The annual island birding extravaganza, Spring Birding Days, took place this year from April 16 – 23. The event is a wonderful way to introduce our guests to the joys of birding. The total number of species seen was 116 birds! Spring Birding Days is a fun opportunity for everyone from advanced birders to people who don’t know a thing about birds to get out into the field and enjoy the diversity of bird life found throughout the island’s numerous habitats.

The naturalists would especially like to express our gratitude to the guest ornithologists who helped to make the event so successful. Ray Chandler, Scott Weidensaul, and Tim Keyes truly helped to make the event educational, eventful, and (most of all) fun for the guests and naturalists!

Scott Weidensaul decribes the finer points of identifying a Great-crested Flycatcher to island guests.

April is always filled with activity on Little St. Simons Island, and this month has fulfilled that promise! From the ground to the sky, wildlife is abundant throughout. The Bald Eagle chicks have fledged from their nests on the north and south ends of the island! Other birds have commenced nesting season; Carolina Wrens have already had one successful brood in our kitchen laundry room! White-eyed Vireo are also nesting, and there is an example of one of the hanging nests dangling just over North End Road for all to see. A pair of Fish Crow have built a nest in a large pine near our naturalist shed, and can be watched going to and fro with nesting material. On Old Mosquito Creek road, a pair of Killdeer have nested, and a lucky few have seen the downy chicks running across the ground. On the beach, American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Plover, and Willet have paired up and are also nesting. Common Moorhen chicks can be seen feeding with their parents at Myrtle Pond. There are many other species nesting; these are just a few examples of some of the birds you can see!

Many birds are arriving on the island as Spring migration is underway. Recent “new for the season arrivals” include Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Summer Tanager, Bobolink, Least Tern, and Merlin, to name a few. Shorebirds are really beginning to come into their breeding plumage. A group of Red Knots estimated to be around 2000 – 3000 birds was on Sancho Panza beach on April 22. What an Earth Day treat! Whimbrel have been passing over in flight in small groups as well. With the full moon coming up on April 28, we expect to see a large emergence of horseshoe crabs, whose eggs are one of the most important food resources for migratory shorebirds along the coast.

Reptiles and amphibians have been very active. There are numerous snake sightings daily; species include Diamondback Rattlesnake, Eastern King Snake, Coachwhip, Black Racer, Yellow Rat Snake, and Garter Snake. Eastern Glass Lizard, anoles, and skinks are also active. Southern Toads, Southern Leopard Frogs, Green and Squirrel Tree Frogs are calling as well.

Swallowtail Butterflies, Whites, Wood Nymphs, and numerous other butterflies are all around the island. Dragonflies such as the Carolina Saddlebags are also present, voraciously feeding on other flying insects. Ladybugs, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and other insect life can also be enjoyed by the observant island guest.

Along with a number of other beautiful spring migrants, the Painted Bunting has arrived back on Little St. Simons Island.  The first sighting was reported on Saturday, April 10, with numerous other accounts added throughout the week. The birds have been seen near the pool area, and also at the bird feeders at the Cedar House, River Lodge, and the main Lodge.

The first sightings of the season have also been reported for Great Crested Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, Gull-billed Tern, Whimbrel, and Least Bittern.  Sora can be heard calling around Myrtle Pond. There was an emergence of Horseshoe Crabs on Sancho Panza beach during the last two evenings; many shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, and Short-billed Dowitchers were feeding heavily on the deposited eggs each morning.

It’s been a while since we’ve done a garden update, and there have been so many exciting things happening in our organic garden! We are continuing to overcome the challenges faced after the tidal flooding of June 2009. The floods affected the soil in the raised beds, increasing salinity and causing a host of issues. The saltiness of the soil was affecting the germination success of seeds, so calcium was added to help neutralize the soil. We are also applying compost teas regularly to replace the beneficial bacteria that were lost.  Additionally, the load of nematodes present increased dramatically;  to counteract the nematodes we have applied  Neem, a natural remedy made from a South American plant. Moreover, we have planted Marigolds. The Marigolds serve a number of functions. They release a chemical from the roots to suppress nematodes. They also suppress pest insects and attract beneficial insects. We will also be able to use the flowers in our cut arrangements.

As for the garden crops, we are on the cusp of transitioning from the winter garden to the summer crops. There are potatoes in the ground, green and purple bush beans, and even one heirloom variety, the Georgia McCaslan pole bean. There are also beets, carrots, and winter greens including collards,  kale, chard, turnips, and arugula. The warmer temperatures will allow an early transition to summer crops of tomatoes, okra, and peppers. Other plants in the organic garden include herbs, and cutting flowers like nasturtiums, calendula, pansies, sunflowers, zinnias, asters, and even loofah.

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments in the organic garden is that we have completed installation of an underground irrigation system, rather than relying on the hose and sprinkler system of the past. This will allow us better control of our watering schedule and the ability to set a timer to water at regular intervals. The system is even equipped with rain sensors, so we don’t have to worry about using water when we don’t need to! This was a wonderful addition to our garden space. Another upcoming change will be to relocate our three types of composting systems into the main garden area. When visiting the garden, you can see a shade cloth where the bins will be placed which will help protect them from the most intense heat of the day.

Please be sure to visit the organic garden on your visit to Little St. Simons Island!

Chuck-will’s-widows are calling at night, having just arrived from the south this week. At the dock, fisherman caught the first of the seasons for two fish species… the Whiting and the Oyster Toadfish. Both species were caught using shrimp, and many other popular species have been biting on shrimp as well. Redfish, Spotted Sea Trout, and Flounder have also been caught using shrimp.

Butterflies such as Clouded Sulpher and a variety of Whites are now being seen; they are especially drawn to the Yellow Thistle which is beginning to open along the roadsides. Dragonflies can also be seen on the wing, and crickets and other insect life can be heard in the evenings.

As always, Spring is one the most productive times for wildlife watching on Little St. Simons Island. Exciting new things happen almost daily as the weather warms. In the world of reptiles and amphibians, each outing produces more and more species sightings. Eastern Diamondback, Black Racer, Ground Skink, Green Anole, Eastern Glass Lizard, Southern Leopard Frog, and Green Tree Frog are some the species recently encountered.The first Green Tree Frog calls of the year were heard today.

New species of migratory birds are arriving daily as well. Northern Parula, Black and White Warbler, Barn Swallow, Cattle Egret, and Glossy Ibis all arrived in the past week. Bird song fills the air. Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren and many other birds are singing their wonderful songs.  Shorebird diversity and abundance is increasing daily.

Certain mammal sightings have become more abundant. Marsh rabbit sightings have become common, especially along Beach Road. The number of raccoons, opossums, and fallow deer encountered on night drives seems to have increased recently also. Small numbers of Horseshoe Crabs were seen emerging from the ocean to lay eggs, timed with the recent full moon. The peak of their emergence should occur at the end on this month.  Shelling on the beach has been particularly productive too!

What a great time of year to explore the woods, beaches, and marshes of Little St. Simons Island!