Savannah Coastal Refuges - Calendar of Events

2008 Calendar of Events

January
The wintering waterfowl population has reached its peak on all Coastal Refuges. 19 species of waterfowl have been recorded in January on Savannah NWR, the best of the Coastal Refuges for viewing an abundance of ducks

February
Wintering waterfowl begin to leave Coastal Refuges. Wood ducks begin nesting on Savannah, Wassaw, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island NWRs - most readily seen at Savannah NWR. Male wood ducks frequently stand atop nest boxes during early morning hours offering easy viewing.

March
Freshwater fishing within all canals and impoundments of Savannah NWR opens March 1. Wood duck nesting is at its peak on all Savannah Coastal Refuges. Migrating songbirds begin returning from southern wintering grounds. The closed portions of the Savannah NWR dike system north of S.C. 170 open March 1 to hiking/biking. A shotgun hunt for feral hogs is held at Savannah NWR (March 8 - 16, 2008)*.

April
Large flocks of migrating shorebirds are resting and feeding on the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard NWRs. Summer breeding birds begin arriving in numbers. Wintering songbirds depart from northern breeding grounds. During this period, when wintering birds may linger while summer residents and migrant species arrive, birdwatching is excellent on all Savannah Coastal Refuges. A turkey hunt is managed at Savannah NWR (April 5 - 25, 2008)*.

May
Excellent birdwatching conditions continue throughout the complex – weather is generally mild and biting insect populations are fairly low. Egrets and herons begin nesting and are most easily seen at the rookeries on Harris Neck NWR. Participants with the Savannah Science Museum’s Caretta Research Project launch their nightly patrols on Wassaw to locate loggerhead turtles and nests. The public is permitted to assist in the research under the supervision of qualified museum personnel. Selected participants must pay a fee covering transportation and lodging expenses. (Write the Savannah Science Museum, P.O. Box 9841, Savannah, Georgia 31405 for application information).

June
Wading birds continue to nest throughout the complex. At the Harris Neck rookeries, wood storks, great egrets, tri-colored herons, and anhingas are most common. Opportunities for photographing these species are excellent. Alligators are conspicuous along the canals of Savannah NWR.

July
Summer breeding birds such as painted buntings are abundant at Harris Neck. Purple gallinules are common at Savannah NWR and can be seen walking over the mats of lily pads which blanket some impoundments. Alligators are highly visible in the canals and pools of Savannah NWR. Information regarding the upcoming hunting season is available. Hunters may obtain applications or permits for complex hunts.* The Savannah Science Museum’s Caretta Research team begins releasing loggerhead turtle hatchlings. Black skimmers, laughing gulls, Wilson’s plovers, and least terns are best seen on the beaches of Blackbeard Island and Wassaw NWR’s.

August
Research teams continue releasing loggerhead hatchlings on Wassaw and additional nests are located and protected. Blue-winged teal begin arriving on Savannah Coastal Refuges. Large flocks of white ibis are particularly common at the Savannah and Harris Neck refuges where they roost together in the wooded wetlands.

September
Caretta Research Project concludes on Wassaw: most hatchlings have been released. Songbirds and shorebirds are arriving from northern breeding grounds. Migrant warblers are abundant in the woodlands of Savannah Coastal Refuges. Additional flocks of teal arrive. Large concentrations of dunlin, dowitchers, and black-bellied plovers are found on Wassaw, Blackbeard, and Harris Neck. A non-quota archery hunt for deer is managed on Harris Neck (September 17 - 19, 2008). *

October
Songbird and shorebird migration continues. A variety of dabbling and diving ducks are present on Savannah NWR. Marsh hawks are seen throughout the refuges’ freshwater and saltwater marshland. Many nesting neotropical birds such as painted buntings and yellow-billed cuckoos may still be present on Harris Neck. Three-day archery hunt for deer is managed on Blackbeard Island NWR (October 16 - 18, 2008). Savannah NWR’s archery deer/feral hog hunt and a youth hunt are held October 1-31, 2008. * National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 11 - 18, 2008) is a great time to visit with special interpretive tours and programs being held on some refuges in the complex. Please call our headquarters office (912-652-4415) for details. Coinciding with refuge week is the 6th Annual Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival, October 10 - 12, 2008, which is based on Jekyll Island, Georgia. This 3-day event offers a variety of events suited to all levels of birders and nature lovers including educational seminars, exciting field trips and fun children's activities. Visit the festival web site (www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org) or call the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4JEKYLL for further information.

November
Wintering waterfowl are found in good numbers on Savannah NWR. Other regular winter residents are present – the greatest variety of sparrows and wrens can be found beginning in November and through the winter months. One day gun hunts for deer are held on Harris Neck NWR (November 21, 2008) and Pinckney Island NWR (November 14, 2008). Wheelchair-dependent hunters are permitted to hunt deer at Savannah NWR November 18 - 19, 2008. A three-day (archery) hunt for deer is managed on Wassaw NWR (November 6 - 8, 2008). Savannah NWR’s gun hunt for deer/hog/squirrel is held November 1-30, 2008. * Freshwater fishing season concludes November 30 in Savannah NWR’s impoundments north of SC Highway 170. (See December for youth waterfowl hunt opportunity)

December
Opportunities for viewing waterfowl are excellent on Harris Neck and Savannah NWRs. Loons and large rafts of scaup are commonly seen from the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard Islands. Parts of the Savannah NWR impoundments north of S.C. 170 close December 1 to all public use. The final archery hunt of the season is managed on Blackbeard Island NWR (December 4 - 6, 2008). A three-day gun hunt for deer is managed on Wassaw NWR (December 11 - 13, 2008). Three days of youth waterfowl hunts will be held on November 29 and December 6 and 13, 2008.*

*Permits are required to participate in all complex hunts.
Click here to download hunt brochures and permits.
For further information, call (912) 652-4415

NOTICE: "Area Closed" signs may be posted seasonally on Savannah Coastal Refuges
to prevent disturbance to wildlife.


	2008 Calendar of Events January The wintering waterfowl population has reached its peak on all Coastal Refuges. 19 species of waterfowl have been recorded in January on Savannah NWR, the best of the Coastal Refuges for viewing an abundance of ducks February Wintering waterfowl begin to leave Coastal Refuges. Wood ducks begin nesting on Savannah, Wassaw, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island NWRs - most readily seen at Savannah NWR. Male wood ducks frequently stand atop nest boxes during early morning hours offering easy viewing. March Freshwater fishing within all canals and impoundments of Savannah NWR opens March 1. Wood duck nesting is at its peak on all Savannah Coastal Refuges. Migrating songbirds begin returning from southern wintering grounds. The closed portions of the Savannah NWR dike system north of S.C. 170 open March 1 to hiking/biking. A shotgun hunt for feral hogs is held at Savannah NWR (March 8 - 16, 2008). April* Large flocks of migrating shorebirds are resting and feeding on the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard NWRs. Summer breeding birds begin arriving in numbers. Wintering songbirds depart from northern breeding grounds. During this period, when wintering birds may linger while summer residents and migrant species arrive, birdwatching is excellent on all Savannah Coastal Refuges. A turkey hunt is managed at Savannah NWR (April 5 - 25, 2008). May* Excellent birdwatching conditions continue throughout the complex – weather is generally mild and biting insect populations are fairly low. Egrets and herons begin nesting and are most easily seen at the rookeries on Harris Neck NWR. Participants with the Savannah Science Museum’s Caretta Research Project launch their nightly patrols on Wassaw to locate loggerhead turtles and nests. The public is permitted to assist in the research under the supervision of qualified museum personnel. Selected participants must pay a fee covering transportation and lodging expenses. (Write the Savannah Science Museum, P.O. Box 9841, Savannah, Georgia 31405 for application information). June Wading birds continue to nest throughout the complex. At the Harris Neck rookeries, wood storks, great egrets, tri-colored herons, and anhingas are most common. Opportunities for photographing these species are excellent. Alligators are conspicuous along the canals of Savannah NWR. July Summer breeding birds such as painted buntings are abundant at Harris Neck. Purple gallinules are common at Savannah NWR and can be seen walking over the mats of lily pads which blanket some impoundments. Alligators are highly visible in the canals and pools of Savannah NWR. Information regarding the upcoming hunting season is available. Hunters may obtain applications or permits for complex hunts.* The Savannah Science Museum’s Caretta Research team begins releasing loggerhead turtle hatchlings. Black skimmers, laughing gulls, Wilson’s plovers, and least terns are best seen on the beaches of Blackbeard Island and Wassaw NWR’s. August Research teams continue releasing loggerhead hatchlings on Wassaw and additional nests are located and protected. Blue-winged teal begin arriving on Savannah Coastal Refuges. Large flocks of white ibis are particularly common at the Savannah and Harris Neck refuges where they roost together in the wooded wetlands. September Caretta Research Project concludes on Wassaw: most hatchlings have been released. Songbirds and shorebirds are arriving from northern breeding grounds. Migrant warblers are abundant in the woodlands of Savannah Coastal Refuges. Additional flocks of teal arrive. Large concentrations of dunlin, dowitchers, and black-bellied plovers are found on Wassaw, Blackbeard, and Harris Neck. A non-quota archery hunt for deer is managed on Harris Neck (September 17 - 19, 2008). * October Songbird and shorebird migration continues. A variety of dabbling and diving ducks are present on Savannah NWR. Marsh hawks are seen throughout the refuges’ freshwater and saltwater marshland. Many nesting neotropical birds such as painted buntings and yellow-billed cuckoos may still be present on Harris Neck. Three-day archery hunt for deer is managed on Blackbeard Island NWR (October 16 - 18, 2008). Savannah NWR’s archery deer/feral hog hunt and a youth hunt are held October 1-31, 2008. * National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 11 - 18, 2008) is a great time to visit with special interpretive tours and programs being held on some refuges in the complex. Please call our headquarters office (912-652-4415) for details. Coinciding with refuge week is the 6th Annual Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival, October 10 - 12, 2008, which is based on Jekyll Island, Georgia. This 3-day event offers a variety of events suited to all levels of birders and nature lovers including educational seminars, exciting field trips and fun children's activities. Visit the festival web site (www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org) or call the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4JEKYLL for further information. November Wintering waterfowl are found in good numbers on Savannah NWR. Other regular winter residents are present – the greatest variety of sparrows and wrens can be found beginning in November and through the winter months. One day gun hunts for deer are held on Harris Neck NWR (November 21, 2008) and Pinckney Island NWR (November 14, 2008). Wheelchair-dependent hunters are permitted to hunt deer at Savannah NWR November 18 - 19, 2008. A three-day (archery) hunt for deer is managed on Wassaw NWR (November 6 - 8, 2008). Savannah NWR’s gun hunt for deer/hog/squirrel is held November 1-30, 2008. * Freshwater fishing season concludes November 30 in Savannah NWR’s impoundments north of SC Highway 170. (See December for youth waterfowl hunt opportunity) December Opportunities for viewing waterfowl are excellent on Harris Neck and Savannah NWRs. Loons and large rafts of scaup are commonly seen from the beaches of Wassaw and Blackbeard Islands. Parts of the Savannah NWR impoundments north of S.C. 170 close December 1 to all public use. The final archery hunt of the season is managed on Blackbeard Island NWR (December 4 - 6, 2008). A three-day gun hunt for deer is managed on Wassaw NWR (December 11 - 13, 2008). Three days of youth waterfowl hunts will be held on November 29 and December 6 and 13, 2008.* *Permits are required to participate in all complex hunts. Click here to download hunt brochures and permits. For further information, call (912) 652-4415 NOTICE: "Area Closed" signs may be posted seasonally on Savannah Coastal Refuges to prevent disturbance to wildlife.
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