Did you know...? • The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has been increasing the number of habitats for the pool sprite, black-spored quillwort Conservancy’s and diamorpha by creating new vernal pools. 17 new pools were dug and some existing pools were expanded. Most of these are in field guide to ’s old quarry site -- see if you can find them! • It was discovered that chickens digest their food better if some grit is added to the feed. The Davidson Family, owning a Invest in Your Georgia few granite quarries around Arabia Mountain, capitalized on that DAVIDSON-ARABIA and became the world’s biggest exporters of granite chicken grit. During the next 12 months the Georgia Conservancy’s Stewardship Trips Program will lead hundreds of people on hiking, paddling, Look for volunteer opportunities with GC, or at: camping, and service trips to far-flung places, all while celebrating MOUNTAIN www.arabiaalliance.org conservation, culture, food, music, diversity, and family. Nature Preserve We want folks breaking bread on Georgia’s riverbanks or singing songs around a campfire, from the mountains through the coastal plain and to our amazing saltwatermarsh and barrier islands.

Our goal is simple: Create a connection between some of Georgia’s most precious places and the people needed to protect them. www.gaconservancy.org/trips Nitty Gritty Hiking Trails Mountain Top Trail 1 mile round trip - As you can guess, this trail leads to the top of Arabia Mountain. At the top, a panoramic view BECOME A MEMBER OR DONOR TODAY! shows to the south and the city of to the northwest. Along the trail, you’ll travel across granite landscapes dotted with vernal pools providing habitat to rare species of plant life. The Georgia Conservancy is a statewide, member-supported Arabia Mountain PATH 30 miles of trails link the Nature Preserve conservation organization working to protect Georgia’s natural with the other areas of the Arabia Mtn , such resources through environmental advocacy, coastal as Panola Mtn and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. PATH trails are protection, sustainable growth, and outdoor stewardship initiatives. multi-use for walkers, cyclists, and dogs, come join them! Forest Trail 1.1 Miles - Explore a beautiful central Georgia forest, We hope you enjoy the experience of visiting this special place. Help shaded under the canopy of loblolly pines, a variety of oaks, tulip to ensure that places like this continue to be protected and add to poplars and other species of trees. This trail provides a great view of Georgia’s quality of life. Arabia Lake and connects to the PATH trail and Mile Rock Trail. www.gaconservancy.org/donate Mile Rock Trail 1 Mile - Remember how Arabia Mtn was once a quarry site? Step back into that time in history and hike this trail. See evidence of slabs of rock blasted away from the monadnock, holes #thisismyGA drilled out of the rock, and some equipment people used to do so. Thank you for your support and guidance Our mission is to protect and conserve And remember: Leave No Trace! Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics promoting conservation Georgia’s natural resources through in the outdoors. It consists of seven principles: 1) plan ahead and advocacy, engagement and collaboration. prepare, 2) travel and camp on durable surfaces, 3) dispose of waste properly, 4) leave what you find,5) minimize campfire impacts,6) respect wildlife, 7) be considerate of other visitors. Mary Brown Fund Garden Club Check with a State Park Ranger if you have any questions! of Atlanta Community Fund Spring 2020 1 2 3

Preserve the Biodiversity flora Biodiversity is the variability of plant and animal (flora and fauna) Pool Sprite (VU) species in an ecosystem as well as the genetic diversity within (Amphianthus pusillus) species. Each species uses a different part of the environment and Also known as little amphianthus, this small plant is only are interdependent on the other species to survive. Biodiversity found in a couple of states in the southeast and in very is what made Earth into what it is today and what makes each specific habitats: seasonal (vernal) pools on granite outcrops. During the summer months, vernal pools usually dry up, ecosystem unique. The more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the better leaving the species to survive only in seed form until the suited it is for energy transfers through the food chain, energy next rainy season, normally in winter. storage, decomposition and recycling. History Black-Spored Quillwort (Isoetes melanospora) (EN) The Davidson family owned Arabia Mountain during much of the fauna Though usually found together, black-spored quillwort 20th century, and by the 1960s Davidson Granite Enterprises was is not related to little amphianthus, but they are close Look for neighbors. The quillwort shares the same habitat of vernal the largest producer of granite in the world. In the 1970’s, the Tracks! Davidson family generously donated 500+ acres of Arabia Mountain pools on Arabia Mountain and only a couple of other locations. It has been found in 11 locations in Georgia, and surrounding lands to DeKalb County as a nature preserve for but due to habitat loss to quarrying it is now only found in local residents to enjoy. Since then, the park has been expanded Coyote three. Unlike most plants, they reproduce through spores, several times and now includes 2,550 acres, several granite outcrops Bobcat Southern Flying Squirrel which generally stay within the vernal pool. and two lakes. On October 12, 2006, the mountain and Davidson- (Lynx rufus) (Canis latrans) (Glaucomys volans) (LC) Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve were designated as nationally (LC) (LC) Red Diamorpha / Elf Orpine (Diamorpha smallii) (VU) significant as a part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in DID YOU KNOW? Southern flying squirrels are one of two species of recognition of its cultural, historical and natural features. flying squirrel in and the only one found commonly in Another vernal pool resident of a few southeastern granite GA. Extra flaps of skin between the wrists and ankles and a wide, flat tail, outcrops, red diamorpha is the most abundant of our allows this critter to glide up to 250 feet! three subject plant species. A large amount of sunlight is Cultural and Ecological Significance necessary for this species to thrive, but too much can kill it. To balance these levels, Diamorpha smallii develops red Arabia Mountain, a granite monadnock, leaves to act as a sort of sunscreen. It absorbs blue-green and is one of the most distinctive features ultraviolet light, repelling the rest and hence protecting the of DeKalb County. The Arabia Mountain interior cells from being damaged from too much light. The monadnock, or an isolated and exposed brilliantly red leaves are most visible in the spring and are rock hill, is one of the few found in Georgia the defining image of Arabia Mountain’s Diamorpha. besides and Heritage Area sister Panola Mountain. The unique Great Horned Owl Pileated Woodpecker Kentucky Warbler Issues Facing Conservation topography and of a monadnock (Bubo virginanus) (Dryocopus pileatus) (Geothylpis formosa) (LC) (LC) allows for unusual plant and animal (LC) The pool sprite, black-spored quillwort, and red diamorpha are species to thrive. Arabia Mountain has The Great Horned Owl, named for the large horn-like ears, normally feeds three species that depend heavily on their habitats of vernal pools five species that are listed as both state on small prey such as rodents, but is also known to hunt other birds of on granite outcrops. They do not adapt well to new environments, and federally endangered, including the prey such as other owls, falcons and osprey. This ferocity has earned this making habitat loss detrimental to their survival. Georgia is home to large owl the nickname, the Tiger Owl. bright-red diamorpha plant that lives the majority of the habitats for these endemic species, but their home in small pools of water that form on the is under siege. Georgia is also one of the biggest exporters of granite, monadnock. and many of the habitats are desirable sites for quarrying. The majority of the populations are now on protected lands in Georgia, Historically, Arabia Mountain was one such as Arabia and Panola Mountains, but even in protected areas, of several locations where the quarrying they face threats from recreation, like waste or being trampled under bicycles, boots, four wheelers, pets, and other native animals. Species of granite took place in the Area. Granite Eastern Coachwhip Eastern Box Turtle American Bullfrog from Lithonia quarries, including Arabia (Masticophis flagellum) (Terrapene carolina carolina) (Lithobates catesbeianus) like these are not very resilient, so even minor disturbances can have Mountain, can be found throughout the (LC) (LC) (LC) an impact. Watch your step! extinct threatened least concern United States, including in buildings at the The low-frequency call of the American Bullfrog can be heard as U.S. Naval Academy, the Brooklyn Bridge, far away as a kilometer from the frogs’ habitat at the edge of a body and as curb blocks. of water. It is the most well-known frog call and a familiar sound to residents of Arabia Mountain and across the southeast. EX EW CR EN VU NT LC