Hello and welcome to the Chattahoochee River NRA Science and Resource Management (SRM) Blog. Facts, trivia, photos and random bits of natural resource-focused information will be posted as it occurs, transpires, arises, befalls, ensues, or becomes a plain ol' nuisance. Postings will include the fabulous, the interesting, the unusual and the ugly. For instance we will post photos of spring ephemerals as they come into bloom in the park. Or an interesting animal caught on camera. Or, we may post current E. coli levels, sewage spills, and stream bank erosion. Stay updated on the news and natural phenomenon of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Posted: February 27, 2012
The weekend of February 18 marked the 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an encompassing event that engages bird watches of all ages to participate as citizen scientists for the weekend. The data collected becomes invaluable since birds are dynamic creatures rendering it impossible for scientist to document the distribution of every species in such a short period of time.
Winter is a crucial period for collecting bird data with great migrations occurring and the Chattahoochee River is an important migratory route for many species. The data collected in the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology detect trends in bird populations, from illnesses like West Nile Virus impacting American Crow populations to migratory bird routes, like the
Posted: January 24, 2012
The CRNRA is home to several species of birds, both year-round dwellers like the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and also migratory passers-through, like the Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). In fact, we have 192 confirmed species!
Read More About That's no Snowy Owl... It's a Leucistic Red-Tailed Hawk!
Posted: January 10, 2012
Visitors to the park know it can be busy during the daytime; just visit Cochran Shoals on the weekend and you'll understand. People may be the most commonly spotted creature during the daytime, but for our animal inhabitants, the nighttime is the right time! (NOTE: The park closes at dark- please make sure to obey all park rules.) While it's fun to try to stay up and see some of the nocturnal goings-on, here in SRM we use cameras to capture photos of the wildlife when we're not around. These special cameras use infrared, so there's no flash to scare the animals off- and we get to see some pretty cool things.
In each
Posted: December 23, 2011 | posted by: Candice Larussa!
During the midsummer heat, as the buzzing of insects was drowning out the incessant drone of cars on Johnson Ferry Road, CRNRA received a phone call from Colonial Pipeline regarding the wetland located at
Posted: December 05, 2011 | posted by: Megan Beezley!
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area's Employee Association is hosting a donation drive to benefit the Drake House, a local women and children's shelter. The Drake House provides emergency residential housing for women and children in need, combined with an empowerment program designed to provide stability for the children and assist the family in working toward housing self sufficiency.
They serve 40-50 families annually, providing housing, support services, and setting goals to help the families become self-sufficient. There is a constant need to keep the Drake House stocked. Household goods, food items, diapers, toiletries, and cleaning supplies are only a few items off their needs list.
Donations will be accepted at the visitor center at Island Ford until
Posted: October 05, 2011 | posted by: Allyson Read!
A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was sited this morning approximately 1 mile downstream of the Johnson Ferry Bridge. Dennis Teague called in with this exciting report.
Usually this magnificent raptor is seen closer to the Morgan Falls dam, but in recent years the sitings have been from East Palisades and the Devil's racecourse areas of the park.
We do keep an observation log, so if you happen to see, hear, or experience something unique or interesting, please let us know.
Posted: August 31, 2011 | posted by: Allyson Read!
To date, 5, and possibly 7, new species of bees have been identified during a pollinator study at the Cochran Shoals unit of the park. Thanks to Melina Duran, a volunteer with the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) of the National Park Service and a student of Engineering in Agroecology from the University of Chapingo in Mexico, the new species are also new records for the state of Georgia! The study is collaboration among CRNRA, SERO, the NPS Washington Office, the United States Geological Survey, and the Coevolution Institute. The identification process has just begun and many samples have yet to be identified. Stay tuned as more information comes in!
Read More About New Bee Species Found in Park
Posted: August 22, 2011 | posted by: Megan Beezley!
"What IS that?!?!"
 I asked as I was pulling invasive plants from the Boxwoods planted behind Hewlett Lodge. The shrubs seemed to be host to a variety of invasive species- Honeysuckle waving defiantly from the top, Elaeagnus' tentacle-like stems sprouting from the sides and English Ivy trying to sneak in underfoot. But this… THIS was something that brought the term "invasive" to a whole new level.
What I saw appeared to be a big green caterpillar with white eggs all over it. I was
Posted: August 19, 2011 | posted by: Megan Beezley!
Here in the Science and Resource Management division of the park, a big challenge is managing non-native species. Few residents are unfamiliar with kudzu's amazing ability to overtake untended lots, of wisteria's lavender tendrils dripping from trees or of privet's incessant propagation mission.
While we spend hundreds of hours annually treating the exotic species in the park, we are constantly looking for ways to use the byproducts of cutting down these plants. One of the ways we utilize the unwanted branches is creating habitat piles. Choosing a site in or near a wooded area, create a pile of limbs and branches of varying thickness. Birds and small animals are attracted to piles like these as they provide shelter, especially in colder winter months. Wildlife piles are great
Posted: August 04, 2011 | posted by: Allyson Read!
Recently we have received several reports from hikers at the Sope Creek unit of the park that have been stung by yellow jacket bees. The yellow jackets this year seem particularly numerous and aggressive, possibly due to the unrelenting heat and humidity. To protect yourself from getting stung while visiting the park we have several suggestions. One of the most important things to do is to keep your dog leashed so that it does not disturb ground nesting insects like yellow jackets. The nests are not in the trail corridor due to the constant foot traffic and disturbance. The yellow jacket nests are in the woods, usually in a dead stump or sometimes simply in a hole in the ground. The colonies can be quite extensive and have up to 5,000 inhabitants. Below are some other tips on preventing
Posted: July 18, 2011 | posted by: Megan Beezley!
While most folks along the river would be (understandably) upset if you started calling them yellow-bellied, a stinkpot or a cooter, there are a few denizens of the river proud to claim such distinctive names!
Humans are not the only ones sunbathing on and along the Chattahoochee River this time of year. The hot weather and long days of summer send our four-legged friends seeking temperature regulation as well!
Now is a great time to catch a glimpse of some of the many varieties of turtles native to the area. Like all reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded and rely on the sun to raise their body temperatures. Increased temperature helps them
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