Join us on Saturday, September 21 for Cast Away Club’s final educational program for the season on diamondback terrapin turtles. Diamondbacks were harvested almost to extinction in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. In 2003 the state of Georgia added the Diamondback to its “Species of Concern” and banned commercial harvesting of the turtles. Lisa Isenhour, co-chair of the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project will be on hand to tell us all about these turtles and how volunteers help them to be released into the marshes to begin their journey. She will have live turtles on hand for a show and tell.
The Skidaway Audubon Diamondback Terrapin Rescue project is the largest endeavor of its kind along the East Coast. Volunteers work under the direction of naturalist John Crawford from the UGA Marine Science Center. Have you seen a golf cart or bicycle flying a blue flag? These are the Diamondback Terrapin volunteers going about his/her duties. From late April til early August, these volunteers are searching for turtles who are laying eggs and nests that have already been laid in sand traps. From mid-July through mid-October the volunteers are checking the nesting boxes for baby turtles that have hatched and are ready to go to the marsh.
After the nature program the kids and their parents will have an opportunity to fish together from 9:30 to 11:00. Rods, reels, and bait will be provided by the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association). Volunteers from CCA will be available to assist. The CCA of Skidaway is sponsoring this FREE event for all the Landings children.
Place: CCA Outdoor Education Center located at the Kid’s Fishing Lagoon
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
Time: Registration 8:30am
Program: 9:00am to 9:30am
Fishing: 9:30am – 11:00am
Cost: Free (Open to all children in The Landings ages 4 to 13)
Attendance is limited to 35, so please register as soon as possible at www.ccaskidaway.org.
CCA is a non-profit organization with chapters on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts. For more information about CCA of Skidaway contact Richard Tallon, 417-294-2002. For more information about CCA’s Georgia District, contact Tom Rood, 598-9753. For information about this event email Mary White at jesrayaus@gmail.com