National Register of Historic Places
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Tag Archives: Natural History of Coastal Georgia
14th Street Dunes, Tybee Island
Convenient beach access points can be found from the lighthouse all the way down the island. Just remember that parking is never free on Tybee, and in summer a spot can be difficult to find.
Due to heavy erosion, sand is constantly being replaced in certain areas. The dunes are predominately natural, though.
As on all of Georgia’s barrier island, Tybee’s dunes are protected as turtle habitat and for myriad other animals and plants which call them home.
I was amazed to find this dune wildflower blooming in January, but the micro-climate on the coast yields many surprises.
Winter is actually a wonderful time to visit the coast, as it’s always less crowded and to me, at least, the stark colors and hues give it an otherworldly feel.
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Tybee Island GA
Buckhead Creek, Ossabaw Island
Buckhead Creek can be viewed from the site of the Genesis Project at Middle Place.
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Ossabaw Island GA
Hell Hole Road, Ossabaw Island
The trip to South End Beach takes you down Hell Hole Road. Full of potholes and the occasional hog wallow, it’s quite rough.
I can understand why early settlers thought it hellish but it was paradise to me, an undisturbed maritime forest highlighted by numerous swamps and bogs.
National Register of Historic Places
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Ossabaw Island GA
Sea Turtle Release, Ossabaw Island
Since travel here is strictly limited to ecotourism, educational programs, and controlled hunts, and often sold out months in advance, I feel fortunate to have participated in one of the Ossabaw Island Foundation‘s Sea Turtle Walks last weekend.
Besides having access to the architectural landmarks of the North End and seeing the unmatched natural beauty of the island, the trip affords one the opportunity to observe sea turtle research being done here.
Though we didn’t see an active nest, we were able to observe methods used by interns to determine environmental factors affecting species survival. The eggs pictured above were all spoiled.
We were able to watch a rescued hatchling Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) on its return to the sea. Even though this species nests more frequently than other sea turtles, it’s the most critically endangered in the world.
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Ossabaw Island GA
Big Slough, Ossabaw Island
Big Slough is the creek that separates the mainland of Ossabaw Island from South End and Middle Beaches.
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Ossabaw Island GA
