sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aucilla River, Bittern, Brasstown Creek, Conasauga River, Currahee Mountain, Johns Mountain

his is your window into the work of the Department Conserving nongame species and restoring and preserving wildlife T of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section. habitats are central to making sure this natural heritage is available for our children and their children to enjoy. Our mission at Nongame Conservation is straightforward and critical: Conserve the more than 95 percent of native Georgia wildlife species Besides helping maintain our quality of life, these programs that are not legally fished for or hunted – called nongame – as well support our economy. In 2011, some 2.4 million people spent a as rare plants and the habitats these plants and need. total of more than $1.8 billion watching wildlife in Georgia! That work affects us all, whether it’s acquiring lands along the This report details nongame research, surveys, conservation for conservation and recreation, sizing up the programs, education, land acquisition and habitat management alligator snapping population in Spring Creek or teaming with during the fiscal year from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. Included partners to keep Georgia aster off the Endangered Species list. are our successes and our challenges. Conserving Georgia’s Nongame Wildlife 2014

FISCAL YEAR REPORT

One continuing challenge is funding. We do not receive state Report copies, including a six-page summary, and video highlights appropriations for conserving nongame. Instead, we depend on are available at www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/ grants, contributions and fundraisers, such as the eagle and AnnualReport. hummingbird license plates. Thank you for your interest in conserving Georgia’s nongame And 2014 featured some good news regarding license plates. A law wildlife and natural habitats. If you have questions or comments, change made this year holds great promise for turning around a three- please email me at [email protected]. year decline in wildlife tag sales and renewals, our primary fundraiser. Jon Ambrose Chief, Nongame Conservation Section

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES | WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION | NONGAME CONSERVATION SECTION CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH n n FRESHWATER n n Waterbird Conservation Initiative AQUATIC SPECIES Regional Education Centers n n Youth Birding Competition n Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Aquatic Conservation Initiative n Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest n Partners in Flight n Robust Redhorse Conservation n Social Media n Surveys n Wood Nests n PLANTS AND Promoting Awareness Bald Eagle Nests NATURAL HABITATS Swallow-tailed Kite Nests and Roosts n Sandhills Conservation LAND ACQUISITION, n n Rare Plant Surveys on Public and AND Private Lands EASEMENTS AND n Coastal Habitat Conservation n Conservation and Research CONSERVATION n Coastal Wet Oak Flats Survey n Sea Turtle Stranding Network and n Restoration of Mountain and Coastal At-sea Recovery PLANNING Plain Bogs n Bog Turtle Conservation n Habitat Improvement on State Lands n Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: n Alligator Snapping Turtle Population and the Interagency Burn Team Almo and Fort Perry Tracts Study n Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance n Griffin Ridge WMA: n Gopher and Eastern Indigo n Ginseng Management Program Morgan Lake Tract Snake Conservation n Georgia Conservation n Biotics Database Development n Gopher Frog Restoration Tax Credit Program n n North American n Conservation Planning Monitoring Program PRIVATE LANDS n Eastern Hellbender Conservation n Private Land Activities Surveys n Forestry for Wildlife Partnership FINANCIAL AND n Striped Newt Restoration n Army Compatible Use Buffer ADMINISTRATION Conservation n MAMMALS n Community Wildlife Project n Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund n North Atlantic Right Whale n Nongame License Plates Conservation n INVASIVE SPECIES n ‘Give Wildlife a Chance’ State Income n Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding ASSESSMENT AND Tax Checkoff Network MANAGEMENT n Weekend for Wildlife n Manatee Conservation n TERN n Bottlenose Dolphin Contaminants n LAW ENFORCEMENT n Federal and Other Funding Project FOR NONGAME n Administration and Personnel n Small Mammal Conservation Photo credits for cover:

Bog turtle (Todd Pierson) Georgia aster (Michele Elmore/TNC) Sicklefin redhorse (Brett Albanese/GaDNR) Yellow-rumped warbler by Angus Pritchard (Linda May/GaDNR) Wood (Mary Ellen Urbanski/USFWS) Contents Disentangling a right whale (FWC /NOAA permit 15488) 2 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Waterbird keep the site free of vegetation, promote beach- Conservation Initiative nesting seabirds and discourage nesting by gulls. In other updates: Georgia’s barrier island beaches, coastal salt marshes and freshwater wetlands support 86 n DNR and partners including the University of species of seabirds, shorebirds and wading birds, Georgia, St. Catherines Island, Little St. Simons collectively known as waterbirds. The Waterbird Island and the U.S. and Wildlife Service were Conservation Initiative includes: awarded a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to control predators at a number of key n Protecting important colonial waterbird nesting nesting sites for American oystercatchers. habitats. Partners completed the field component of the project in summer 2014. This project not only n Conducting surveys to determine the status and habitat needs of resident, migratory and led to higher nest productivity for oystercatchers wintering waterbirds. than DNR has documented recently, but should provide an adaptive management tool to help n Creating partnerships for long-term conservation River Marsh Island after abandoning it for several managers determine when predator control efforts of wetland-dependent bird species. years. Overall nesting numbers were still low, are needed. Two trappers hired by Nongame Conservation efforts include protecting and however, compared to records from five-10 years ago. Conservation removed 87 raccoons, 17 feral hogs managing five sand islands for beach-nesting Keyes/GaDNR) Island (Tim Catherines chick on St. Banded American oystercatcher and two coyotes from Little St. Simons, Egg and migratory birds. While this effort is especially Nongame staff and partners tracked seabird Island and Little Egg Island Bar. Thanks in part to valuable for seabirds, resident and migratory colonies on Little Tybee Island, Ogeechee Bar, those efforts, most of the 32 oystercatcher chicks shorebirds also benefit from protecting critical Ossabaw Island, Little Egg Island Bar, Little St. documented during 2014 are presumed to have nesting and resting areas that are free from Simons Island, Pelican Spit, Brunswick Dredge fledged. The summer not only provided the highest disturbances. One of the areas, a dredge-spoil island Island, Satilla Marsh Island, Little Cumberland count of oystercatcher chicks in Georgia, a record near Brunswick, supports one of the largest colonies Island and Cumberland Island National Seashore. 28 chicks were banded. Several rooftop colonies also were monitored, mostly of nesting seabirds on the South Atlantic . n DNR coordinated the second year of a major new in the St. Mary’s area. Significant productivity was migratory shorebird survey based on a regional study The summer of 2014 was a good one for beach- noted on Pelican Spit and Brunswick Dredge Island. by shorebird researchers with the Conserve Wildlife nesting birds. The relatively few extreme tide events These two sites are free from mammalian predators, Foundation of New Jersey and the U.S. Geological and storms during nesting season allowed for solid a factor that often leads to high productivity. Survey. Repeated surveys were conducted at productivity among most beach-nesting birds. 23 sites during fall 2013 and spring 2014. A Although Little Egg Island Bar had a small mixed Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2007

combination of DNR and Fish and Wildlife Service Sciences) Conservation for Center Winn/Manomet (Brad shorebirds help survey and Doris Leary Pat volunteers Georgia seabird colony that was partially washed over, a and owned by the state, the dredge-spoil island near colony of 450 brown returned to Satilla the Brunswick shipping channel is an important nesting site for waterbirds. In 2014, 6,473 royal tern nests were documented, along with 50 sandwich tern nests, 90 black skimmer nests, three for gull-billed terns, 250 for least terns, five for brown pelicans and 250 for laughing gulls. The Nongame Conservation Section is working with the corps to Birds FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 3 staff, island managers, and volunteers conducted In 1999, DNR developed the nation’s first statewide woodpeckers already use as foraging habitat. Over the the surveys, which are aimed at helping generate red-cockaded woodpecker Habitat Conservation coming years, recruitment clusters will be installed in more accurate population and trend data for a Plan to provide management options for private suitable places at WMA to encourage number of Arctic-nesting shorebirds. landowners. The plan includes options for mitigated the expansion of red-cockaded woodpeckers. n Researchers documented 121 pairs of American incidental take and for Safe Harbor. To supplement the red-cockaded woodpecker oystercatchers on the Georgia coast. Safe Harbor targets landowners in southwest population at Silver Lake, Nongame Conservation n Georgia, where plantations managed for the northern A graduate student completed her first field staff translocated six woodpeckers from Apalachicola bobwhite also support a significant population season working with Wilson’s plover on National Forest to the WMA in 2013 and will of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Safe Harbor Cumberland Island National Seashore during translocate six more from Fort Stewart in fall 2014. involves a landowner’s commitment to beneficially summer 2014. The student studied nesting The Silver Lake population has grown, with 28 family manage habitat for the site’s “baseline” number of ecology, including how males and females groups documented in 2013 and 2014. Last year, 35 woodpecker families, those on the site when the respond to different nest predators. nestlings fledged. n Three whimbrels are still transmitting radio agreement is made. A family group refers to the red- signals since being tagged in spring 2012 and cockaded woodpeckers occupying a cluster of cavity Through more frequent controlled burning, installing 2013, a project supported by The Environmental trees. The group can range from a single bird to a additional recruitment clusters and careful forest Resources Network (TERN) and other partners. breeding pair plus one to three helpers – typically management, Silver Lake WMA will eventually sustain Seven whimbrels have been tagged in Georgia male offspring from previous years that help feed about 50 family groups. since 2007. Researchers are learning about younger siblings. In exchange for maintenance whimbrels’ use of the Southeast’s coast, as well of this baseline number of family groups, the Nongame Conservation staff also translocated a pair as the tremendous migrations the birds repeat landowner’s responsibility will not increase if the of red-cockaded woodpeckers from Fort Stewart to annually. Our longest transmitting whimbrel, woodpecker population increases. new recruitment clusters on Moody Forest Wildlife named Postel, has been transmitting for 855 In Georgia, 176,593 acres are enrolled in Safe Harbor Management Area in Appling County during calendar days and has flown 67,517 kilometers (or nearly management agreements covering 105 baseline year 2013. Planned habitat management activities at 42,000 miles) during that time. A Georgia-tagged groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers and supporting Moody Forest, including timber thins, should create whimbrel nicknamed Wolf flew 3,300 miles 38 surplus groups, or additions to the woodpecker more woodpecker habitat in the near future. without resting, flying from Arctic nesting grounds populations. Most of these properties are in the Red to the British Virgin Islands. (Follow the flights.) Hills Region near Thomasville. The Red Hills area Partners in Flight n DNR and partners continued a sharp-tailed supports the largest population of red-cockaded sparrow banding project, providing data on the woodpeckers on private lands. Since the inception of In Georgia, the international bird conservation effort winter distribution of two species – Nelson’s Safe Harbor in 2000, this population has stabilized at Partners in Flight continued to focus on the 33 and saltmarsh sparrows – and five subspecies about 180 groups. priority bird species identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan. Research and survey questions and of these little-known birds. Blood samples from The Nongame Conservation Section continued work conservation needs identified during stakeholder seaside sparrows were also collected for an with Safe Harbor participants in 2014 to monitor and meetings for the plan were condensed into bird analysis of mercury contamination. band woodpeckers and install artificial nest cavities. conservation programs funded by a State Wildlife n DNR and several coastal partners continued Staff also continued to work with the Joseph W. Grant. Meetings in 2013 and 2014 informed leading the Georgia Shorebird Alliance. Involving Jones Ecological Research Center to restore the stakeholders of progress and updated conservation state, federal and private groups, the new red-cockaded woodpecker population at Ichauway priority species. organization is making significant progress in Plantation in Baker County. These 29,000 acres management, monitoring, research and education supported a single male in 1999. In part through the regarding shorebirds on the Georgia coast. translocation of 71 young birds, Ichauway Plantation has 26 family groups. Red-cockaded In 2008, DNR acquired 8,400 acres near Bainbridge Woodpecker Recovery to create Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area, the first state-owned property with red-cockaded The red-cockaded woodpecker is the only woodpecker woodpeckers. Silver Lake has extensive stands of in the U.S. that excavates cavities in living pines. The mature longleaf pine habitat. In 2013, DNR entered drastic loss of mature pine forests over the past 200 into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of years has been the primary cause of this species’ Engineers to manage the woodpeckers on corps decline. Suitable habitat now occurs primarily on land that DNR leases for Lake Seminole Wildlife some military bases, national forests and other public Management Area. The property is adjacent to the lands, although red-cockaded woodpeckers still live Silver Lake population and features quality longleaf

on a number of private properties. and wiregrass habitat, some of which red-cockaded Harrington/GaDNR) chick (Ashley American kestrel Southeastern

4 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE In the most recent fiscal year, Nongame Surveys will continue at these sites. Other areas Conservation Section projects included the with suitable habitat will be surveyed as well following: to look for new populations. In addition, work to identify micro-habitat, determine site fidelity Three species of secretive marshbirds the and gauge the species’ response to habitat black rail, king rail and – are high- management will be started. priority species in the State Wildlife Action Plan due to factors including small numbers, habitat loss and Another 30 nest boxes were erected for alteration, a lack of sufficient information about the southeastern American kestrels, bringing to 140 the birds’ distribution, and population trends in Georgia. number of nest boxes monitored by the Nongame Conservation Section. Work with kestrels also In spring 2014, Nongame Conservation conducted a included a fourth year of surveys by ground and air fourth year of standardized marshbird surveys using of known populations across the state. the Continental Marsh Bird Monitoring Program survey protocol. This standardized methodology Summarized in summer 2014, these surveys revealed some disappointing trends. Of the two allows data collected to be shared, aggregated Schneider/GaDNR) (Todd sparrow Henslow’s and analyzed at many different levels, including populations surveyed along powerlines – the by habitat or wetland type, physiographic province, Paulks Pasture Wildlife Management Area in Glynn Fall Line sandhills and Tifton populations – the state, region, country and continent. County, Townsend Wildlife Management Area near Fall Line population showed an annual decline of Ludowici and Moody Forest WMA. The birds were about 7 percent. An estimated 25 breeding pairs Sites surveyed in 2014 included areas of Altamaha banded with numbered leg bands for identification. remained on the powerline between Macon and Wildlife Management Area near Darien. The Columbus, and 10 other known nesting pairs were From January through March 2014, 86 Henslow’s Altamaha WMA surveys were conducted at 31 survey using nearby nest boxes. Nest box use has also sparrows were captured and banded, the most points known as stations. Staff documented a declined precipitously in this population, making in any season since the start of this project. In significant number of king rails and least bitterns at its long-term fate uncertain at best, in spite of addition, several individuals banded the previous Altamaha, as well as a few purple gallinules, another the intensive nest box program and substantial year were recaptured at these WMAs, and a uncommon species. land acquisition and management by The Nature bird originally banded two years ago was also Conservancy and the DNR. No black rails were detected during 2014, though 25 recaptured. However, in the most significant stations at four sites were surveyed. recapture, a bird first banded at Paulks Pasture On the bright side, the Tifton population, located during the 2010-2011 field season was netted this between Plant Mitchell and the small town Surveys started four years ago for year very close to that original capture site. of Offerman, experienced a 17 percent annual Henslow’s sparrow continued this year. Henslow’s sparrow is a small songbird that nests in grasslands of the Midwest and Northeast and winters in grassy areas of pine flatwoods, pitcherplant bogs and powerline corridors in the Southeast’s Coastal Plain. Over the past several decades, the species has declined precipitously, likely because of habitat loss on its breeding and wintering grounds.

This sparrow is a species of high conservation concern because of its small population size, greatly reduced habitats and other factors. Its secretive nature and small numbers make it difficult to survey and monitor, and little is known about its distribution and populations across most of its range, including in Georgia.

To better understand the species’ status in the state, the Nongame Conservation Section has monitored Henslow’s sparrows since winter 2010-2011. Using a technique called flush netting, birds were captured in mist nets along several powerline corridors at (Todd Schneider/GaDNR) (Todd King rail

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 5 increase averaged across four years and included migrating golden-winged warblers at suitable The Nongame Conservation Section conducts aerial an estimated 302 nesting pairs in 2014. It is habitat on Chestnut Mountain in Fannin. surveys each spring to identify and monitor nesting believed this population is heavily using powerline colonies. Stork nesting effort – the number of pairs structures owned by Georgia Power for nest sites, Two solar-powered play-back devices have been that attempt to reproduce – fluctuates annually. helping increase the number of birds. The Fall Line deployed in suitable habitat in the 2014 was a record nesting year for wood storks Sandhills population lost these structures in 2005 mountains to try to attract additional warblers. in Georgia, with 2,932 nests in 22 colonies. Water when they were modernized. This technique has lured other species into levels were favorable for both nesting and foraging, novel habitats. However, golden-winged warbler and the colonies monitored for productivity had A group of cooperators continues to install kestrel populations are in such steep declines throughout high nest success. A new small colony was also boxes at Fort Benning, following a pilot project that their range that the technique is considered a long discovered in Brooks County. detected at least four nesting pairs on the Army shot. It is unlikely there are “excess” birds in the base near Columbus. Students from the Columbus eastern U.S. looking for new habitats. More good news: On June 24, 2014, Secretary of area built 50 nest boxes. Nongame Conservation the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the U.S. staff worked with Fort Benning to install about 30 of The Brawley Mountain project, however, will provide Fish and Wildlife Service was down-listing the the boxes in fall 2013. Ten kestrel pairs successfully almost 300 acres of early successional habitat. This wood stork from endangered to threatened under nested in these boxes in 2014. controversial project on the Chattahoochee National the Endangered Species Act, reflecting a highly Forest was in the planning process for more than successful conservation and recovery effort spanning Nongame Conservation also continued its 10 years. During that time, Georgia’s golden-winged three decades. Jewell made the announcement at involvement in the National Audubon Society’s warblers dwindled from five populations to one. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, home to the Important Bird Areas Program. Projects included largest wood stork rookery in Georgia. native grass restoration and monitoring, loggerhead Bird Surveys shrike telemetry, and a barn owl box program. With more than 75 percent of all wood stork n Wood Stork Nests rookeries located on private land, continuing the Native grass restoration efforts continued at success of conservation efforts for this species Wood storks were listed as endangered in 1984 State Park near Stockbridge with depends on landowners’ willingness to ensure the following dramatic declines in breeding colonies excellent growth of Indiangrass and almost complete protection of viable freshwater wetland nesting sites elimination of exotic invasive species on the 40 acres in southern Florida. Wood stork nests were first documented in Georgia in 1965. By the 1980s, the planted in 2014. About 500 plugs of native forbs n Bald Eagle Nests raised by park staff from nearby seed sources will be birds were nesting here in increasing numbers. added to the restoration areas to enhance habitat for Once fairly common in Georgia, the bald eagle birds and butterflies in fall 2014. Georgia now supports about 20 percent of the U.S. declined in abundance during the mid-20th nesting population, which is about 9,500 breeding century and was no longer nesting in the state Native grass restoration efforts have yielded a pairs. The recovery plan for the wood stork in by the early 1970s. But, bald eagle populations large number of rare birds and attracted bird Georgia includes monitoring reproductive success of rebounded here and elsewhere, helped by a ban watchers. In July 2014, a new nesting population nesting colonies and identifying potential threats. on the use of DDT in the U.S. in 1972, habitat of Bachman’s sparrows was confirmed in a grass improvements following enactment of the federal restoration area planted in 2005 at Joe Kurz Clean Water and Clean Air acts, protection Wildlife Management Area in Meriwether County. through the Endangered Species Act, increased The hunting community has recognized the habitat public awareness, and the restoration of local value of native grasses, garnering wider public populations through release programs. support for restoration projects. Following federal de-listing in 2007, primary legal On Brawley Mountain in ’s protection for nesting eagles comes under the Fannin County, habitat restoration was completed Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Georgia’s for the only remaining population of golden-winged ongoing conservation efforts include monitoring all warblers in the state. Brawley Mountain was burned known eagle nests and working with landowners to in spring 2014 to further enhance the habitat, most protect nest sites from disturbance. of which was too young for golden-winged warblers to use until 2014. During the 2014 nesting season, the Nongame Conservation Section documented 188 occupied The bad news is that Georgia’s golden-winged nesting territories. Of these, 150 were successful, warbler population has faltered. Biologists fledging 238 eaglets. These numbers were up detected one lone male in 2013 and no birds in from the 171 occupied territories, 150 successful 2014, meaning this species may be extirpated nests and 238 eaglets the previous year. In

from Georgia. Efforts continue to try to “shortstop” Keyes/GaDNR) (Tim stork wood Debbie Dineen helps band a juvenile Volunteer further comparison, there were 139 known nesting

6 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Conservation biologists helped with the installation of a camera at Berry College near Rome. That cam attracted millions of viewers through the nesting season until the single eaglet fledged in May. Biologists also assisted with an installation on Skidaway Island scheduled to go online in fall 2014.

n Swallow-tailed Kite Nests and Roosts The swallow-tailed kite has suffered a significant range reduction since the 1880s when it bred in 21 states. These elegant raptors are now found in seven southeastern states, where they nest in bottomland forests along some large rivers. Most nests in Georgia are on private land, particularly industrial timberlands.

Nongame Conservation Section efforts include finding and monitoring nests, advising the public about reporting sightings, protecting nests from predators where possible, working with private landowners to ensure habitat viability, supporting habitat management working on protected lands where kites nest to ensure suitable habitat management, and searching for previously radio- tagged kites.

An estimated 150-200 pairs of swallow-tailed kites nest in Georgia each year. Most nests are on the lower stretches of the Satilla and Altamaha rivers, but nests are also scattered throughout other south (Jim Ozier/GaDNR) Bald (Jim eagle nest Georgia river drainages that feed into the Atlantic – such as the Savannah, Ogeechee and St. Mary’s territories in 2010, 55 in 2000, nine in 1990 and some sites in middle Georgia and in a few other – and almost all rivers that drain into the Gulf of only one in 1980. Biologists continued to work with southeastern states. Mexico, including the Suwannee, Alapaha, Aucilla, landowners to manage nesting areas, including J. Strom Thurmond , also called Clarks Flint, Little Ochlockonee and Withlacoochee. While providing assistance with federal incidental take Hill Lake, on the north of Augusta densities are highest in the lower stretches of these permits for development projects that might has been plagued with the disease for several rivers, kites nest well into the upper Coastal Plain infringe on recommended buffer zones. years. There has been a dramatic decline in on the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers. eagle territories there. Fall surveys indicate Nongame Conservation staff also is working with Kite numbers appear stable in Georgia, but little partners at the University of Georgia Warnell that numerous eagles arrive at Thurmond in the fall, probably attracted by the large numbers of re-colonization of the species’ historic range has School of Forestry and Natural Resources, the been observed. About two-thirds of confirmed and Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease coots drawn by the reservoir’s extensive hydrilla beds. However, the number of eagles dwindles probable kite breeding areas are on private land. Study, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish The remaining third are on protected lands such as and Wildlife Service and the American Eagle by January when the only remaining eagles are associated with a couple of territories on the wildlife management areas, national wildlife refuges Foundation to study avian vacuolar myelinopathy, and military bases. a mysterious disease that has caused significant northern end of the lake, farther away from the hydrilla. Telemetry studies are planned to mortality in American coots and bald eagles. DNR held a working group meeting for partners determine how much of the late-fall decline is Often referred to as AVM, the disease apparently throughout the breeding range of swallow-tailed attributable to AVM. is caused by an unidentified toxin produced by kites in fall 2014 to help refine population a cyanobacterium that grows on the surfaces In a more positive development, eagle nest web estimates, coordinate management guidelines and of submerged plants, especially hydrilla, in cameras have become very popular. Nongame prioritize future conservation and research efforts.

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 7 Sea Turtle Conservation Georgia beaches. The total ended a four-year run than 1,175 loggerhead females using the Georgia of consecutive nesting highs but did not cause coast for nesting from 2010-2012. and Research concern among researchers. One of the significant findings of this study is The is found in Georgia’s Long-term nesting data shows a significant that at least 60 mother/daughter pairs nest on our coastal waters year-round and nests on all barrier decline in nesting from the mid-1960s through the barrier beaches. Because it takes at least 30 years island beaches. In accordance with the U.S. Fish early ’90s. More recent data, however, shows an for a loggerhead to begin nesting, that means no and Wildlife Service and federal recovery plan for increasing trend, suggesting that the loggerhead fewer than 30 of our are at least 60 years loggerheads, DNR management efforts focus on population is in a recovery period. According to old, nesting alongside their 30-year-old daughters. surveying and protecting loggerhead nests and the recovery plan by NOAA (National Oceanic managing nesting beach habitat. The Nongame and Atmospheric Administration) , Sea Turtle Stranding Conservation Section coordinates the Georgia loggerheads may be considered recovered if the Sea Turtle Cooperative, a group of volunteers, population shows a 2 percent annual increase for Network and At-sea researchers and government employees that 50 years, resulting in a statewide total of 2,800 Recovery conducts nest protection and management nests annually. Cooperators found 2,241 and 2,291 activities on Georgia beaches. nests in 2012 and 2013, respectively, consecutive The Nongame Conservation Section monitors sea nesting records for the state. turtle mortality through the Sea Turtle Stranding and Nest management strategies such as nest Salvage Network. Systematic patrols of barrier island relocation, installation of protective screens and To develop a comprehensive understanding of the beaches provide information on the number and removal of predators help ensure high nesting number and relatedness of loggerheads nesting species of dead turtles that wash up on the Georgia success. Since comprehensive surveys began in on Georgia beaches, DNR and the University of coast. When possible, necropsies of stranded turtles 1989, loggerhead nesting has been highly variable, Georgia have developed a catalog of unique genetic are conducted to evaluate causes of mortality. Periodic with an average of 1,215 nests per year. In 2014, profiles for Georgia’s nesting female turtles. A UGA aerial surveys are flown to determine distribution and

(Mark Dodd/GaDNR) the ocean to sea turtle returning Loggerhead 1,201 loggerhead nests were documented on researcher working with the DNR has identified more abundance of marine turtles during migration. Reptiles and Amphibians

8 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE populations were tracked using radio telemetry tracked usingradiopopulations were telemetry Four discovered bogturtleswithinnewly frombog turtlesknown thewildinGeorgia. accounted for 45percent approximately ofall theturtles trapped undocumented sites.Overall, (15 different previously bogturtles)inthetwo populations,and24capturessites withknown captures (of22different bogturtles)atthesix resulted in39 effort, totaling21,334trap days, with long-termviability. Thisyear’s survey number ofsitesthoughttopossesspopulations sitesinGeorgia to10,anddoubling the extant increasing thetotalnumberof discovered, undocumented bogturtlepopulationswere previously two As aresult ofthiswork, targeted for surveys. toidentitysites inthefield truthed andevaluated ground- siteswere than 100mountainwetland More software. Geographic Information Systems ofaerialphotography using review as anextensive aspeciesdistributionmodelaswell developing through identified suitable sites.Thelatterwere bogturtleoccurrencesknown andninepotentially traps in15mountainbogsites–includingsixwith 424 todeploy teamed withClemsonUniversity staff During thepastyear, Conservation Nongame mountain valleys. andseepages springcreeks inlow slow-flowing Georgia mountainbogsgenerally found along America’s smallestturtlespecies–inhabits The federally threatened bogturtle–North Conservation Bog Turtle 2014. year strandings infiscal respectively, for 35percent and16percent of sources ofmortality.significant accounted, They that boatcollisionsanddiseasealsoare Results indicate from necropsy examinations source ofmortalityfor seaturtles. significant activityisa suggesting thatcommercial fishing effortwith shrimptrawling offtheGeorgia coast, Recent patternsinstrandings strongly correlate average of200strandings peryear.the 25-year documented onGeorgia beaches,roughly half In 2014,108deadorinjured turtleswere threats toseaturtlesinGeorgia’s coastalwaters. of index Sea turtlestrandings are theprimary agreement inGeorgia outsideoftheCoastalPlain. such the first toharborbogturtles,marks known Program. Theeasementatthebog, Reserve inGeorgia throughwetlands thefederal Wetlands easement withinoneofthelargest mountainbog conservation establisheda30-year Service Natural Resourcesof Agriculture Conservation andtheU.S. Department Conservation Nongame In cooperation withamountainboglandowner, head-startingactivities. to improve aprotocol partners, thatisexpected conservation protocol for bogturtlehead-startingamong ofastandardized written development cooperative actions across statelines.Staffalsoinitiatedthe population andhelpcoordinate conservation this plantoencompassthesouthernbogturtle plan.”bog turtle“recovery Thehope istoexpand staffalsodrafted aGeorgia Conservation Nongame six Georgiabogturtlepopulations. siteswithknown in traps deployed initiatedandmodified traps was a studytodeterminethefeasibility ofusingbaited utilization. Incooperation withClemson University, to determinemicrosite preferences andhabitat FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT

Bog turtle hatchling (Grover Brown/GaDNR) and longevity. populationdemographics, growthrates examine mark-recapture periodto datafrom the16-year researchersUniversity are analyzingcapture- staffandAuburn Conservation Nongame creek. 71 individualturtlesina2.5-milestretch ofthe The studyendedin2014,totaling163captures of population. ina recovery used for comparisontoevaluate populations. Thatdatapotentiallycouldbe here asareference for historicallyharvested soughttocharacterize demographics Conservation state’s –Nongame largest populationssurveyed beamongthe in Georgia –suggesting itmay snapperpopulations alligator rate ofsurveyed that this population had the highest captureshown staffhad by survey Georgia. Becauseaprevious study ofthisspeciesinSpringCreek insouthwest undertook along-termcapture-mark-recapture Section Conservation In 1997,theNongame remain unclear.harvest occur. Butthelong-termeffects ofcommercial protected inGeorgia andotherstateswhere they are snappers In lightofthedeclines,alligator now in Georgia andthroughout thesoutheasternU.S. populationdeclinesofthespecies caused severe for turtlemeatusedpredominately insoupsand supportedademand This commercial harvest commercial inthe1960sand’70s. collectors by targeted snappingturtleswere set-lines, alligator ease ofbaitingthemintohoop-traps andonto Because oftheirlarge sizeandtherelative Population Study Alligator SnappingTurtle 9

Alligator snapping turtle study on Spring Creek (Kitty Spivey) Gopher Tortoise and At Yuchi Wildlife Management Area near Waynesboro, a site with extensive suitable Eastern Indigo Snake habitat but a small remnant population of Conservation gopher , Nongame Conservation has been augmenting the population with adult Both the gopher tortoise – Georgia’s state tortoises displaced by development elsewhere – and the eastern indigo snake, which is federally and – beginning in 2014 – with juvenile tortoises listed as threatened, are priority species in hatched and head-started from eggs collected at Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. stable populations. Twelve juvenile tortoises with attached radio-transmitters were released in soft- During the most recent fiscal year, the Nongame release pens for a three-week period, then allowed Conservation Section conducted gopher tortoise free roam once they became well-acclimated to population inventories at 11 sites to determine the site. Researchers with the University of Georgia tortoise population sizes and demographics. This are tracking the free-ranging juveniles to evaluate work, done before by contractors, was handled growth, habitat use, home range and survivorship.

this time by a three-person DNR crew focused on Also, the detection of nearly 20 nests at stable indigo (GaDNR) Klaus with eastern Joyce DNR’s gopher tortoise inventories. As in previous years, donor sites this year resulted in 142 hatchlings the previous three years, suggesting that the line-transect distance sampling was used to derive being raised in captivity for release in spring 2015. tortoise density and abundance. Sites were also population remains stable in the study area. evaluated for habitat suitability and their potential In another study funded and supported by the for receiving tortoises through relocation. DNR, The Orianne Society, a nonprofit organization Gopher Frog Restoration dedicated to conserving rare reptiles and Six of the sites surveyed in 2013-2014 had estimated amphibians, continued occupancy monitoring State-listed as rare, gopher frogs depend on intact populations exceeding 250 tortoises, a number the of imperiled eastern indigo snake habitat to sandhill habitats where adults survive within U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has established as determine population trends. In southern Georgia, the burrows of their namesake host, the gopher the minimum to ensure a long-term, sustainable indigos overwinter in xeric sandhill habitats where tortoise. However, these frogs also require nearby population. This past year’s resurvey of Fall Line they den in the burrows of gopher tortoises. The fishless wetlands where they breed and their Sandhills Wildlife Management Area revealed twice as study is focused on the Altamaha River Basin, tadpoles develop. Because of widespread upland many tortoises as the baseline survey six years earlier, considered a population stronghold for eastern and wetland habitat alteration throughout their adding this population to the list of those that meet indigos. Staff surveyed 40 sandhill sites on public range, gopher frogs are now limited to fewer than the sustainability threshold. This dramatic increase and private lands in the basin, detecting indigos at 10 sites in Georgia. is no doubt a result of the ongoing intensive habitat 34 percent of the sites. The degree of detections In 2007, the Nongame Conservation Section began restoration work at the WMA near Butler. in 2014 did not differ significantly from that in a project that involved collecting gopher frog eggs from healthy populations, rearing them to late- stage tadpoles or post-metamorphic froglets, and releasing them at an unoccupied but high-quality protected site at Williams Bluffs Preserve in Early County, which is within the species’ historical range. The goal: Establish a self-sustaining breeding population of gopher frogs, a range-wide first for this imperiled amphibian.

Throughout the Fall Line sandhills region of the Southeast, biologists reported scant breeding by gopher frogs during the 2014 season. This observation was certainly the case in Georgia, where no egg masses were found at donor populations despite extensive searches, and no froglets were produced for release. The cause of this reduced or non-existent breeding is unknown, but hopefully is an anomaly.

In late February, however, multiple male gopher

(John Jensen/GaDNR) (John release for prepped hatchlings Gopher tortoise frogs were heard calling in the Early County

10 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE release pond and a spent egg mass of the species Eastern Hellbender hellbender DNA in 11 where conventional was found. Despite the lack of breeding in the survey techniques failed to find the amphibians. Fall Line sandhills populations, breeding in Conservation Surveys this reintroduced population Also in fiscal 2014, Nongame Conservation The state-protected eastern hellbender, North was documented for the second year in a row, hellbender surveys were filmed by crews from America’s largest salamander, inhabits clear cold- indicating continued stability. Discovery Channel and the British Broadcasting water streams in the . Corp. A resulting segment on Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet promoted the conservation of North American During summer 2014, Nongame Conservation staff hellbenders in Georgia, bringing attention to the conducted surveys for hellbenders in 25 streams Amphibian Monitoring conservation of this imperiled species worldwide through conventional techniques – snorkeling and (the program airs in 172 countries). A portion of Program flipping rocks. Researchers caught 93 hellbenders, the BBC documentary “How the Wild West Was weighing, measuring, photographing and marking The Nongame Conservation Section coordinates Won with Ray Mears,” also aired internationally, each with a Passive Integrated Transponder tag the state’s participation in the North American included a segment on wildlife encountered by for future identification. Genetic tissue samples Amphibian Monitoring Program, which is directed Appalachian settlers and focused on hellbender were collected from 84 hellbenders for the Georgia nationally by the U.S. Geological Survey. Patterned ecology and current conservation challenges. after the highly successful Breeding Bird Survey, Museum of Natural History genetic archive collection the amphibian monitoring program is structured and for use in other genetics research. Chytrid In cooperation with the University of Georgia’s to use data collected largely by citizen scientists fungus (Bd) and Ranavirus samples were also Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Nongame to analyze population trends of frogs and toads collected from each hellbender caught. Results from Conservation staff initiated research intended to on state, regional and national levels. State the analysis of these and future samples will help determine how loads of fine sediment suspended coordination involves recruiting and retaining in a range-wide assessment of the health of the in the water column affect the ability of larval and volunteers, training, and compiling data. species. Abundance, size and mass data are used to juvenile hellbenders to absorb oxygen from the water. determine the health of hellbender populations. Volunteers are asked to drive pre-established Striped Newt Restoration routes (there are 73 in Georgia) three times a In cooperation with The Orianne Society, the year, record the number of frog species heard and Nongame Conservation Section also conducted a DNR’s nongame conservation efforts have even assign each an index of abundance at 10 wetland hellbender survey throughout much of the north extended beyond Georgia’s state line. Fall Line stops along the way. To ensure that volunteers are Georgia mountains using environmental DNA. Sandhills Wildlife Management Area harbors what qualified to recognize frog species by their unique Through this technique, also called eDNA, the is believed to be the only healthy population of vocalizations, participants must pass an online presence or assumed absence of hellbenders is “western clade” striped newts, a candidate for quiz that challenges them to identify species from assessed through analyzing water samples listing under the federal Endangered Species mixed-species choruses in a number of recordings. for hellbender DNA. Act. Efforts to repatriate this highly imperiled salamander to areas of Florida where it once In 2014, approximately 60 surveys were conducted In September 2013, 150 water samples were flourished rely on a captive propagation, rearing by about 20 volunteers. While the monitoring collected from 98 streams, including some that and release project led by the Coastal Plains project is relatively young in Georgia, the public had not been sampled before, plus streams with Institute, the Memphis and Jacksonville zoos, can review the richness of frog species on these known hellbender populations, streams with and other partners, including the Nongame state routes marked with a frog symbol. historical occurrences and several streams outside Conservation Section. of the species’ known distribution in Georgia (the River drainage). Hellbender DNA A small number of striped newt larvae collected was not detected in any of the sampled streams from the Fall Line Sandhills breeding pond by in northwestern Georgia or any of the streams Nongame Conservation staff and others were (GaDNR) outside of the Tennessee River drainage, with added to stock collected earlier at the site to the exception of one previously documented site. increase the genetic diversity of the captive However, the DNA was detected in 12 streams population. As a result, 490 larvae produced in where hellbenders had not been documented. captivity were released in Apalachicola National Forest wetlands the past two springs. Researchers Although eDNA can be used to determine presence later documented emigration of fully developed or absence of hellbenders, study results indicate land-bound newts, 33 of them this year. that the technique cannot be used to determine abundance: Hellbender density and age-class Both the release and emergence of striped newts distribution can only be determined through produced in captivity are firsts for this species, conventional survey techniques. However, the results and hopefully mark the beginning of its recovery

Barking treefrog at Fall Line Sandhills WMA pond Barking Fall at treefrog do demonstrate the utility of eDNA, which detected in the region.

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 11 North Atlantic Right The DNR collaborates with NOAA Fisheries, More than 480 feet of rope was removed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation from the entangled juvenile whale over two Whale Conservation Commission, Sea to Shore Alliance and others days in February (video), an effort that drew to conserve North Atlantic right whales in the international media coverage. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the southeastern U.S. Management actions focus on most endangered marine mammals in the world. reducing human-related mortality, monitoring Since 2003, Nongame Conservation staff has Commercial whaling in the late 1800s nearly the whale population and protecting right whale helped disentangle 10 right whales entangled drove the species to extinction. Since whaling habitat. From December through March, aerial in commercial fishing gear. Most of the was banned in 1935, the population’s recovery has surveys are flown along the Georgia and northeast fishing gear removed from right whales in the been slowed by mortality from ship collisions and Florida coast to document calf production, collect southeastern U.S. appears to be from trap/pot entanglement in commercial fishing gear. photo-identification data and warn ships about fisheries in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. whale locations. At the same time, boat surveys Entanglement in gillnet and longline gear has Each winter pregnant right whales and small are conducted to collect photo-identification data also been documented. numbers of non-breeding whales migrate from and genetics samples, and document injured and waters off the northeastern U.S. and Canada to entangled right whales. The Nongame Conservation Section also works calving grounds along the coast of Georgia and to protect right whales and their habitat through northeastern Florida. An average of 16 calves Together, aerial and boat teams documented 52 involvement in the Right Whale Southeast has been documented per year since 1990. The individual right whales in the Southeast during Implementation Team, the Atlantic Large Whale species’ population now numbers at least 455 the 2013-2014 calving season. The count included Take Reduction Team and the North Atlantic whales and is increasing at a rate of 2.8 percent 10 new calves. Boat teams collected genetics Right Whale Consortium. The agency receives a year. Despite recent gains, however, there are samples from 16 right whales, eight of them considerable support from DNR’s Coastal fewer than 100 breeding females. calves, and responded to one entangled whale. Resources and Law Enforcement divisions in education and outreach, policy efforts, and enforcement of federal right whale protections. (Also see the Law Enforcement for Nongame section.) Most funding for DNR right whale conservation efforts is provided through grants Mammals with NOAA Fisheries. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/NOAA permit 15488) Commission/NOAA Conservation Disentangling a right whale (Florida Fish and Wildlife

12 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Florida Manatee Conservation Endangered Florida manatees inhabit tidal rivers, estuaries and near-shore ocean waters throughout coastal Georgia during the warm months of the year. The Florida manatee population numbers at least 5,000, with approximately half of the population found along Florida’s Gulf Coast and the remainder along the Atlantic Coast. Each spring and summer, an unknown number of manatees migrate into Georgia and return to Florida in the fall as water temperatures cool.

The Nongame Conservation Section cooperates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Navy and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to conserve manatees in Georgia. Management focuses on reducing human-related mortality and protecting manatee habitat. Recovery tasks include documenting causes of manatee Georgia Marine Mammal During calendar year 2013, the network mortality and injury, rescuing injured and out-of- documented 76 strandings, the most ever in a habitat manatees, monitoring manatee distribution DNR and UGA Marine Extension Service staff rescue a dolphin tangled in crab pot buoy line (GaDNR) buoy pot a dolphin tangled in crab rescue staff Service DNR and UGA Marine Extension Stranding Network single year. In November and December alone, and habitat use, educating boaters about watercraft 38 dead bottlenose dolphins were found along The Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Network impacts, and reviewing permits and policies that the Georgia coast during an outbreak of dolphin was created in 1989 to coordinate marine mammal may impact manatees and their habitat. morbillivirus, often referred to as DMV. The stranding response in Georgia. The Nongame network also rescued four dolphins during 2013, Fifty-two manatee mortalities were documented Conservation Section coordinates the Marine Mammal including two entangled in commercial crab in Georgia waters from 2000 to 2013. Of those, 16 Stranding Network with help from NOAA Fisheries, pot gear (video). The Georgia Nongame Wildlife mortalities, or 31 percent, were due to watercraft- other agencies and private organizations. Conservation Fund and a NOAA Fisheries grant related impacts. Less common causes of mortality Network goals are to investigate human impacts on provided funding for stranding network activities include drowning in commercial fishing gear and marine mammals, monitor population health, provide last year. hypothermia when manatees fail to migrate south rapid and humane response to live stranded marine mammals, contribute to marine mammal research, and educate the public about marine mammal issues.

From 2000 to 2013, the network documented an average of 32 stranded dolphins and whales per year. The network was able to examine 90 percent of reported cases and conduct necropsies on 37 percent. Bottlenose dolphins were the most commonly stranded species, making up 77 percent of strandings, followed by pygmy and dwarf sperm whales (13 percent combined). Other species documented include Stenella dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, pygmy killer whales, false killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales and beaked whales.

Human-related causes of mortality and injury have included entanglement in commercial fishing gear,

watercraft collisions and ingestion of marine debris. in Cumberland Sound (GaDNR) feeding Manatees

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 13 during winter. Two manatee mortalities were Bottlenose Dolphin area since 2011, with the goal of estimating documented in Georgia in 2013; cause of death dolphin calf survival. Researchers hypothesize could not be determined in either case. Contaminants Project that PCBs may be reducing dolphin calf survival in the Brunswick and surrounding areas. This effort The bottlenose dolphin is Georgia’s only year-round From 2007 to 2013, the Nongame Conservation will likely require at least five years to complete. marine mammal resident, inhabiting coastal Section conducted aerial surveys with funding Assistance has been provided by DNR’s Coastal estuaries and waters. Bottlenose from the Navy to estimate manatee abundance in Resources Division, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center dolphins are ideal sentinels for coastal Cumberland Sound, near Kings Bay Naval Submarine and the National Ocean Service, with funding and health because they are long-lived predators and Base. Surveys found that abundance is greatest analytical support from NOAA Fisheries. during June and July, but the number of manatees tend to accumulate persistent environmental varies year to year. As many as 40-50 manatees were contaminants in their lipid-rich blubber. Small Mammal estimated in Cumberland Sound during June and Since 2006, the Nongame Conservation Section July of 2009-2011, while peak estimates during 2012 Conservation has cooperated with NOAA Fisheries, the National and 2013 were much lower, at 10-30 manatees. Ocean Service and other organizations to study the A grant supporting bat and small mammal Analysis of manatee aerial surveys in the Savannah effects of contaminants on resident bottlenose conservation was secured in 2012 to continue area from 2012 to 2014 are pending. Preliminary dolphins in the Brunswick area. Research work on bat and other small mammal species in counts suggest that abundance is much lower there revealed extremely high levels of polychlorinated the state. This grant also included funding for a than in Cumberland Sound. Nongame Conservation biphenyls, or PCBs, in the blubber of Brunswick graduate project investigating northern yellow bats. staff conducted the Savannah-area surveys using dolphins. The findings are consistent with a rare Fish and Wildlife Service funds. PCB mixture used at a contaminated industrial A University of Georgia graduate student and site in Brunswick. A health assessment study in former Nongame Conservation Section intern Many manatees are identifiable by unique scars 2009 found that dolphins with high PCB blubber began the graduate project in 2012 and is from watercraft collisions and other injuries. In concentrations were more likely to suffer from completing his thesis on this work. Very little the previous year, Nongame Conservation staff anemia, hypothyroidism and reduced functional is known about the yellow bat throughout the contributed photos of 105 manatees to the U.S. immune response. Dolphins with high PCB species’ range. It is a species of concern in Geological Survey’s Manatee Individual Photo- blubber concentrations were also found more several states and Georgia has few records. Identification catalog. Photos are taken during than 20 miles north of Brunswick at Sapelo Project objectives are to characterize roosts of the aerial, boat and land-based surveys, and also Island, indicating that PCBs are being transported northern yellow bat at tree, plot and landscape solicited from the public. The catalog is the via the food web. If so, this research may have levels, and conduct acoustic monitoring to primary means of estimating manatee survival implications for human and ecosystem health. examine the species’ habitat selection for foraging. rates and other population metrics. Some manatees have been sighted numerous times in Nongame Conservation staff has conducted Thirty-nine bats were tagged and tracked to roosts Georgia over 20 years or more. photo-identification surveys in the Brunswick on Sapelo and Little St. Simons islands, the largest study of its kind for northern yellow bats across the species’ range. The majority of the bats roosted in Spanish moss clumps in live oak trees. Further analysis should help determine the best factors for roost site selection and landscape-level habitat characteristics.

The DNR, the Georgia Department of Transportation and UGA started a cooperative project in fiscal 2014 designed to learn more about the range of cave- dwelling bats in Georgia, with a focus on the Indiana and northern long-eared bat. Since the Department of Transportation, or DOT, is required under the Endangered Species Act to ensure projects do not jeopardize the existence of bat species such as Indiana and northern long-eared bats, determining the accurate range and habitat specifics of myotis bats can assist DOT with project predictability, balancing federal funding by congressional district, and possibly lowering project planning and

Nongame staff examine a juvenile bottlenose dolphin that stranded dead on Cumberland Island (GaDNR) stranded dolphin that bottlenose a juvenile examine Nongame staff construction costs.

14 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Beginning in summer 2015, a UGA graduate student and technicians will be capturing and tracking the target species across the potential range as defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Simultaneously, DNR biologists and DOT contractors will be completing project-based surveys in the same area. At the end of each field season, data from bats captured and telemetry results from all Georgia surveys will be compiled and analyzed. The data will be reviewed each season and used to refine potential range maps and required survey areas for the DOT. Telemetry results may also yield new information about roost site preferences that can better define potential habitat in the state. If sufficient netting efforts and call analysis across an area yield no captures of targeted species, those areas might be removed from range maps the Fish and Wildlife Service maintains, reducing DOT’s burden

to provide bat surveys for projects in those areas. Pattavina/USFWS) (Pete a bat swabs Jackie Jeffrey DNR’s

The statewide Anabat survey also continued project encourages the public to count bats at bat According to Fish and Wildlife Service estimates, in 2014. The project (www.georgiawildlife.com/ houses, barns and other roosts twice each summer. this devastating disease has killed 5.7 million to AnabatProject) used volunteers to drive 32 transects The effort mirrors programs in Pennsylvania and 6.7 million bats and been documented in 25 states across the state, collecting bat calls. Most routes Wisconsin and allows the public to help with long- and five Canadian provinces, as of the close of fiscal were completed once or twice. term monitoring of wildlife populations. 2014. DNR staff will continue to monitor sites in Researchers used software and visual identification the winter to document the spread of the disease White-nose syndrome, or WNS, spread to to complete an initial analysis of calls collected and related mortality. Biologists have focused on eight counties in Georgia during winter 2014. through 2013. Through this analysis biologists are educating the public and the caving community to Overall, a decline of 36 percent in populations able to determine most bat species and numbers promote awareness of white-nose and support for was noted in known hibernacula across the state. per route. The routes will be run over multiple years bat conservation. In the northeastern U.S., caves infected with to build a long-term set of call data for determining white-nose syndrome have suffered mortality On another front, a State Wildlife Grant for small bat population trends across the state. rates as high as 95-99 percent after a few years mammal conservation and research efforts was A new program to monitor summer bat maternity of infection. Future surveys will show if Georgia initiated in 2009 and completed this year. The final roosts in the state was launched in 2014. The experiences the same trends. product was a research project focused on genetic variation in two subspecies of fox squirrel, the southeastern and Sherman’s. These fox squirrels are difficult to differentiate in the field and questions remain as to whether they are distinct subspecies. Sherman’s fox squirrel is considered a species of concern in Georgia but its status is unknown because of questions surrounding the subspecies. A UGA graduate student collected genetic samples from fox squirrels in Georgia and Florida. The samples were analyzed to determine if there are two distinct fox squirrel subspecies in Georgia, and if there are populations that require additional management to conserve the genetic diversity of the species. Results of the study suggest that the subspecies distinction is not warranted, but further work is needed. Results of work in Florida are pending. Biologists will review this species’ status

(Pete Pattavina/USFWS) (Pete bat Northern long-eared once those results are available.

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 15 Snail darter (Conservation Fisheries Inc.) 16 planning for rare aquaticspecies. conservation into theDNRdatabase,andassistingwith incorporating specieslocationandstatusinformation andresearch, of rare aquaticspeciesthrough surveys aimed primarilyatidentifyingimportant populations plansfor decliningspecies. Theeffort is conservation the statusofGeorgia’s aquaticfaunaanddevelop in1998todetermine Initiative Conservation Aquatic Sectionlaunchedthe Conservation The Nongame fallundersimilarcategories. percent ofcrayfishes percent ofGeorgia’s and45 freshwater 30 Approximately or threatened withextinction. state’s endangered musselsare freshwater extinct, ofthe imperiled aquaticspecies.Abouttwo-thirds Georgia amongthetopstatesin alsoranks (70).Unfortunately, (265)andcrayfishes fishes speciesofmussels(127species), number ofnative inthe biodiversity, ranking amongthetopfive Georgia isoneofthericheststatesinaquatic Initiative Aquatic Conservation CONSERVING GEORGIA’S WILDLIFE NONGAME Aquatic Species Freshwater species with a goal of providing consistent consistent species withagoalofproviding status assessmentmapsfor 193rare aquatic conservation Staffalsodeveloped systems. river bluestripe shinerintheChattahoocheeandFlint suchasthe under theEndangered SpeciesAct, focused onspeciesconsidered for listing surveys of high-priorityaquaticspecies.Inthepastyear, documenting ormonitoringimportantpopulations around thestateeachyear, hundreds ofsurveys Nongame Conservation staff complete

Monitoring mussels in Spring Creek (GaDNR) Creek nearRinggold. Despitehistoricalrecords for SouthChickamauga Institutetosurvey Conservation collaborating withtheTennessee Aquarium is Conservation Nongame In otherwork, Georgia’s rare aquaticspecies. andrecover habitat protections neededtoconserve management actions,research, monitoringand Planning”), theassessmentwillincludehigh-priority EasementsandConservation (see “LandAcquisition, to thepublicin2015aspartofupdatedplan Scheduled for completioninfall2014and available from Georgiaexperts andsurrounding states. technical team,comprisedofmore than40species Planaquaticspecies Action aWildlife doneby was needs for 251rare aquaticspecies.Theassessment an assessmentofthestatusandconservation staffcoordinated Conservation Nongame revision, Plan Action As partoftheongoingStateWildlife . conservation_status_assessment_maps can beaccessedatwww.georgiawildlife.com/ asotherrare listing aswell species.Thosemaps information onthestatusofspeciespetitionedfor several rare aquatic species, this stream has been sampled only in a few locations due to limited access. Sixteen sites accessed via kayak have been sampled, yielding important records for the snail darter, mountain madtom and Chickamauga crayfish. Another goal of the project is to assess the effect of a on upstream fish communities and to explore the potential for fish passage. Staff also continued annual monitoring of Etowah and darters in Raccoon Creek. The purpose of this monitoring is to assess the effectiveness of stream channel and riparian restoration in a reach of the creek affected by a powerline right of way. Overall, there is substantial variation in the number of darters captured each year, but Etowah darter numbers have remained low since 2012. Additional monitoring is warranted to determine the long- term effect of stream restoration and on Basin Wisniewski/GaDNR) (Jason River in upper Coosa Holly Creek from Mussels populations of these two rare darters. surveyed. The project discovered a new population Nongame Conservation hired a mussel biologist As part of a collaborative project, Young Harris in the system and persistence of the in 2013 to coordinate aquatic conservation efforts College continued monitoring the sicklefin redhorse Linton Lake population in the system. in the lower Basin. Monitoring in population in . This project to the lower Flint also was continued in documented large numbers of sicklefin redhorse Nongame Conservation is also contracting with 2012-2013. The focus is assessing the impacts of migrating into Georgia during 2013-2014, as well the University of Georgia for long-term monitoring extreme low flows on survival and recruitment of as the most upstream record of the species ever of Etowah and fishes. These two mussel populations. recorded in Brasstown Creek. The sicklefin redhorse river systems are among the most diverse in the Researchers also continued monitoring the response is a state-endangered species and a candidate for southeastern U.S., supporting important populations of mussel populations to experimentally augmented listing under the Endangered Species Act. of rare fishes such as blue shiner, frecklebelly madtom, trispot darter and Conasauga logperch. flows in a reach of Spring Creek near Colquitt The blackbanded sunfish survey, a project funded by Monitoring has been ongoing since 1998. Information in Miller County. More than 4,000 mussels have the State Wildlife Grants program and contracted with from these studies has been invaluable for been tagged in the area, including the federally Valdosta State University, was completed in 2014. conservation planning, species status assessments, endangered shinyrayed pocketbook and oval pigtoe. More than 250 collections at 72 sites within the range and documenting relationships between fish A project to assess the status and distribution of the blackbanded sunfish in southeast Georgia were populations and environmental stressors. of imperiled species in the Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin began in spring 2013 with sampling tributaries to the mainstem Flint and in . Apalachicola floaters were collected from several sites in Lake Blackshear and the Flint. Work on this project will be completed in the upcoming year. Additional surveys were completed in the Tennessee and upper basins, where several rare and protected species were documented. Nongame Conservation aquatic staff collected the first records of the federally endangered Georgia pigtoe from Armuchee Creek in Floyd County and also collected the Tennessee pigtoe and Cumberland moccasinshell for the first time since 1963 and 1971, respectively. Additional surveys in the Tennessee River Basin are planned for the upcoming year with hopes of finding

(Bill Harbin) Creek Sampling Raccoon additional individuals of these species.

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 17 Staff presented research results at regional and From 1993-2008, about 115,700 hatchery- n An electrofishing survey of the national symposia, and published study results reared robust redhorse were stocked in the population associated with DNR’s standardized in several peer-reviewed journals. Staff also Broad, Ocmulgee, Oconee and Ogeechee rivers sampling program. Although high flows contributed to several multistate and national in Georgia. Regionally, South Carolina stocked reduced overall sampling effectiveness, three efforts to assess the taxonomy, status and 71,934 fingerlings in the Broad and Wateree rivers adult robust redhorse were collected during distribution of species in North America. before that state’s hatchery program ended in spring and summer 2014. 2013. North Carolina plans to augment its Pee Data from survey and monitoring efforts are Dee River population. n A search for remnant populations above entered into the NatureServe Biotics database. Sinclair Dam (Little River and the Wallace Dam Partnerships are also maintained with the Biologists documented growth and survival rates tailrace) and Wallace Dam (the and Georgia Museum of Natural History and the in all stocked rivers in Georgia and South Carolina. Oconee rivers). A single adult robust redhorse Stream Survey Team of DNR Wildlife Resources They also observed spawning behavior in fish was collected from the lower portion of Little Division’s Fisheries Section. These partnerships stocked in the Broad, Ocmulgee and Ogeechee River above in 2012, the product greatly expand the amount of data available for rivers. Researchers are trying to document survival of an accidental escape of fingerlings from the environmental review and conservation planning. of wild-spawned fish in stocked populations Walton Hatchery in 1995. A limited survey was and their recruitment into the juvenile and adult conducted to assess the status of this stocked The Nongame Conservation Section is recording population. Establishment of additional self- population in 2013. More intensive searches population information on 133 fishes, 72 sustaining populations will represent a significant upriver will be conducted in 2014-2015. freshwater mussels and snails, and 24 crayfish step toward recovery. Other recovery activities species. In the past year, 473 aquatic species included evaluations of recruitment success and a n Sampling to evaluate recruitment success on records were added to the database and more major gravel augmentation project on the Oconee, the Broad, Ogeechee and Ocmulgee rivers. than 1,100 existing records were updated. as well as telemetry studies on the Ogeechee, This sampling demonstrated that substantial Ocmulgee, Broad, Savannah and Pee Dee rivers, populations exist in all of these stocked rivers, Robust Redhorse and a population dynamics study on the Ocmulgee. and there is limited but still inconclusive Conservation The gravel augmentation project is evidence of recruitment. A major spawning site designed to improve the abundance and quality was discovered and described on the below Juliette Dam. The robust redhorse is a rare sucker with wild of spawning habitat. Recent monitoring suggests that the addition of more than 1,000 tons of gravel populations occurring in limited reaches of n Sampling conducted on the lower Savannah the Ocmulgee, Oconee and Savannah rivers in substantially enhanced three sites. More intensive River by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Georgia and the Pee Dee River in North and South monitoring for spawning activity at these new the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Carolina. The fish is state-listed as endangered in sites was planned for 2013-2014, but high flows documented the first evidence of juvenile Georgia. Prior to its collection and identification in precluded observations of gravel bars during the and young-of-the-year rearing habitat. This 1991 by DNR Wildlife Resources Division fisheries spawning season. habitat appears to be in the intertidal zone biologists, this species had not been observed for Other activities in 2014 included: above Interstate 95. More intensive sampling more than 100 years. A team of state, federal and of this and similar areas in the Altamaha and n An intensive electrofishing survey of the Oconee industry biologists organized under the Robust Ogeechee rivers is planned for fall 2014 and River from Sinclair Dam to Dublin designed Redhorse Conservation Committee has done 2015. intensive work since the early 1990s to recover to assess the current status of the Oconee the species in Georgia and the Carolinas. population. Staff spent 65 hours electrofishing Activities in 2015 will focus on: during April-May 2014, collecting two adult A significant part of this effort has been robust redhorse and spotting a third adult. As n Continued monitoring for recruitment success capturing and spawning wild fish from the anticipated, this effort provided substantial in the Broad, Ocmulgee and Ogeechee rivers, Oconee and Savannah rivers and producing young evidence that the Oconee River population including the use of genetics analyses. in hatcheries for restoration of stocks in rivers has experienced a major decline since the n Additional sampling in the lower Savannah within the former range. In partnership with the 1990s. Causes for the decline appear to be the and possibly limited sampling in the lower U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Power and long-term effects of a combination of reduced Altamaha to define and describe recently the University of Georgia, the Wildlife Resources spawning habitat, unsuitable spawning and discovered rearing habitat. Division helped develop a hatchery program in rearing flows, increased sedimentation, and the 1993. A Candidate Conservation Agreement with introduction of flathead catfish. For the near n Spawning habitat assessments in the Little Assurances, the first of its kind for an aquatic future, the two major goals of the recovery effort River above Lake Sinclair. species, was developed by the DNR, the Fish in Georgia will be addressing the declining status and Wildlife Service and Georgia Power to help of the Oconee River population and continuing n Development of detailed recovery plans for reintroduce robust redhorse into the Ocmulgee efforts to document recruitment success in the long-term restoration of the wild Oconee River River in Georgia. state’s three stocked populations. population.

18 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Sandhills Conservation By the end of fiscal 2014, Georgia had far Rare Plant Surveys on exceeded its phase two goals, completing Two competitive State Wildlife Grants benefited more than 22,000 acres of prescribed burning. Public and Private Lands This burning is expected to yield significant sandhill and upland longleaf pine habitats Surveys are conducted throughout Georgia to habitat benefits, largely through improvements supporting gopher tortoises in Georgia and other identify and inventory locations of rare plants and in herbaceous understory coverage, for priority states. The DNR received a $1 million grant in provide guidance on appropriate management species throughout the sandhills such as the 2009 to work with Alabama, Florida and South activities. This work is done with consultants, gopher tortoise and northern bobwhite. To Carolina on restoring high-priority sandhills. private landowners and botanical organizations, as gauge success of habitat treatments, long-term DNR and state wildlife agencies in Florida, well as through participation in the Georgia Plant monitoring of vegetation plots will take place Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were awarded Conservation Alliance, enhancing the exchange across the project area in 2015. a $981,000 State Wildlife Grant in 2011 for of information on significant new discoveries and additional habitat restoration on sandhills and other plant conservation activities. upland longleaf pine habitats, work referred to as phase two of the original project. During the 2014 fiscal year, numerous rare plant discoveries resulted from surveys conducted by In phase one, completed at the end of fiscal year DNR staff and contractors, nature photographers 2013, all states exceeded their project goals, with and field botanists. the overall acreage treated nearly tripling the original goal (95,000 acres treated vs. the 38,600 Orchids are always high-priority plants to search acres proposed). Restoration targets for phase two for, and several new discoveries were reported. exceed 51,000 acres across the five states, and The green-fly orchid was observed on branches of

more than 18,000 acres in Georgia. ) (Alan Cressler Purple honeycomb-head southern magnolia along the Flint River in Sumter Plants and Natural Habitats (Alan Cressler) Lily-of-the-valley

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 19 County, extending the species’ range well inland. The Nature Conservancy and cooperative private listing (and approved after the close of fiscal 2014): The rare Chapman’s yellow fringed orchid was found landowners. Relict trillium also was discovered in whorled sunflower, known from the Coosa prairies on a few private properties in powerline rights of southern Houston County as part of an ecological in Floyd County, and Georgia rockcress, found near way in areas mostly northeast of the Okefenokee assessment for a highway bridge replacement. Resaca, Rome, Fort Benning and southward on basin. Efforts to enhance and monitor monkeyface bluffs along the . orchid, also called white fringeless orchid, in Additional sites for other federally listed plants also collaboration with staff at Chattahoochee Bend were found. Two new populations of pond spicebush Pitcherplant bogs remain a special conservation State Park and selected private properties were were documented on Mayhaw Wildlife Management concern. New populations of wiregrass dropseed conducted. Two terrestrial orchids, the mountain Area in Baker County. An amphibolite knoll with and purple honeycomb-head were documented variety of tubercled rein orchid and the fen orchid mature hardwoods on private property in Crawford during surveys for American chaffseed at or Loesel’s twayblade, both known in Georgia from County is home to a newly found population of bog sites in Colquitt County. Another purple one or two sites on public lands near Young Harris, federally endangered fringed campion. honeycomb-head site was discovered with hooded were revisited. Efforts at seed germination and On other fronts, a Candidate Conservation pitcherplants in Camden County. propagation by rhizome cuttings to safeguard the Agreement was signed that allows for numerous Georgia material are underway. conservation activities to enhance populations of Columbia County’s Burks Mountain complex, with Georgia aster. Among the actions agreed on by its ultramafic bedrock, is still of great interest. On A survey for mountain skullcap, a federally the nine partners are conducting more searches, a lower slope, a new population of a rare clematis threatened member of the mint family, resulted working with landowners for on-site protection or curly heads was found. Yet, attempts to in the discovery of eight new sites. Some of these and setting up monitoring plots to determine propagate the last remnants of Georgia plume for are on public lands, including the Chattahoochee the stability of populations. The agreement was future enhancement at the site have had limited National Forest, property owned by Chattooga signed May 16, 2014, during a ceremony at Atlanta success, and remaining individuals were caged to County, the newly established Resaca Battlefield Botanical Garden. The focus was eliminating the prevent browsing impact. State Historic Site, Bartow County, and a public need to federally list Georgia aster, a candidate Nongame Conservation staff verified discoveries of waterworks-protected watershed on Rocky Face species since 1999. (Update: In September, the two southeastern endemic plants for the first time Mountain in Whitfield County. Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the in Georgia. Alabama larkspur was found in a shale agreements for significant populations and the plant will not require listing.) continued discovery of new sites will allow for barrens at Wildlife Management the possible delisting of this showy wildflower in During the last growing season, the number of Area on the Chattahoochee National Forest. Nash’s the near future. Additional sites for relict trillium, sites where Georgia aster was known to occur sunrose, a plant formerly restricted to Florida another federally endangered wildflower, may qualify jumped from 55 to nearly 80, due to assistance with one outer Coastal Plain occurrence in North for downlisting to threatened, if management from Georgia Power staff, volunteers and many Carolina, was observed on a sand dune on Little agreements continue to be made – especially contacts with private landowners. In the meantime, Satilla Wildlife Management Area in Wayne County. around Fort Benning, thanks to collaboration with however, two rarer plants were proposed for federal Nongame Conservation staff documented several other botanical finds this year. Carolina bogmint and the shrub conjurer’s nut or Nestronia were found at new sites in Richmond and Twiggs counties. Wild hyacinth, shooting star and dwarf larkspur were confirmed from additional sites on public and private lands on limestone soils in northwest Georgia. Wild lily-of-the-valley was observed near a mountain bog in Rabun County. A grass more common in the Midwest, pale mannagrass, which occupies pond margins and can appear as an emergent in shallow water, was found during exploration of sag ponds in Bartow County. Finally, a report of a new whitetop pitcherplant site within the Americus city limits was verified. This showy pitcherplant occurs in two tiny wetland sites within utility corridors in Sumter County. Through efforts at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, hundreds of seedlings have been propagated over the years, but safeguarding in the wild remains problematic

(Cedric Mohr/GaDOT) signing (Cedric Agreement Conservation Candidate aster Georgia and one of our highest priorities.

20 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Coastal Habitat the habitats. Data collection during this period Coastal Wet Oak completed the second year of monitoring for the Conservation project. Nongame Conservation also helped lead a Flats Survey Nongame Conservation Section biologists worked successful prescribed burn in this habitat. A few years ago, the Nongame Conservation in an advisory role to help create management Section completed the Coastal Habitat Assessment plans and guidelines for high-priority coastal Biologists continued a collaborative project with project, which included natural community lands. As part of the Little St. Simons Island the DNR Coastal Resources Division to monitor inventories and mapping for the Georgia coastal Ecological Advisory Council, staff helped revise salt marsh transects along the Georgia coast. region. The next step is to collect information the island’s Ecological Management Plan. Several Goals are to examine long-term change in Georgia about some of the more unique and unfamiliar maps were created for the plan, including revised salt marsh communities and determine the effects habitats that were mapped. As part of that landcover, priority species, elevation, infrastructure of sea-level rise on Georgia coastal habitats. Staff effort, biologists are working to describe wet oak and Areas of Conservation Consideration maps. monitored vegetation plots along transects at nine flats natural communities on the Georgia coast. While serving on the Ecological Advisory Council, sites. Transects start at an upland anchor point Hundreds of these natural communities were Nongame Conservation staff also helped make and continue into the salt marsh until reaching mapped during the Coastal Habitat Assessment decisions concerning management and potential Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh. project, yet little is known about what species research projects on the island. Also, a survey of rare calcareous hammocks on the occupy them or whether they contain multiple Staff worked, as well, on the Jekyll Island Deer Altamaha River was initiated. These undescribed distinct plant communities. This study is the first Management Committee, which is charged with hammocks in Toombs County contain vegetation to formally describe these habitats in Georgia. determining feasible methods to reduce the associated with nutrient- and calcium-rich Wet oak flats communities occur on poorly drained island’s overpopulated deer herd. Committee soils and are dominated by eastern redcedar, flat areas on the coast and possibly other parts decisions will be presented to the Jekyll Island possumhaw, river oats and Cherokee sedge. of the Coastal Plain. Their soils are saturated by Authority. Nongame Conservation biologists also Biologists will work with NatureServe staff to rainfall and seasonally high water tables without helped Jekyll staff establish a long-term deer create an official National Vegetation Classification influence of river or tidal flooding. Similar and herbivory study to assess the impacts of deer description of this rare natural community. on native vegetation in a variety of the island’s habitats. Staff helped collect data in vegetation plots and aided with plant identification.

Staff also served on the Cannon’s Point Preserve Conservation Task Force and provided technical support to that group, The Nature Conservancy and St. Simons Land Trust staff. This assistance included helping with the first annual monitoring of the Cannon’s Point Preserve easement, making decisions about infrastructure and events held at the site, and making recommendations about long-term monitoring of natural resources and restoration projects.

A long-term vegetation monitoring project focused on Muhlenbergia dune grasslands on Little St. Simons continued this year. These grasslands are rare natural communities that provide critical habitat for island glass lizards, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and other priority coastal species. Little St. Simons would like to maintain them as open grasslands and retain the current amount of wax myrtle shrub cover. The grasslands are being managed with prescribed fire. The goal of the monitoring project is to assess whether fire is a valid management tool for these grasslands and, if so, to determine how often prescribed burns can be used to manage (Jacob Thompson/GaDNR) County (Jacob in Charlton oak flat wet Coastal

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 21 include the montane purple pitcherplant, which is petitioned for federal listing, plus Carolina bog laurel, Canada burnet and Cuthbert’s turtlehead. For 22 years, the Nongame Conservation Section has worked to restore mountain bogs independently and as a member of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. During the past year, efforts focused mostly on managing Georgia’s eight restored mountain bogs (including conducting a prescribed fire in one bog) and gradually enlarging these bogs. Since beavers are no longer active in most bog restoration areas, extreme variations in precipitation during the last decade exposed weaknesses in some bogs’ capacity to hold water. Management included microsite “hydro-engineering” to increase or maintain water retention in these bogs. A cornerstone of the mountain bog restoration (Gary Peeples/USFWS) (Gary Purple pitcherplant program is the propagation and outplanting of rare overlapping natural communities have been Restoration of Mountain mountain bog plants. More than 5,000 individuals of described in nearby Florida (where they’re called five rare-plant species have been propagated during hydric hammocks) and North Carolina (nonriverine and Coastal Plain Bogs the last 20 years, with 1,000 outplanted (in situ) wet hardwood forest). into appropriate habitats. The remaining plants are Mountain bogs are one of the most critically in conservation holdings (ex situ) at Georgia Plant endangered habitats of the Southern Appalachians. The vegetation of these habitats is unique. Conservation Alliance gardens. Seedling recruitment The bogs are typically small – from a half-acre Because of their hydrology, an interesting mix of has been documented for swamp pink and purple to 5 acres – and usually associated with seeps, upland and wetland species often occurs. It is mountain pitcherplant at three restored bogs, springs and small creeks. These early successional common to find red maple, willow oak, swamp including an F2 generation (i.e., grandchildren from habitats support a variety of unique and imperiled chestnut oak and other typical wetland trees the original planting) in at least one bog. next to live oaks and pignut hickories. Nongame flora and fauna, including the federally threatened Conservation’s survey found that calcareous and bog turtle and swamp pink, possibly the state’s Georgia also has a new partner in mountain bog nutrient-rich examples can be quite diverse, rarest reptile and plant species, respectively. Other restoration, the Bog Learning Network. Modeled including calciphilic plant life uncommon on the rare and state-protected mountain bog plants after the highly successful Fire Learning Network, coast. Though fire is not typically an important process in these communities, one interesting example from Camden and Charlton counties includes longleaf pine, a fire-adapted species, in the canopy. Rare species found in these habitats include bottomland post oak, shiny spikegrass and green-fly orchid.

In summer 2014, Nongame Conservation biologists worked with private landowners to conduct 20 vegetation plots in these habitats from Camden to Chatham counties. Combined with previous work, nearly 40 plots have been completed, giving biologists a better picture of these threatened habitats in Georgia. Preliminary analysis revealed that four to five distinct wet oak flats natural communities exist on the Georgia coast. Biologists hope that a greater knowledge of these habitats will lead to an increased capacity to conserve and

protect them. field trip (Gary Peeples/USFWS) Network during Bog Learning Patrick Tom Garden Botanical and DNR’s Atlanta of Ron Determann

22 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE the Bog Learning Network is an association of Habitat Improvement Also this year, Nongame Conservation added a second state and federal agencies, non-governmental seasonal fire crew, this one housed in west-central organizations, academicians, private consultants on State Lands and the Georgia. The crew focused on prescribed burns and land managers who have responsibility for or Interagency Burn Team in Georgia’s Fall Line sandhills region and across an interest in mountain bogs. The group’s mission Pine Mountain, as well as helping managers of the is to advance the stewardship and management Fiscal 2014 proved a banner year for habitat Chattahoochee National Forest on several large of Southern Appalachian bogs by providing a work on state lands. Besides two well-publicized burns. These workers burned almost 14,000 acres in forum for sharing information and resources. The success stories, Bachman’s sparrows breeding in four months, including a 2,500-acre burn in one day creation of the network reflects a heightened restored habitats at Joe Kurz WMA and white- around Sprewell Bluff WMA. When not burning, crew regional interest in mountain bog conservation and fringed orchids appearing after a prescribed fire members took part in other restoration activities. restoration, an interest reflected in the proposal on Fall Line Sandhills WMA, there have been a They cleared sand pine from about 70 acres of Fall to create a mountain bogs national wildlife refuge. number of lesser-known successes. Line Sandhills WMA, doubled the size of the sweet Nongame Conservation Section botanist Dr. Mincy pitcherplant bog on the WMA, girdled encroaching Moffett Jr. serves on the Bog Learning Network’s Many of these successes involved timber harvests sweetgum on several hundred acres, installed steering committee. tailored to meet habitat restoration objectives. more than a dozen gates and 800 feet of fencing Nearly 400 acres of offsite loblolly pine and a sand to discourage illegal all-terrain vehicle activity on Also in fiscal 2014, “Georgia Outdoors” aired the pine plantation were clearcut on Fall Line Sandhills several properties, picked up about two-and-a-half episode “Mountain Magic,” part of which focuses WMA, clearing the way to replant longleaf pine with tons of trash, and planted 35,000 longleaf pines. on mountain bog conservation and restoration funding from The Longleaf Alliance and Arbor Day Prescribed fire is vital to habitat restoration. efforts through the Nongame Conservation Section Foundation. About 200 acres of loblolly/longleaf The Nongame Conservation Section uses a variety and the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. plantation deep in the hills of Sprewell Bluff of land-management techniques to improve rare was thinned, removing most of the loblolly and In Georgia’s Coastal Plain, great strides in species habitats on state lands, from removing releasing the longleaf –and longleaf groundcover – prescribed fire were made at a high-priority invasive species to planting native species, and to thrive. Another nearly 400 acres of encroaching private pitcherplant bog near Claxton. Granted from thinning timber to prescribed burning. hardwood is planned for harvest from the rare Black the permission of three landowners, the burn However, controlled burning remains the most Belt, or Blackland, prairies at Oaky Woods Wildlife was conducted during the growing season, a effective tool for conserving and restoring fire- Management Area near Perry. timing that is more effective for killing wetland adapted habitats that support numerous species of woody shrubs and allowing for expansion of the These timber sales are removing unnatural tree conservation concern. habitat, which is restricted to a narrow portion of a encroachment from fire-dependent communities and Prescribed fire is a safe and cost-effective way powerline right of way. Photo monitoring indicated releasing the all-important groundcover that drives to employ a natural process to ensure ecosystem a solid die-back of wetland shrubs. populations of so many of Georgia’s rare species. health and reduce the risk of wildfire. Working The prescribed burn marked the fifth that Interagency Burn Team partners conducted at the site in eight years. This success in private- public partnership for prescribed fire at the bog maintained and enhanced the habitat’s outstanding floristic diversity, which includes Georgia’s only known Coastal Plain population of purple pitcherplant. A site of this caliber is highly unusual for the state’s Coastal Plain, where pitcherplant bogs are impacted drastically. Diligent attention to landowner-relations is partially responsible for the success of this project.

On the Tract of Fall Line Sandhills WMA in Taylor County, a 1-acre sweet pitcherplant bog was cleared of shrubs and small trees by hand. This work enhanced habitat for rare eastern cottongrass. Further attempts to establish additional plants grown from seed will be attempted. Another smaller bog nearby was included in a prescribed burn that resulted in blooming of the small white-fringed orchid. Bluff (GaDNR) Klaus with old longleaf on Sprewell Nathan DNR’s

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 23 (Garrett Anderson/GaDNR) WMA (Garrett Creek Bullard burn at Prescribed

with Interagency Burn Team partners and as Nongame Conservation staff led or helped on Seasonal fire crews carried out the bulk of suggested above, Nongame Conservation applied prescribed burns totaling 27,150 acres in 2014. burning in the dormant season. From 2009 until prescribed fire to many key habitats on state, 2014, Nongame Conservation used one seasonal federal and private lands in 2014. Burn team This work involved staff from other Georgia fire crew to help with prescribed fire throughout partners include the Georgia Forestry Commission, Wildlife Resources Division sections and DNR’s the state, and with growing success. The crew’s The Longleaf Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, State Parks and Historic Sites Division, as well as dedicated efforts resulted in an increasing The Orianne Society, the U.S. Forest Service and volunteers the Nongame Conservation trained to number of acres burned each year, and a record the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. federal fire standards. 9,913 acres in burned in 2013. As noted, this year, Nongame Conservation hired two seasonal Department-wide, the acreage burned on DNR- Volunteers are a valuable asset to the agency, both fire crews – one housed in southeastern Georgia managed lands during the last decade almost on the fireline and in training. And thanks to The and the other in west-central Georgia. Working tripled – from 20,217 acres in 2005 to 57,555 Environmental Resources Network (TERN), friends independently and cooperatively, the crews acres in 2014. By land type, most of the acres group of the Nongame Conservation Section, burned more than 12,000 acres each and 20,209 burned are on wildlife management areas. But the volunteers were rewarded for their hard work and acres combined, more than double the acres increasing trend in burning also includes state- dedication with fireline gear provided through a burned by the crew since the year before. managed natural areas and state parks. TERN grant. In addition to the seasonal fire crews, Nongame DNR-MANAGED ACRES BURNED 2005 - 2014 Conservation burn crew members helped on fires with the Interagency Burn Team. The burn team also offered 60,000 training opportunities for partners and conducted public 50,000 outreach, with press releases, newspaper articles and 40,000 outreach during burns on high-profile areas. 30,000 High-priority conservation sites treated with 20,000 prescribed fire included state-owned lands 10,000 such as Little Egg Island Bar, plus , 20,217 20,196 31,897 33,385 40,786 41,533 52,889 42,739 54,120 57,555 0 Bullard Creek, Chickasawhatchee, Doerun, 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Fall Line Sandhills, Flat Tub, Griffin Ridge, Joe

24 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE and endangered species through biodiversity management, public education and rare plant propagation and outplanting (i.e., safeguarding). Member organizations are engaged in recovery projects for 80 imperiled plant species. Of these, 65 are in safeguarding programs at botanical gardens, arboreta and seed banks; 49 species have been successfully re-introduced into the wild.

GPCA contributions since the alliance’s inception amounted to an estimated $1.35 million in direct and indirect support for plant conservation. More than $1 million was supplied by non-DNR members supporting high-priority species and habitats identified in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. A significant portion of contributions came from the trained GPCA volunteer force known as botanical guardians: More than 140 volunteers contributed more than 2,200 hours of conservation work during calendar year 2013.

The development of a safeguarding database significantly enhanced GPCA’s plant conservation program. The database is designed to keep track of the ex-situ collections of all GPCA propagation partners, and the in-situ outplantings across the state. It contains inventory, location, monitoring Fire worker Becky Pudner in a pitcherplant bog (GaDNR) Pudner in a pitcherplant Becky worker Fire and survivorship data, and is linked to an ArcGIS Kurz, Mayhaw, Moody Forest, Ohoopee Dunes, woodlands. Many high-priority species identified geospatial database complementing the Biotics Oaky Woods, Penholoway Swamp, Silver Lake and in the State Wildlife Action Plan benefitted from and NatureServe databases. The safeguarding Sprewell Bluff wildlife management areas, and, these restoration efforts. database is housed at Atlanta Botanical Garden George L. Smith, Hard Labor Creek, Laura Walker, and funded, in part, by the Nongame Conservation Little Ocmulgee, Seminole and Tallulah Gorge As sites move from restoration to the maintenance Section and other GPCA members. state parks. phase, Nongame Conservation has been able to conduct more growing-season burns. These The GPCA was an important contributor to the Other prescribed burn sites included preserves ecological burns have a profound impact on species, development of the Candidate Conservation owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy restoring the natural balance in fire-adapted Agreement for Georgia aster. This agreement – Army Compatible Use Buffer program properties, by reducing hardwood competition and between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other Broxton Rocks, Heggie’s Rock, Moody Forest, increasing native grasses and forbs. DNR increased parties is designed to address the conservation and Ohoopee Dunes and Willams Bluffs. Private lands its growing-season burns from 151 acres in 2003 to management needs of an at-risk species before of significant ecological importance were burned, a record 5,404 acres in 2014. it requires federal legal protection. Several GPCA varying from montane longleaf tracts to aeolian member organizations are parties to the Georgia aster dune sandhills full of rare plants and animals, Georgia Plant agreement, such as the DNR, while others serve as as well as federal land in the Chattahoochee and cooperators. The GPCA will help in implementing the Oconee national forests and Piedmont National Conservation Alliance conservation measures prescribed in the agreement, Wildlife Refuge. The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, or GPCA, especially general site management, invasive species A wide variety of fire-dependent habitats were is an innovative network of 36 public gardens, control, and propagation and enhancement of Georgia targeted for restoration, including aeolian government agencies, academic institutions, aster populations. dune sandhills with xeric longleaf pine/turkey utility companies and environmental organizations oak, Coastal Plain pitcherplant bogs, Coosa committed to preserving Georgia’s endangered Other rare species benefited from safeguarding. flatwoods, Fall Line sandhills, longleaf pine flora. Formed in 1995 with the Nongame These successes include species either flowering flatwoods, longleaf pine/wiregrass woodlands, oak Conservation Section as a charter member, or fruiting for the first time, such as the Carolina woodlands, native grasslands, pond pine/mixed the Plant Conservation Alliance initiates and bog laurel, or successfully recruiting a F2 shrub flatwoods and shortleaf pine/mixed oak coordinates efforts to protect natural habitats generation (i.e., grandchildren) such as swamp

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 25 how harvest affects the state’s ginseng populations. Challenges include the lack of regular surveys of wild populations, and the illegal harvest, sale and export of ginseng. In 2014, a cable TV show on American ginseng trade increased public interest, some likely through misstatements about the value of the roots.

Most American ginseng harvested is exported to China. Georgia is at the southern edge of the distribution of ginseng and Georgia’s ginseng trade is much smaller than in nearby states such as North Carolina and Kentucky. Ginseng exports there total millions of dollars a year. Over the Georgia Ginseng Program’s 27 years, there has been an overall decline in harvest and trade. (Mincy Moffett/GaDNR) sumac (Mincy dwarf Surveying pink, a rare mountain bog plant. The state’s In order to have a legal ginseng trade in Georgia, Biotics Database most important dwarf sumac population, which the Fish and Wildlife Service requires Georgia Development is along the Broad River, responded to intensive to maintain a ginseng management program management, bringing at least eight genotypes that ensures compliance with federal and state The Nongame Conservation Section manages the out of dormancy and increasing the above-ground regulations. The objective is to prevent this NatureServe Biotics database, the state’s most stem count of the plant from two to about 750. perennial forest herb from becoming endangered comprehensive database of occurrences of rare Extensive ex-situ collections of pondberry and because of trade. Demand for ginseng is high in species and natural communities. Data in Biotics are pond spice, both naturally rare from south Georgia natural medicinal markets and in Asian medicine. used for many purposes: environmental site reviews, depressional sandhill ponds and under new conservation planning, scientific research, habitat assault from laurel wilt disease, were established. The Nongame Conservation Section administers restoration and management plan development. Material from all 22 individuals of Georgia’s rarest the Georgia Ginseng Management Program, which tree, the Torreya (restricted to the Apalachicola monitors harvest and sale of ginseng. Staff works In 2014, a new version, Biotics 5, was River ravines), as well as from 400 more genotypes with ginseng dealers, growers, the DNR Wildlife implemented. The local Biotics 4 server was ported from Florida, are in conservation collections in Resources Division’s Game Management Section and to cloud servers at NatureServe in Arlington, Va. GPCA member institutions. Georgia rockcress, DNR’s Law Enforcement Division to make ginseng Data is now accessed and updated using the listed in 2014 as federally threatened, is being regulation a transparent and simple process. Internet and a web browser. propagated in quantity with reintroductions The database contains more than 13,500 occurrence ramping up in the drainage. The The reported wild Georgia ginseng harvest in 2013 records for rare species in the state and provides smooth coneflower is moving into its seventh was 345.9 pounds dry weight. The 10-year average web access to information on occurrences of year of safeguarding and outplanting. Locating is 278.7 pounds. The reported harvest decreased special-concern species and significant natural appropriate outplanting microsites for this species by about 4.2 percent from the previous year’s dry communities. During 2014, Nongame Conservation has been perfected and each year about 100 weight harvest of 361.1 pounds. staff added 755 records and edited 4,670 existing coneflowers are outplanted into restored habitat ones. Significant efforts were made to update at . In 2013, Nongame Conservation worked with the information on species proposed for listing under Georgia Legislature to pass legislation moving the the Endangered Species Act. Many species are under start of the state’s harvest season from Aug. 15 to Ginseng Management review, and updating database records helps with Sept. 1. This change was aimed at improving the the process and allows for a more accurate review Program sustainability of the ginseng harvest by allowing full of species. Export of American ginseng is regulated under the ripening of the plants’ fruit before harvest. Georgia’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered registered dealers worked with the agency in 2014 Staff also responded to 362 formal requests for Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international to implement the change in their procedures. data, not counting in-house environmental reviews agreement administered in this country by the U.S. Nongame Conservation puts a priority on maintaining or data obtained by the public through the website. Fish and Wildlife Service. The export of ginseng from good relationships with registered dealers. Georgia is authorized by that agency in combination Lists of rare and protected plants, animals and with the Georgia Ginseng Protection Act of 1979, a The Ginseng Program receives no federal funding, natural communities are available at www. state law amended in 2013. and current resources do not allow for research on georgiawildlife.com/conservation/species-of-concern.

26 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Private Land Activities Staff held a Pine Mountain Landowner Field Day. Technical Committee meetings to identify The tour gathered conservation-minded owners of wildlife conservation priorities relevant to Farm significant properties on Pine Mountain to learn Bill programs for private landowners. Staff about options for forest management. Nongame cooperated, as well, with the Game Management Conservation also is working with the recently Section’s Private Lands Program and the Natural formed Northwest Georgia Working Group of the Resources Conservation Service to coordinate four Talladega-Mountain Longleaf Pine Conservation temporary biologist positions stationed at Natural Partnership. This partnership is focused on Resources Conservation Service field offices in raising awareness about montane longleaf Blakely, Douglas, Swainsboro and McDonough. habitat among private landowners who have, or These biologists work with local landowners to could have, such habitat. implement National Resources Conservation Service programs aimed at restoring and managing The Nongame Conservation Section also provided longleaf pine systems, including the Working threatened and endangered species training to Lands for Wildlife initiative that targets gopher loggers and others at quarterly Master Timber tortoises and addresses other conservation needs With about 93 percent of Georgia lands in private Harvester events around the state. The training for priority species and habitats. ownership, conservation activities on private lands includes a review of how timber harvesting affects are crucial to wildlife and natural communities in the wildlife habitat. Nongame staff served on the Along with Game Management and Parks personnel, state. The Nongame Conservation Section worked with Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation staff also visited all DNR-held conservation private landowners throughout Georgia on a variety of Committee and its Private Landowner Outreach easements to ensure compliance with easement conservation activities in fiscal year 2014 (also see “Land Subcommittee. Additional education activities terms and renew relations with landowners. Acquisition, Easements and Conservation Planning”). included training sessions at Southeastern Wood Producers workshops. Forestry for Wildlife Staff answered landowners’ questions and visited Staff had a display at the Southeastern Wood Partnership sites to give management advice. Nongame Producers Association meeting at Jekyll Island. Conservation also worked to make landowners In addition to general outreach, the display was The Nongame Conservation Section plays a strong aware of cost-share and grant opportunities and designed to inform attendees about how to protect role in the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s help them navigate procedures for using the gopher tortoise habitat and help prevent the need Forestry for Wildlife Partnership. This voluntary programs. Examples include the Natural Resources to federally list the tortoise under the Endangered program encourages conservation of wildlife Conservation Services’ Environmental Quality habitat on corporate forestlands in Georgia and

DNR’s Dr. Jessica McGuire demonstrates a gopher tortoise burrow camera during a landowner field day in Camilla (GaDNR) field day during a landowner camera burrow a gopher tortoise demonstrates McGuire Jessica Dr. DNR’s Species Act. Incentives, Conservation Stewardship and Working provides public access to privately owned wildlife Lands for Wildlife programs, and the U.S. Fish and Nongame Conservation also took part in management areas for hunting, fishing, wildlife Wildlife Services’ Partners for Wildlife Program. Natural Resources Conservation Service State viewing, hiking and camping. Private Lands (Todd Schneider/GaDNR) (Todd kite Swallow-tailed

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 27 The company is also entering a new phase in the montane longleaf habitat restoration project coordinated by Nongame Conservation on Pine Mountain. Longleaf pines planted in 2010 were included in a large-scale prescribed burn led by the agency’s staff in spring 2014. Fire is an important component of this natural ecosystem.

Georgia Power supports an active prescribed fire program, burning more than 5,000 acres a year, and participates in DNR’s Safe Harbor program for red-cockaded woodpeckers. The company worked with The Nature Conservancy and other partners to establish a test plot for federally endangered hairy rattleweed on a Georgia Power right of way. Overall, company powerlines and rights of way are home to nine federally listed plant species. Designated

Green salamander (GaDNR) Green as special management areas, activities can be restricted in these rights of way. Corporations participating in Forestry for Wildlife Plum Creek is engaged in gopher tortoise are among the largest landowners in Georgia, conservation. Recent surveys conducted by the Along with eight other partners, Georgia Power directly affecting wildlife habitat on more than Nongame Conservation Section on Plum Creek signed a Candidate Conservation Agreement for 974,000 acres. lands are helping quantify the value of working Georgia aster. This agreement will help protect forests to species conservation. Plum Creek the plant and its ecosystem, and in part because Coordinated by Nongame Conservation and Game partnered with DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife of the agreement, the Fish and Wildlife Service Management Section biologists, this public-private Service and other large forest landowners to has decided that the species does not need to be partnership provides opportunities to enhance investigate opportunities to maintain and enhance listed under the Endangered Species Act. wildlife conservation practices on these lands habitat conditions for the gopher tortoise across and benefit companies with public recognition the landscape. Georgia Power also installed osprey nest for their conservation achievements. Companies platforms for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on are evaluated on wildlife conservation planning, Company holdings in northwest Georgia include . The company has partnered with education and outreach, management practices, a federally endangered gray bat colony. Also, the corps for a number of years to install nest sensitive sites and rare-species concerns, Nongame Conservation found that some platforms on their . recreation, and partnerships. sandstone cliffs on Plum Creek lands in the southern Ridge and Valley Region harbor green CatchMark Timber Trust continues to work Plum Creek, Georgia Power and CatchMark Timber salamanders, a rare species in Georgia. Plum with the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect Trust were the Forestry for Wildlife partners for 2013. Creek continued working, as well, with The habitat for endangered fringed campion on Nature Conservancy to manage the Coosa Valley company lands in Talbot County. The company Forestry for Wildlife conservation targets include prairies, a calcareous prairie system that supports also is thinning and burning pine plantations red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, bald eagle and a unique assemblage of rare plants, including to allow native understory plants to grow and swallow-tailed kite nests, isolated wetlands critical the federally endangered whorled sunflower. The benefit wildlife. to protected reptiles and amphibians, and rare company allowed universities access to conduct remnant Coosa Valley prairies, home to endangered research on this unique natural system, which is CatchMark did not convert any bottomland plants. The partnerships also provide the public with protected by a conservation easement held by The hardwood forests during the recent reporting many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors through Nature Conservancy. period, and continues to monitor and treat wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing. All partners invasive species on company lands, use portable are committed to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, In coastal counties, Plum Creek teams with bridges to minimize the impact on stream ensuring that their forest managers and loggers Nongame Conservation on projects including crossings and work to restore longleaf pine to have completed the Master Timber Harvester managing habitat for Henslow’s sparrows and sandhill habitats. workshop and continue their education to maintain protecting swallow-tailed kite nesting areas. In certification or designation. the Piedmont, Plum Creek is continuing efforts The company also sponsors an Outdoors Without to increase populations of mat-forming quillwort, Limits hunt, providing outdoor recreation Highlights of the companies’ conservation work a federally endangered plant species endemic to opportunities for people with physical or mental during fiscal 2014 included the following: granite outcrops in central Georgia. disabilities.

28 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Army Compatible Use The recently opened Chattahoochee Fall Line n Improve the quality of life for Georgians living in Wildlife Management Area, which includes the Fort these communities. Buffer Conservation Perry Tract in Marion County and the Almo Tract in Marion and Talbot counties, is an example of More than 750 communities, cities and counties The Army Compatible Use Buffer program, often called this partnership effort, which helps the Army with have been awarded full certification, with ACUB, is focused on protecting priority conservation its mission, protects rare species and provides more than 600 in various stages of completing lands around military installations from development opportunities for public recreation. certification standards. Since 2005, the new that would restrict key military activities such as Backyard Wildlife Certification survey has added training. This buffering is provided primarily through Community Wildlife about 2,700 certified backyards, 500 of which were permanent conservation easements. In recent years, certified with two or more adjoining neighbors’ the Nongame Conservation Section has joined with Fort Project backyards to attain a Neighborhood Backyard Stewart and others to conserve critical lands in the Fort The Community Wildlife Project, an award-winning Certification. Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield area, including some of the initiative of the Nongame Conservation Section and best habitat for rare eastern indigo snakes in Georgia. the Garden Club of Georgia, seeks to: In summer 2013, the Hummingbird Haven Certification program was created with a focus Nongame Conservation also is involved with the n Enhance native nongame and plant on attracting hummingbirds to yards. About 80 Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership, populations and their habitats in urban, applicants have been certified, with more coming which is geared toward conserving lands along the suburban and rural communities throughout the in weekly. eastern edge of Fort Benning. Staff involvement state. included partnering with land management The program also helps Nongame Conservation n Foster wildlife conservation stewardship and activities to enhance gopher tortoise habitat, build constituency through the 9,000-member education in Georgia communities. serving on the group’s steering committee and Garden Club of Georgia via backyard habitat supporting efforts to bring more tracts under n Promote respect and appreciation of wildlife in informational programs at the state, regional and conservation ownership and management. combination with community beautification. local levels. (Todd Schneider/GaDNR) (Todd Northern cardinal

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 29 Survey of common reed sites on the Altamaha River (Eamonn Leonard/GaDNR) 30 isproviding lands.Asecondobjective conservation speciesonpublicandother nonnative invasive enhancing methodsfor assessingandcontrolling coastal region. Thecurrent project isfocused on and management programs, withafocus onthe speciesassessment funding toimplementinvasive Grants SectionsoughtStateWildlife Conservation Species Strategy in2009,theNongame Following completionoftheGeorgia Invasive services. effects for manyspeciesandecosystem cascading positive speciescanhave of invasive to biodiversity. control Effective andtreatment are notedfor beingoneofthegreatest threats speciesand impactsonnative negative have species wildlife andtheirhabitats.Invasive native speciesinorder toconserve and control invasive the needfor increasing efforts todetect,monitor Georgia’s Planemphasizes Action StateWildlife CONSERVING GEORGIA’S WILDLIFE NONGAME Management Assessment and Invasive Species n n n staff funded by thisgrant: staff fundedby Conservation 2014,Nongame year During fiscal landmanagers. publicandprivate plant speciesby ispromoting appropriate useofnative objective species.Athird resources tohelpcontrol invasive land managers bettertechnicalandinformational federal andcountyagencies, non-profit Brought together from representatives state, ontheSatilla. Satilla Riverkeeper “coastkeeper” andthe intheAltamahaRiver withtheAltamaha working hyacinth, water pullof Coordinated anannualvolunteer be addedtothecontrol program. andwill found siteswere thisyear delta. New eradicate commonreed from theAltamahaRiver control project to Continued amulti-year

n n projects to achieve management goals.Partners projects toachieve species the 11-countyarea completeinvasive in thissummerhelpingpartners 15 weeks Associationspent the StudentConservation TheNature Conservancy, partially fundedby and Conservation Nongame by Supervised monitoring work. suppliesfor control and herbicide andfield Associationinternsandbuy Conservation Student hire two Coastal Georgia CISMA, funding tosupportaco-coordinator for the FoundationUsed NationalFishandWildlife management projects over thepastyear.management projects over species Participants shared theirinvasive for Georgia’sArea, orCISMA, coastalregion. SpeciesManagement Invasive Cooperative third annualmeetingoftheCoastal Georgia organizations, andcitizengroups for the

n Worked with Coastal Wildscapes, a nonprofit group n Held three volunteer work days to help that promotes gardening with natives, to increase Coastal Wildscapes and the city of Midway volunteer opportunities in collecting native seed and remove Chinese tallow and Japanese identifying and removing invasive species. In addition, honeysuckle from the Cay Creek Wetlands staff worked with the Jekyll Island Authority to grow Interpretive Center. native plants from seeds collected by volunteers and n Worked with the First Coast Invasive Working offer the plants to the public at two plant sales. Group in northeast Florida to collaborate on n Worked with residents in Kingsland and Pooler detection of novel invasive species in the on awareness, assessment and removal of north Florida/south Georgia coastal region. invasive apple snails. In separate work involving invasive species, n Continued work with the Cannon’s Point Nongame Conservation staff monitored and Conservation Task Force to manage invasive treated Japanese climbing fern and crotalaria on species according to the management plan for 500 acres at Silver Lake Wildlife Management this St. Simons Island preserve. Area in southwest Georgia. Brazilian pepper (Eamonn Leonard/GaDNR) Brazilian

included DNR Game, Nongame and Fisheries management sections, DNR State Parks and Historic Sites, The St. Simons Land Trust, Jekyll Island Authority, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, Savannah Tree Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Little St. Simons Island, Satilla Riverkeeper and Coastal WildScapes.

n Confirmed the discovery by one of the interns of the first sighting of Brazilian pepper in Georgia, on Jekyll Island. As an example of an Early Detection and Rapid Response, Nongame Conservation, the Georgia Forestry Commission, Jekyll Island Authority and the First Coast Invasive Working Group determined a course of action and the site was treated within a week of the report. Monitoring will continue until eradication is achieved.

n Worked with a College of Coastal Georgia intern on a project to map invasive salt cedar in the coast’s six counties using remote sensing and field verification and accuracy assessment.

n Monitored invasive species treatment plots in areas of Sapelo and Ossabaw islands infested with Chinese tallow to measure the effectiveness of control methods and recovery of the natural communities.

n Held citizen science programs in the Brunswick and Savannah areas to teach people how to identify and map locations of invasive species in coastal Georgia using EDDMapS, the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System developed by the UGA Center for Invasive

Species and Ecosystem Health. (Eamonn Leonard/GaDNR) Chinese tallow Removing

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 31 During 2013-2014, DNR Law Enforcement Division n Checking shrimp trawlers for TED compliance. turkey season. Helped by former Ranger Chris rangers conducted 41 commercial Carlisle, Ruddell tracked down the suspect, who n Intercepts of recreational and commercial boardings along Georgia’s coast to check for fishing vessels returning to Georgia seaports said he shot the stork the day before to “sight in compliance with , or TED, from fishing trips in federal waters. his rifle.” (At the time, wood storks were listed regulations. During the boardings, rangers issued as an endangered species under the Endangered 12 state warnings and seven citations for TED n Offshore patrols to Special Management Zones Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violations under the Endangered Species Act. and Gray’s National Marine Sanctuary. announced in June it would down-list the species n Concentrations of fishing vessels wherever to threatened.) The TED checks were part of 529 hours the Law they occurred in the Exclusive Economic Zone Enforcement Division spent at sea in fiscal 2014. adjacent to the state. The suspect pleaded guilty to taking a protected Activities also included 69 hours patrolling for species and was fined in the county’s probate n violations of laws protecting North Atlantic right Offshore and near-shore patrols for compliance court. whales and 78 hours at Gray’s Reef National with the Atlantic Whale Take Reduction Plan. Marine Sanctuary. Three federal warnings were In addition to this and other Law Enforcement In Hart County, Cpl. Craig Fulghum cited a suspect given for feeding dolphins. Rangers also made Division work involving nongame wildlife, Sgt. David for killing a red-tailed hawk with a .22 rifle. 75 contacts with recreational boaters and 19 Ruddell started an investigation on March 29 that led And in Walton County, a Gwinnett County man with commercial boaters in reference to marine to a conviction in the shooting of a wood stork. was sentenced to 120 days in jail after a ranger mammal protection laws and regulations. discovered him trying to sell juvenile diamondback Ruddell spotted the dead bird in a pickup truck terrapins, a protected species, on Craigslist.

(GaDNR Law Enforcement Division) Enforcement Law (GaDNR Checking a shrimp trawler Vessel patrol hours focused on: while patrolling by foot in Thomas County during

Law Enforcement for Nongame

32 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Regional Education Ranger Program in 1940. Children in the program adults and families. The centers are Charlie conducted nature surveys, planted wildlife food Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, the Go Fish Centers crops and helped “senior rangers.” In its first year, Education Center in Perry, Smithgall Woods near more than 25,000 children became involved in Helen, McDuffie Environmental Education Center The DNR Wildlife Resources Division is charged learning and practicing conservation. near Dearing, Arrowhead Environmental Education with promoting the conservation and wise use Center near Armuchee, near Valdosta of Georgia’s natural resources. The division’s Elliott’s vision of a conservation education program and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research educational mission involves cultivating an continues today through the Wildlife Resources Reserve. appreciation and understanding of wildlife Division’s seven regional education centers, as well resources, fostering wise stewardship of these as the continuation of the Junior Ranger Program Visitors learn about natural and cultural resources resources, and promoting safe and ethical natural in DNR’s State Parks & Historic Sites Division. through hands-on experiences. More than 119,000 resource-based recreation. As growth and development increasingly require students and adults visited the centers in fiscal stewardship and conservation, the need for wildlife year 2014. Throughout its history, the Wildlife Resources education is paramount. Division has educated the state’s youth and Highlights included: families to increase awareness, engagement The Wildlife Resources Division operates the and stewardship regarding Georgia habitats, regional education centers in partnership with Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center held numerous wildlife and natural resources. These education local school systems, Regional Educational Service programs for teachers and students. The efforts began when Charlie Elliott, first director Agencies and other state and federal agencies teacher workshops are part of Project WILD, an

(Watson Brown) (Watson Center Education McDuffie Environmental at workshop leads a teacher Kay Dot of what is now Georgia DNR, started the Junior to deliver wildlife-based education to students, interdisciplinary curriculum that trains teachers

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 33 to teach wildlife and conservation while covering work for DNR one day! Thanks again for providing hundreds of outreach lessons, Arrowhead teachers curriculum standards in math, reading and such excellent programs… What a positive impact went to area schools, bringing live animals and science. As evidence of the program’s success, DNR summer camps are having on the education lessons to reinforce the standards. In addition, Project WILD trained 643 teachers last year. and development of young people.” Arrowhead presented programs and displays at public festivals and events. Staff offered 30 one-day workshops, including basic Smithgall Woods’ education department Project WILD educator workshops, Growing Up WILD continued to offer a variety of onsite and outreach A total of 21,248 children and adults learned workshops targeting early childhood teachers and programs for students and adults. During the more about the natural systems of Georgia in Flying WILD workshops that reach middle school fall and spring semesters, approximately 23,000 2013-2014 through the work of the center, a teachers. Project WILD staff also conducted two students from adjacent counties to as far away as partnership between DNR and Floyd County week-long advanced programs for teachers. The Jacksonville, Fla., participated in 713 programs Schools. Arrowhead’s three teachers conducted the Teacher Conservation Workshop, a partnership with that highlighted the beauty and resources at outreach programs and field trip lessons for pre-K Project Learning Tree and Project WET, is held each Smithgall Woods. through 12th-graders, and also provided displays June for up to 30 educators from around the state. and programs for public events to teach about Teachers travel throughout Georgia learning about Demand was high for “in-school field trips” Georgia’s environment, habitats and wildlife. forests, wetlands and wildlife. during the 2013-2014 school year. Through word of mouth, new contacts in several counties were For the 12th consecutive year, Floyd County Project WILD also continued its Outdoor Wildlife added, boosting outreach numbers to more than students participated in the DNR Fisheries Leadership School. Due to the popularity of 20,000 students and adults. “Snakes Alive” Management Section project to restore lake this program, a new schedule was developed remained the most requested program, with sturgeon in the Coosa River Basin. Students look this year, allowing educators who had attended “Animal Adaptations” running a close second. forward to the sturgeon release each year, and the previous Outdoor Wildlife Leadership programs to Outreach remains the mainstay for the education outreach provides a hands-on opportunity for them return and learn about different wildlife habitats. department, accounting for 87 percent of students to learn about Georgia’s river systems. Participants visited caves in north Georgia, climbed reached during the recent year. Arrowhead also presented programs and exhibits Panola Mountain and learned about bears in at local events. A portion of the proceeds from the middle Georgia. Sheila Humphrey, Smithgall Woods’ wildlife Coosa Valley Trout Unlimited’s Chili Cook-off were interpretive specialist, was the guest speaker donated to the center. Arrowhead also presented at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center’s Hunt and Learn at the Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s the annual Trout Unlimited Trout Expo; coordinated program, started in 2011, expanded this year. Rabun Rendezvous in February. Her presentation an exhibit including storytelling, live animal Nine programs were offered in fiscal 2014 at showcased the educational activities made displays and an educational scavenger hunt at Charlie Elliott. Those events will be continued, possible by the sponsorship of Georgia Trout DNR’s annual Outdoor Adventure Day; and, provided with two added at a new wildlife management Unlimited chapters’ Tie One On, an annual event. a popular display of animals, mounts and skins at area near Columbus. Also, the National Wild Outreach numbers grew by 14 percent due to Waterfest, an annual Coosa River Basin celebration. Turkey Federation began offering a Hunt and Learn increased participation by schools in the additional program on the coast. The federation modeled five counties sponsored by Trout Unlimited. In The program at Arrowhead continued to grow, its program after Charlie Elliott’s and plans to an effort to enhance educational opportunities as well. Berry College, which has long aided the increase the number of Hunt and Learn programs it for youth, the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited center through its annual Service Day, became conducts. Hunt and Learn teaches children hunting donated substantially more scholarship money to an even more important supporter through the skills and conservation knowledge. The program Humphrey for the upcoming year to provide free college’s Bonner Scholar program and involvement is part of a Wildlife Resources Division effort that, outreach to seven counties surrounding Smithgall of Berry’s education department. Five Bonner including Shooting Sports and Hunter Education, Woods Education Center. Scholars volunteered 797 hours at the center. served more than 40,000 people in 2014. Hunt Berry education majors visited Arrowhead to learn At Arrowhead Environmental Education and Learn programs teach hunting skills for deer, how to incorporate environmental education in Center, whether displaying an alligator to discuss squirrels, turkeys, quail and rabbits. the classroom, and Arrowhead teachers taught in adaptations, a king snake to talk about the food college classes about using the environment as a Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center also offered outreach, web or green treefrogs to teach life cycles, the context for learning. day-use and residential programs for schools as center’s teachers tailor their lessons to Georgia’s well as summer camps that taught wildlife and educational standards. During the 2013-14 school In other changes, Ducks Unlimited moved its shooting sports to Georgia’s youth. These programs year, students of all ages visited Arrowhead on field annual Green Wings outdoor education day to the reached nearly 36,000 students last year. One trips, studying the collection of live Georgia snakes, center, bringing about 200 children and adults to parent thanked staff, writing that her son “often turtles, frogs and fish, plus mounted specimens. explore the exhibits, wetlands and woods. mentions activities he participated in or things he They walked through beaver ruins, by streams and learned at Shooting Sports or ACE camp. And just through woods to observe the life cycles, habitats Grand Bay Wetland Education Center, a the other day, (he) told me he thinks he wants to and food chains they study at school. Also, in partnership between DNR and Coastal Plains

34 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Regional Educational Services Agency, maintained Institute and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long seated for instruction before their hike, offers a a full schedule this year. During the 2013-2014 Term Ecological Research project, and UGA’s Marine resting and gathering point after the hike, and school year, 9,794 students and adults attended Extension Service. These teacher workshops provides an additional teaching area. day classes at the center. With the support of focused on coastal ecosystems and issues, as well superintendents, principals, teachers and parents in as science, technology, engineering and math. Another highlight at McDuffie: The Environmental 12 school districts, Grand Bay filled its scheduling Education Alliance of Georgia named Dot Kay, calendar for the school year in one week. In addition to student and teacher educational education coordinator at the center, the state’s programming, Sapelo Research Reserve PreK-16 Formal Educator of the Year. While the busy schedule and limited staff do not accommodated many special-interest groups on allow for outreach programs during the school the island, including 400 participants joining in the The Go Fish Education Center provides quality year, Grand Bay had a full summer program national Road Scholar program and another 168 on-site environmental education programs focused in 2014, both at Valdosta State University and special-interest participants during this period. on aquatic resource education and conservation. with day camps. About 300 children attended Science Saturday at Valdosta State University. The reserve also offered a variety of programming During 2013-14, students from preschool to Approximately 500 from the Lowndes County Boys to the general public, such as regularly scheduled college levels took part in unique activities that and Girls Club, Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and the DARE public tours, public outreach events and a lecture met Georgia Performance Standards and creatively program attended camps featuring lessons on series highlighting current coastal issues and used classroom presentations, aquarium tours mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish Georgia’s rich coastal ecosystems. and the center’s hunting and fishing simulators. found in south Georgia, as well as local plant Customized programs on water resources, the communities and current environmental issues. All McDuffie Environmental Education Center economic impacts of freshwater fishing in Georgia activities met Georgia Performance Standards. continues to improve its mission to promote and fish dissection were designed for middle appreciation for the natural world. Several school students. Classes in LEED, or Leadership in Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research activities were introduced this year and have Energy & Environmental Design, building design at Reserve Education Program offered a wide become part of the center’s regular curriculum. local colleges visit each year to study the Go Fish range of environmental educational programming “The Woods at McDuffie” is a puppet show in Education Center. during 2013-2014. K-12th grade and college-level which elementary students act as animals. Older programs were held on-site and in local schools elementary students can now practice math skills The 2013-14 school year brought an additional and universities. School programs were offered by collecting data while casting at fish targets. 21 new schools, increasing the center’s student two days a week, with a limit of 40 participants One of the most popular new activities introduces count from 4,890 to 6,290. With 22 fishing per program due to ferry constraints. In all, 1,195 kindergarten students to the world of earthworms. programs, Go Fish had 1,137 children and 365 students varying from elementary schools to adult participants. universities were represented. With the acquisition of a Georgia Natural Resources Foundation grant, fisheries staff and 2014-15 will include on-site school field trips and Sapelo Research Reserve partnered with the U.S. volunteers built another 110 feet of boardwalk on two monthly homeschool program sessions, the Navy and the Center for Sustainable Communities the Blackwater Creek Swamp Trail. The additional latter thanks to increased popularity. In support of to offer a high school STEM, or Science, boardwalk provides increased safety for students statewide free fishing days, the center scheduled Technology, Engineering and Math, program for and teachers, keeping them off eroded areas, Pond to Plate, a family festival first that included two local schools. The reserve also partnered with which also means less impact on the wetland. how-to sessions on casting, cleaning fish and The Nature Conservancy to play host to Leaders Entrances to the new walks were graveled and knot-tying. A first-time summer day camp called in Environmental Action for the Future students. some minor pruning was done to widen the trail “Young Anglers” also was offered. During this period, the reserve initiated its remote where the wetland had started to encroach. Signs Go Fish continues to receive and judge state learning program to a middle school in North and talking boxes were relocated to provide for entries for the annual State Fish Art Contest Carolina using webcams to educate students about a more educational experience for visitors to sponsored by Wildlife Forever. Georgia finalists, Sapelo’s ecosystems. McDuffie Public Fishing Area who hike the trail. along with other selected artwork, are also The greatest impact of the additional boardwalk displayed at the center. One Georgia finalist was The Sapelo Island education program also is that the entire trail is once again accessible to picked as a national winner. sponsored or partnered with other institutions to people with disabilities. train 184 teachers through 11 teacher workshops. The reserve helped sponsor the annual Georgia By relocating and reconfiguring existing resources Youth Birding Association of Marine Educators conference, at McDuffie Environmental Education Center, a new Competition reaching an additional 45 teachers. Program outdoor teaching area was created at the entrance partners included Georgia Southern University, to the Longleaf Pine Trail. Recent controlled burns Participants in the 2014 Youth Birding Competition Gray’s Reef, Georgia Association of Marine in the area opened up the woods and the trail set records for the most bird species seen Educators, the University of Georgia Marine itself. This area enables staff to have students or heard since the Nongame Conservation

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 35 Section began the competition nine years ago. Twenty-four teams signed up, underscoring the popularity of this event which is promoting birding and conservation among young Georgians.

Eight teams counted more than 100 species, and two high school teams topped the previous contest high. Flutter Brothers, the overall winner, had 162 species and Chaotic Kestrels had 156.

Coordinator Tim Keyes, a wildlife biologist with Nongame Conservation, said that for the first time in several years the timing of tides on both the evening and morning of the event allowed several teams to see many shorebirds and seabirds.

For this 24-hour birding contest held each (Linda May/GaDNR) contest poster a Chance Wildlife in the Give poster A first-place spring, teams of pre-K through 12th-grade birders representing schools, Scout troops, Give Wildlife a Chance The posters of state-level contest winners were science clubs and other groups compete with displayed at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry teams their age to identify as many bird species Poster Contest and posted on the Wildlife Resources Division’s as they can in the state. Flickr site. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students During the 2014 competition, young birders submitted nearly 2,500 posters for the 2014 Give The contest is organized and sponsored by DNR, from pre-school ages to teens raised almost Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, almost 700 The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The $2,600 for conservation projects throughout the posters more than the previous year. This annual Environmental Resources Network, or TERN. state. In addition, the event’s T-shirt Art Contest event has successfully encouraged students to attracted 121 drawings and paintings of native explore the wonders of Georgia’s native plant and Social Media Georgia birds. A yellow-rumped warbler drawn animal species through art for 24 years. Fifth- and painted by Angus Pritchard, 14, an eighth- graders from 21 public schools, private schools The DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s social grader from Decatur and member of the Chaotic and homeschool groups took part in 2014, taking media sites – Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Kestrels birding team, proved the grand-prize to heart the event’s theme “Plug into Nature.” Instagram and a blog – grew in popularity, winner and adorned the competition’s T-shirts. spreading awareness of conservation and the division’s work. Facebook recorded 44,076 likes And in a move that will only enhance the positive through June 2014, the end of the fiscal year. impact, the Youth Birding Competition inspired Twitter had 3,773 followers and the YouTube the creation of Race 4 Birds Foundation, a channel amassed 175,298 views all-time and 644 nonprofit focused on promoting birding among (Linda May/GaDNR) subscribers. youth nationwide. Powered in part by leaders such as international birding author Richard The division’s blog, which has a conservation- Crossley, Race 4 Birds offers guidance and other specific section, registered 101,698 views, and a resources groups can use to organize youth new outreach, Instagram, attracted 525 followers. birding competitions at local and larger levels. Public Affairs communications and outreach Keyes is a foundation director, serving along with specialist David Allen produced a number of videos a handful of other Georgians in leadership or on nongame-related topics, including one of the advisory roles. sampling survey for alligator snapping turtles on the Flint River and another of DNR prescribed fire The Youth Birding Competition is sponsored by efforts. Video of a dolphin rescue shot by Nongame The Environmental Resources Network (TERN), Conservation biologist Clay George was picked up Audubon Society, Georgia Ornithological Society by GrindTV, which is associated with Yahoo! Sports.

and others. the 007s team Competition Birding and Youth Keyes Tim DNR’s Also, photos and video of a partially successful

36 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE attempt by Nongame Conservation Section and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists to disentangle a North Atlantic right whale circulated worldwide among outlets as varied as Sky TV, The Huffington Post and the Irish Examiner.

The nongame e-newsletter Georgia Wild increased its circulation nearly 25 percent to more than 20,500 subscribers. The newsletter is an effective platform for delivering nongame news and raising awareness. A survey of readers in August 2013 revealed, among other things, that 65 percent of respondents first learned from the e-news that the Nongame Conservation Section receives no state funds to conserve nongame. Also, 77-88 percent said the newsletter spurred them to learn more or

tell others about wildlife species or issues. snow eagles weathering cam captures nest Berry College’s

Newsletter features and videos are cross- wide range of ways – speaking to civic groups, And in other outreach examples: promoted on the division’s social media sites, informing lawmakers on rare species, showing n Public Affairs staff worked with Berry College to increasing the size of the audience and potential videographers research in the field and working in promote the school’s bald eagle nest camera. impact of the conservation information. other conservation organizations, to name a few. This live-streaming camera drew millions of The online ventures and the e-newsletter not only In 2014, the agency staffed events varying from views – more than 3 million to the Wildlife broaden the reach of the Nongame Conservation CoastFest in Brunswick and the Rattlesnake Resources Division website alone – through communications, they enhance interactivity and & Wildlife Festival in Claxton to the Georgia spring 2014. Berry College shared the video customer service. Association of Tax Officials’ spring conference in stream for use on the division website, which Athens and the Georgia Envirothon at the University in turn pointed viewers to ways to support Promoting Awareness of Georgia’s Griffin campus. Employees provided conservation of eagles and other nongame. interviews on wildlife to media outlets including Agency staff also coordinated DNR’s peregrine Beyond youth contests and social media, the Savannah Morning News, The Atlanta Journal falcons nest cam, which had a successful but Nongame Conservation Section promotes and Constitution, The Augusta Chronicle, Georgia short season – 112,000 views in a month – as awareness of nongame wildlife and issues in a Public Broadcasting and The Associated Press. the falcons at Atlanta’s SunTrust Plaza switched nest sites twice.

n Anna Yellin, Nongame Conservation’s environmental review coordinator, and Environmental Outreach Coordinator Linda May organized and awarded a $1,000 grant to Athens science teacher Steven King as part of a TERN- sponsored grant to recognize Georgia’s exceptional third- through fifth-grade teachers in life sciences. The program continued in fiscal 2015.

n Nongame Conservation biologists on the coast gave talks on invasive species assessment and management to garden clubs, pesticide certification classes, Coastal Wildscapes, the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council and others. Staff also worked with “Georgia Outdoors” and host Sharon Collins on an invasive species episode dubbed “Invaders.”

n Biologists worked with other producers and media outlets, as well. Thomas Floyd’s work

(Michelle Nesbitt) in Stockbridge with elementary school students Linda May DNR’s with hellbenders appeared on the award-

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 37 winning Daily Planet episode “Searching for Hellbenders” – aired by Discovery Channel – and in National Geographic. Dr. Mincy Moffett Jr. was part of the Blue Ridge episode “Mountain Magic” on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Georgia Outdoors.” n Moffett and Floyd helped organize a meeting of the Bog Learning Network in May in northeast Georgia. The network works to advance stewardship and management of mountain bogs, an endangered southern Appalachian habitat. n Staff also led in other conservation groups and efforts. Shan Cammack was nominated chair-elect of the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council, which is engaged in advocacy statewide for prescribed fire. Nongame Conservation’s Greg Krakow and Dr. Brett Albanese helped coordinate a webinar on the agency’s species status mapping project, aimed at developing

a consistent method for assessing the (Linda May/GaDNR) visitors CoastFest to indigo snake an eastern shows Raybould Ashley DNR’s conservation status of rare species for state wildlife action plans and for species considered for federal listing. n Nongame Program Manager Jason Lee worked with DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, coastal counties and local and federal agencies to produce an aerial imagery dataset of coastal Georgia that offers the most high-resolution look yet at the region and can be used for everything from county planning to wildlife conservation. The orthoimagery is available at NOAA’s Digital Coast website. n Many biologists wrote popular articles– such as Katrina Morris’ blog post on the monitoring season for white-nose syndrome in Georgia’s bats – and published research, including Program Manager Matt Elliott co-authoring a Herpetological Conservation and Biology paper on the distribution of eastern indigo snakes and senior wildlife biologist John Jensen co-authoring a Canadian Journal of Zoology article on cave temperatures and lungless salamander abundance. n In the 2014 Georgia Legislature, DNR staff provided key information on Senate Bill 322, which – since passed and signed into law – makes it illegal to use gasoline or other chemicals to drive rattlesnakes from gopher tortoise burrows, a practice that threatens tortoises and the many other creatures that use

the burrows. (GaDNR) Festival and Wildlife Rattlesnake Claxton John Schneider at with actor and Kim Kilgore McGuire Jessica Dr. DNR’s

38 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE Morgan Lake (The Nature Conservancy) zone for conservation, as identified in the State inthe State as identified zone for conservation, Both tracts acquired are withinahigh-priority this landtoDNRatnocost. portion oftheFort Tract Perry butwilllease ownership of1,280acres adjoiningthewestern Almo Tract, retained TheNature Conservancy Conservancy. Inasituationsimilartothe as theAlmoTract andalsofrom TheNature 1,220 acres inMarionCounty, onthe sameday The DNRacquired Fort thenearby Tract, Perry Line WMA. part ofthenewly created ChattahoocheeFall is leasingtotheDNRatnocost.Thistract is Blackjack Crossing, butwhichtheorganization 800 adjoiningacres tothenorthknown as retained ownership ofabout Conservancy DNR acquired the7,495acres. TheNature Almo Tract in2011andonMay13,2014,the purchased the The Nature Conservancy national securityandtheregion’s economy. to Fort Benningthatisimportanttoprotect opportunities, thesetracts provide abuffer andrecreational to expanding conservation area ofthestate.Inaddition underserved and addingrecreational opportunitiestoan in Talbot andMarionCounties,preserving Almo andFort tracts Perry total9,515acres Chattahoochee Fall LineWMA’s BlackJack, Perry Tracts WMA: AlmoandFort Chattahoochee Fall Line Chattahoochee Fall LineWMA. acres nearColumbusthatledtothecreation of Forest WMAinPaulding County; and8,715 near Greensboro; 2,495acres atPaulding 1,392acresnear Ludowici; atOconeeWMA Ridge 1,117acresDouglas; WMA atGriffin County; 1,902acres atFlatTub WMAnear at Crockford-Pigeon MountainWMAinWalker County;Wayne tracts two totaling705acres 1,175 acres atPenholoway WMAin Swamp to thefollowing wildlife management areas: includedadditions Plan.They Action Wildlife inGeorgia’spriority habitatsidentified State purposes in2014.Theseprojects conserve andpublicrecreationalacres for conservation The DNRReal acquired 17,501 EstateOffice ACQUISITION ANDCONSERVATIONLAND PLANNING price of$869,994. TheU.S. MarineCorps forfrom thediscount TheNature Conservancy 2014, theReal acquired thetract EstateOffice Plan.OnJan.30, Action the StateWildlife targets in identified important conservation Altamaha River corridor, one ofthemost County isanimportantacquisitionalongthe The 1,117-acre Morgan Tract Lake inLong Morgan LakeTract Griffin Ridge WMA: lands withinthearea for rare species. Sectionwillcontinue torestore Conservation and TheNature Conservancy, TheNongame Plan.AlongwiththeArmy Action Wildlife FISCAL YEAR 2013 REPORT operational.” buffer Townsend BombingRange it andkeep that itis“critical tonationalsecurity to the military. TheMarineCorpshasstated acre training all branches siteusedby of to theTownsend BombingRange, a5,183- The Morgan Tract Lake alsoprovides abuffer Ridge WMA. to Griffin frontage alongtheAltamahaRiver were added opportunities andpermanentlyprotected Foundation, new publicoutdoor recreational andtheKnoblochFamily Service and Wildlife inparttograntsThanks from the U.S. Fish forfrom $950,000. TheNature Conservancy boughtarestrictiveDNR whenthey easement reduced thepurchasesignificantly pricefor Wildlife Management Area Chattahoochee Fall Line Morgan LakeTract 39 Georgia Conservation Conservation Planning natural diversity in the face of changing climatic conditions. Tax Credit Program Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan, a vital roadmap for conservation, was completed in 2005 and provides Nongame Conservation Section staff is The Nongame Conservation Section coordinating the revision process with help administers the Georgia Conservation Tax guidance for wildlife conservation efforts by Georgia DNR and its partners. The plan outlines critical areas from other DNR staff and representatives of Credit Program in conjunction with the a wide variety of government agencies, non- State Properties Commission. This program of need, with a focus on keeping Georgia’s native species from declining to the point of requiring federal governmental conservation organizations, provides a tax credit for taxpayers who landowner groups and private corporations. place conservation easements on their land protection as threatened or endangered species. or make fee-simple donations to qualified Like all state wildlife agencies, DNR made a By the end of fiscal 2014, 13 technical teams organizations. commitment to review and revise its State Wildlife focused on categories varying from birds to Action Plan, better known as SWAP, within 10 years. environmental education had delved into specifics Of the 49 applications in 31 counties The revision process began in 2010. such as exploring predictive habitat models and received through the program in fiscal updating the plan’s 296 animal and 323 plant year 2014, five were approved by the State The plan is being revised to reflect the most current species listed as high priority for conservation. Properties Commission and received the assessment of Georgia’s wildlife conservation needs, tax credit. Most of the 49 applications with emphasis on the development of proactive Recommendations by the teams will be reviewed received pre-certification for the program strategies that address wildlife conservation needs and prioritized by DNR staff and the SWAP and may submit final applications. The five from a state and regional context. Participation in Advisory Committee, with the committee also donations receiving the credit protected recently formed partnerships known as Landscape identifying high-level actions involving emerging a total of 6,452 acres with conservation Conservation Cooperatives will be instrumental in issues or new partnerships, policies or initiatives. easements. An additional 4,197 acres were shaping these regional conservation strategies. protected by donations made before 2013 An internal review of technical team reports will for which the credit was awarded in fiscal Development of adaptation strategies be followed by a draft revised plan available for 2014. is another area of emphasis. The Wildlife Action Plan public comment in April 2015. Meetings will be revision will incorporate information on potential held to solicit comment, with staff also doing Staff managing the program are funded impacts of climate change on species and habitats in presentations for agencies and groups. A final in part through the Georgia Environmental Georgia and the Southeast, and outline conservation version of the SWAP will be submitted to the U.S. Finance Authority. programs that provide options for maintaining Fish and Wildlife Service by July 2015. (Brett Albanese/GaDNR) redhorse (Brett Sicklefin

40 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATION

Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2014 Funding The Nongame Conservation Section receives no state appropriations for nongame wildlife conservation, EARNED INTEREST & OTHER INCOME depending instead on grants, fundraising and direct contributions. With fundraising a necessity, the 11% $222,123 section has three primary avenues: the nongame wildlife license plates, Weekend for Wildlife and the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff. INCOME TAX CHECKOFF All contributions go into the Nongame Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisitions Fund, 10% $220,100 often referred to as the Georgia or Nongame Wildlife NONGAME Conservation Fund. PLATES The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, 41% the Nongame Section’s friends group, also provides significant support. WEEKEND FOR $841,160 WILDLIFE For fiscal 2014, the Nongame Conservation Section totaled $2.06 million in income from the Nongame 38% Wildlife Conservation Fund (not counting federal $778,009 and other grants) and $2.65 million in expenses. The fund had a balance of $6.20 million at the end of the fiscal year. Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund Listed in millions per year TOTAL INCOME EXPENSES BALANCE 12 M 11 M 10 M 9 M 8 M 7 M 6 M 5 M 4 M 3 M 2 M 1 M

FY ’05 FY ’06 FY ’07 FY ’08 FY ’09 FY ’10 FY ’11 FY ’12 FY ’13 FY ’14

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 41 Nongame License Plates (Office of the Governor) (Office law bill into plate Deal signs license Gov.

The bald eagle and ruby-throated hummingbird plunged nearly 70 percent, from 347,401 to about initial signs include positive feedback from the automobile tags remain the Nongame Conservation 92,000 plates. public and a bounce in sales. The Wildlife Resources Section’s largest funding source, a standard of support Division’s Public Affairs staff and supporting groups, for more than 15 years. Sales and renewals of the In response, the 2014 General Assembly passed such as The Environmental Resources Network, are plates have provided, on average, more than half the and Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill working to promote and raise awareness of these revenue for the Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund. 881. Sponsored by state Rep. Bubber Epps (R-Dry key changes in wildlife plate fees. Branch) and Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) and However, the number of wildlife plates in supported by numerous stakeholder groups, this In fiscal 2014, revenue from the eagle and circulation decreased significantly after a 2010 legislation lowered the cost of buying or renewing hummingbird plates totaled $841,160, continuing legislative change for these and most specialty DNR’s eagle, hummingbird, quail and trout tags a steady decline from 2011, when sales and plates raised the purchase price, reduced the to only $25 more than a standard design tag and renewals peaked at $1.88 million following the share going to sponsor groups to $10 and added dedicated up to 80 percent of those fees to the 2010 law change. Tags now account for 41 percent an annual renewal fee. wildlife programs the plates benefit. of Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund revenues. From 1997 through 2013, sales and renewals While adding an annual renewal fee initially Since July 1, 2014, $19 for every new wildlife plate represented about 60 percent. increased revenue to the Nongame Wildlife purchased and $20 for each renewed has gone to Conservation Fund – by $1 million from fiscal help conserve and manage native Georgia wildlife In June 2013, the Wildlife Resources Division 2010 to 2011 – the price increase and additional and natural habitats, from bald eagles to longleaf affirmed the critical role that wildlife plates play fee resulted in a sharp drop in sales of eagle and pine forests and brook trout. in funding conservation, introducing designs that hummingbird plates, and low renewal rates. From feature new artwork across the entire plate for the 2010 to the close of fiscal 2014, the number of Although fiscal 2015 will answer questions about eagle tag and the two tags benefiting the division’s Nongame Conservation Section plates in service the impact of these changes on wildlife plate trends, bobwhite quail and trout programs.

42 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE ‘Give Wildlife a Chance’ The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to support Nongame Conservation Section activities. TERN, State Income Tax online at http://tern.homestead.com and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ Checkoff TheEnvironmentalResourcesNetwork), raises most of its funds through membership dues and through auction, raffle and sale items at Weekend for Wildlife. The state income tax checkoff In fiscal 2014, Nongame Conservation staff submitted 27 proposals totaling almost $150,000 to TERN for offers Georgians a funding. The organization was able to fully fund nine of these for $48,650, while providing an additional $10,000 convenient way to for dividing among five prescribed fire-related projects, plus $2,000 for promoting the Nongame Conservation contribute to the Section’s license plates. This $60,650 in funding pushed TERN’s cumulative financial support for the agency over Nongame Wildlife the $1 million mark! Conservation Fund. Since the checkoff’s The nonprofit also recognized Greg Greer of Atlanta as Outstanding Volunteer for 2014. Greer has provided creation in 1989, net contributions have averaged valuable assistance to Nongame Conservation biologists over the years, particularly with projects involving about $300,000, with a high of $510,910 collected peregrine falcons and reptiles. in 1991 and a low of $184,065 in 1994. TERN-funded projects during 2014 included: The revenue received for fiscal year 2014 rose slightly to $220,100, an increase of $15,618 over Longleaf pine restoration herbicide brochure $900 the previous fiscal year, which had fallen near the Gopher tortoise management brochure $1,800 checkoff’s record low. Youth Birding Competition $7,900 The Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff is line 26 on Camp ACE (Adventures in Conservation Education) $8,000 the long state income tax form (Form 500) and line Outdoor Wildlife Leadership School $6,000 10 of the short form (Form 500-EZ). Lake Thurmond AVM (avian vacuolar myelinopathy ) bald eagle study $8,500 Weekend for Wildlife Golden eagle tracking $9,300 Give Wildlife a Chance poster and tag contest $5,000 Weekend for Wildlife is one of the country’s most Nongame Teaching Conservation Grant $1,250 successful fundraisers for conservation, grossing more than $9 million since its start in 1989. Partial support for five prescribed fire projects $10,000 The annual event draws 200-400 guests to the Nongame Conservation license plate promotion $2,000 prestigious Cloister at Sea Island for a weekend of outdoor trips, auctions and dining. TERN also provided financial support to several other projects and nongame-related conferences throughout the year.

The 2014 celebration, the 26th annual Weekend for Wildlife, grossed $778,009. (Jenny Lee) (Jenny

Weekend for Wildlife

at Sea Island King Steven teacher science check to grant presents Ron Lee TERN’s

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 43 Federal and Other Funding

The Nongame Conservation Section received federal 1,600 tortoises at densities of 0.1-0.9 per hectare known site. Additional new sites with promising and other grants during fiscal 2014. (which equals 2.47 acres). Also, two meetings habitat will be surveyed. were held to assess minimum viable population n Eastern diamondback rattlesnake surveys at six Included was a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Fish parameters for tortoises. and Wildlife Service Cooperative Endangered Species public land sites yielded no detections, but 150 Fund. With this grant, Georgia and Florida are working n A re-survey of the Flint River for alligator snapping reports were obtained from the public. together to better determine the status of 23 at-risk turtles included 90 miles south of Albany and n Neither southern hognose snakes nor Florida pine species that were included in a listing petition 25 miles between Thomaston and Montezuma. snakes were detected through road surveys. Twelve submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Research, Twenty-six alligator snapping turtles were reports for each species were obtained from the surveys and occurrence data compilation, mostly captured. Almost half were juveniles. public. under contract, are being used to help better inform n Basking surveys in the Flint River system counted these listing decisions. n Genetic analysis and habitat assessment is being 1,374 Barbour’s map turtles. Additional detection conducted with gopher frogs. This work is providing a range of results and insights, surveys will be used to help produce an overall such as: population model. n records were compiled: 97 percent of the 130 documented were adults, and most n Observations at 214 coastal marsh point counts n The presence of striped newts was confirmed were found crossing a road. led to the detection of 96 MacGillivary’s seaside at two sites and eDNA, or environmental DNA, sparrow nests. Only four of the nests were samples were collected. n Bluestripe shiner records were compiled, including successful this year, primarily as a result of tidal new survey data from the middle Chattahoochee flooding and predation. n A technique for eDNA analysis is under and Flint river systems. development for the Dougherty Plain crayfish n n Aerial surveys at Okefenokee National Wildlife and Georgia blind salamander. Well-trapping Surveys for southern elktoe, Apalachicola floater, Refuge and surrounding suitable habitat detected arrangements were made for these species. rayed creekshell, delicate spike and inflated spike 48 Florida sandhill cranes and six nests. freshwater mussels were conducted at 15 sites along n Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander was confirmed the middle Flint River. Only Apalachicola floater was n A gopher tortoise burrow collapse study showed at 29 new sites in 11 counties, bringing the total found – at three Lake Blackshear locations. that a 10-foot buffer around the entrance of known sites to 46 – more than twice the total a State burrows is sufficient to protect them from heavy year ago. The new populations helped fill large The agency also received $1.26 million in Wildlife Grants equipment. gaps in the species’ known distribution. funding for the fiscal year. However, this total represents a 36-percent decline from fiscal n Line transect distance sampling conducted n Surveys for one-toed amphiumas yielded no new 2010, a funding high-point. Since then, budget cuts through 9,390 acres of habitat at nine sites yielded sites, but confirmed continuing occurrence at a have sliced State and Tribal Wildlife Grants by more (Tim Keyes/GaDNR) (Tim (John Jensen/GaDNR) (John Florida sandhill crane and nest in the Okefenokee in the Okefenokee and nest Florida sandhill crane Barbour’s map turtle

44 CONSERVING GEORGIA’S NONGAME WILDLIFE than a third. Also, a suite of federal conservation In Georgia, State Wildlife Grants are critical to programs including State Wildlife Grants has been helping the state conserve wildlife and natural cut by 25 percent, and all have faced repeated House places for current and future generations. subcommittee proposals to eliminate funding. Likewise, the state is big on wildlife watching, with more than 2.2 million Georgians and $1.8 Since 2000, the State Wildlife Grants program billion in related expenditures in the state in has been the main federal funding source to 2011, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service help states keep their common species common survey. and protect others before they become critically imperiled and more costly to recover. That work Yet, federal budget cuts have reduced funding by contributes to local and state economies by more than a third, dropping Georgia’s State Wildlife

supporting the nation’s more than 90 million Grants total from about $1.5 million to $1.6 Jensen/GaDNR) salamander (John dwarf Chamberlain’s wildlife watchers 16 years old and older, a group million a year to roughly $1.26 million over the State Wildlife Grants and find new funding to prevent that spends some $55 billion a year on wildlife- past four years. America’s wildlife from becoming endangered. related recreation, according to State Wildlife Grants advocate Teaming with Wildlife and a 2011 The Wildlife Resources Division supports Teaming The Nongame Conservation Section received $222,123 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey. with Wildlife, a national coalition working to support in interest and other income in fiscal 2014.

Administration and Personnel Leadership of the Nongame Conservation Section changed in fiscal 2014. Section Chief Mike Harris, who led DNR nongame efforts since the formation of the Nongame Conservation Section in 1998, retired from DNR in June 2014 to work as the at-risk species coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Region. In July, just after the fiscal year closed, Dr. Jon Ambrose was named to lead the Nongame Conservation Section. Ambrose, a Watkinsville resident and Tennessee native, is a 27-year agency veteran who served as Nongame Conservation’s assistant chief since 2004. As assistant chief, Ambrose helped oversee Nongame Conservation Section projects statewide. Ambrose also served as State Wildlife Action Plan coordinator,

(GaDNR) guiding the creation with partner organizations of Georgia’s first plan in the early 2000s. He is also leading the ongoing revision. Ambrose discussed his outlook for the section in a post on the Wildlife Resources Division’s blog. In other personnel news, Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation awarded biologist Dr. Jessica McGuire its 2014 Conservation Hero Award for her “exemplary commitment to strengthening partnerships that further herpetofaunal conservation.” The Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia named Dot Kay, McDuffie Environmental Education Center’s education coordinator, as the group’s PreK-16

Nongame Chief Jon Ambrose flags a trail at Ohoopee Dunes WMA flags a trail Nongame Chief Jon Ambrose Formal Educator of the Year.

FISCAL YEAR 2014 REPORT 45 (Mark Dodd/GaDNR) (Mark Dodd/GaDNR) ocean to sea turtle returning Loggerhead

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION NONGAME CONSERVATION SECTION 2070 U.S. Highway 278 S.E., Social Circle, Ga. 30025 (770) 761-3035

OFFICES ALSO AT: 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029 (478) 994-1438 2065 U.S. Highway 278 S.E., Social Circle, GA 30025 (770) 918-6411 One Conservation Way, Suite 310, Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 264-7218

Mark Williams • Commissioner, DNR Dan Forster • Director, Wildlife Resources Division Jon Ambrose • Chief, Nongame Conservation Section Matt Elliott, Rusty Garrison, Jason Lee, Jim Ozier • Nongame Program Managers Steve Friedman • Chief, Georgia DNR Real Estate Office Linda May • Nongame Environmental Outreach Coordinator Rick Lavender • Report Editor David Allen • Video Editor Contributors: Nongame Conservation Section staff; DNR Law Enforcement Division

Follow Us: /WildlifeResourcesDivisionGADNR /GeorgiaWild /GeorgiaWildlife /georgiawildlife /photos/wildliferesourcesdivision /georgiawildlife.wordpress.com, a Wildlife Resources blog

Sign up for nongame’s free enewsletter, Georgia Wild. Click the red envelope at www.georgiawildlife.com