The Billy Cullens Memorial Nature Trail and Observation Towers give birdwatchers and other outdoor enthusiasts an excellent opportunity to observe wetland-dependent wildlife in the managed impoundments of the Butler Island Refuge unit of the Altamaha Waterfowl Managment Area. 

Trail and Towers - The nature trail consistes of two parts, a north loop and a south loop.  The loops may be walked as one long unit, or two separate trails.  The trails follow the dikes separating the different managed wetlands on the refuge.  The two obersvation towers provide excellent views of the managed wetlands.  The northern tower is easily accessed via a short walk from the parking area on the east side of Highway 17, just south of Darien River.  The newer, southern tower is accessible only by walking the south loop of the nature trail.

Informational Signs - There are seven informational signs scattered along the nature trail that provide information on waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, wetlands, songbirds and salt marshes.  The kiosks at the north tower provide information on the management of the area and conservation efforts along the Altamaha River.  Two bronze plaques, located at the North Tower, recognize Billy Cullens for his conservation involvement, and the Sea Island Company for their financial support of wetland conservation along the Altamaha River.

In Memorium - The trail and towers were named in honor of the late Billy Cullens, an avid sportsman and conservationist who took a keen interest in the waterfowl management activiites that occured on the Altamaha WMA.

Managing Butler Island - The four managed impoundments of the Butler Island Reguve provide habitat for wintering waterfowl, migrating shorebirds and teal, resident wading birds and many other speciies of wetland dependent wildlife.  By varying the water depth and timing of flooding in each of the impoundments, the specific habitat needs of various wetland bird groups can be met.

Waterfowl - Impoundments managed for wintering waterfowl are dry during the spring and summer so that vegetation such as smartweeks, wild millet and panic grass can grow and produce seed.  The impoundments are mowed in the fall and flooded shallowly during the late fall and winter (Nov-Feb) to make the seeds accessible to the feeding ducks.

Shorebirds and Teal - Water depth in the impoundments managed for shorebirds and teal is shallower than for other ducks, and the impoundments are flooded a little earlier and drained a little later (Sept-May) to match the timing of the teal and shirebird migration.

Wading Birds & Wood Ducks - Resident wading birds and breeding wood ducks need water all year long.  Impoundments managed for these species are flooded throughout the year, and are a little deeper than areas managed only for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Funding for the Butler Island Refuge MARSH Project provided by: Georgia DNR/WIldlife Resources Division, Weekend for Wildlife, Georgia Ducks Unlimited.

For more information, call: Georgia Department of Natural Resources 912-262-3173

www.georgiawildlife.com

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962. Located in northern McIntosh County, the refuge serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the Atlantic seaboard, and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island refuges, both located southeast of Harris Neck. Harris Neck's 2,762 acres consists of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous woods, and cropland. Becasue of this great variety in habitat, many different speciies of birds are attracted to the refuge throughout the year. Harris Neck Creek offers a boat ramp and fishing pier, wonderful biking trails, picnic tables and observation decks for excellent birding and other abundant wildlife viewing. Over 15 miles of paved roads and trails provide the visitor easy access to the many differnt habitats.

Open: Sunrise to Sunset, Daily
www.fws.gov/harrisneck/

Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, which includes Egg Island and Little Egg Island, was established on April 3, 1930 as a migratory bird sanctuary. The refuge consists of a long narrow strip of oceanfront beach backed by a broad band of salt marsh. Over 75% of the refuge's 5,126 acres are composed of saltwater marshes. It is located in McIntosh County, Georgia, 12 miles east of Darien (by boat). Though the refuge's saltwaters are open to a variety of recreational activities, all beach, marsh and upland areas are closed to the public.

www.fws.gov/wolfisland

Soft corals, sponges and invertebrates are a natural habitat for reef and pelagic fish within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the Georgia Coast. Loggerhead turtles foraging, dolphins, Right Whales, pelagic birds and fish, and a live-bottom reef that supports invertebrates, soft corals and sponges can all be seen on the Georgia Coast in the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs of the southeastern United States, is one of the most popular spots off the Georgia coast for recreational fishing and diving. It is just one of 14 marine protected areas that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System, but the only natural area protected off the Georgia coast. The 17 square nautical miles (about 11,000 acres) of Gray’s Reef protects habitat that is recognized both nationally and internationally. Within the sanctuary, there are rocky ledges and flat and rippled sand plains. Gray’s Reef is not a coral reef, such as those found in the tropics. It is not built by living hard corals. Instead, it is a rock outcropping that stands above the shifting sands of the continental shelf. The wide variety of invertebrates, soft corals and sponges that the reef supports, in turn, supports a wide variety of reef and pelagic fishes, such as king mackerel. This makes Gray’s Reef a popular spot for both diving and recreational fishing.

 Also growing in popularity at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is pelagic bird watching. Some of the species seen in the Sanctuary include true pelagic birds — such as shearwaters, petrels and bridled terns that spend their entire lives at sea except when they nest or are blown inshore during heavy storms — as well as seabirds like gulls and royal terns that forage at sea but return regularly to land. Loggerhead sea turtles are frequently seen resting and foraging at Gray's Reef; other sea turtle species sometimes pass through the sanctuary. Both bottlenose and spotted dolphin are seen in the Sanctuary, and it is possible that you will encounter a highly endangered North Atlantic Right Whale when visiting Gray's Reef as the Sanctuary is near the only known calving ground for the whales and near an area designated as critical habitat. Located 32 kilometers (17.5 miles) off Sapelo Island between Savannah and Brunswick and 60-70 feet below the ocean surface, the sanctuary is only accessible by private boat. The Sanctuary does not run boat tours, fishing trips or dive trips. However, independent boat operators run fishing trips and dive trips to the Sanctuary from various docks along the coast of Georgia. The Gray's Reef administrative offices are on the north end of Skidaway Island near Savannah on the campus of Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.