News From the GDNR – Wildlife Division

State & National

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources: DNR SURVEY: BALD EAGLE NESTING IN STATE REACHES NEW HIGH

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (April 23, 2015) – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has documented the most bald eagle nests ever found in the state, more than 200 sites that show eagle nesting levels in Georgia continue to soar.

According to preliminary results of aerial surveys done in January and March, the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section counted 210 occupied nesting territories, 166 successful nests and 270 young fledged.

These totals – the highest recorded for each category– are consistent with the steady increase in bald eagle nesting seen in previous years. Considering that this iconic raptor was virtually absent from Georgia as recently as 40 years ago, that trend and these recent findings are cause for celebration.

Survey leader Jim Ozier has witnessed the dramatic recovery firsthand: Ozier began monitoring bald eagle nesting almost three decades ago. At that time, nests numbered in the single digits. He credits the species’ recovery to coordinated conservation efforts and the public contributions that make those efforts possible.

“Georgia’s nesting bald eagle population continues its impressive expansion, exemplifying conservation success through agency cooperation and public support,” said Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. “And eagles are doing their part by adaptively co-existing with people in many instances.”

The resurgence of bald eagles is supported in part by Georgians who contribute to the Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund by buying or renewing a wildlife license plate – the bald eagle and ruby-throated hummingbird designs. Most fees for the plates benefit the more than 1,000 Georgia plant and animal species listed as species of conservation concern.

The state is also home to one of the world’s best-known eagle nests – the Berry College nest live-streamed by the northwest Georgia school at www.berry.edu/eaglecam. Berry also shares the stream with DNR at www.georgiawildlife.com/berryeaglecam.

Georgians can alert Ozier to eagle nests they find by reporting them online (www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/eaglenest) or by phone (478-994-1438). These reports often lead to previously undocumented nests. DNR works with landowners to help protect eagle nests on their property.

Bald eagles are no longer listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but they are protected by federal and state law.

Eagle surveys are part of the DNR Nongame Conservation Section’s mission to conserve nongame wildlife – native animals not legally hunted or fished for – and native plants and natural habitats. The section depends largely on license plates and other fundraisers for this work.

Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/support. See how that support is put to work www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/AnnualReport.

SURVEY SUMMARY
§ Occupied eagle nest territories: 210 (12 percent increase compared to 2014)
§ Successful nests: 166 (11 percent increase)
§ Young fledged: 270 (14 percent increase)
§ Counties with active nests: 62 (60 in 2014)
§ Lead nest counties: Chatham – 24; Decatur – 21; Camden­ – 12; Glynn – 11, McIntosh – 11; Liberty – 10

Contacts:
Linda May, DNR environmental outreach coordinator/art contest coordinator – (706) 557-3226; [email protected]
Cora Keber, State Botanical Garden of Georgia – (706) 542-6156; [email protected]

Images available at www.flickr.com/photos/wildliferesourcesdivision (in the “2015 Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest” album).

STATEWIDE WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE POSTER CONTEST, ARTWORK WILL BE DISPLAYED AT STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN ATHENS

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (April 23, 2015) – Twelve elementary school children were selected as statewide winners in the Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest. About 1,500 kindergarten through fifth-grade students from 19 public schools, private schools and homeschool groups participated in the 25th annual conservation art competition, according to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Statewide winners in the four grade divisions include:

Division 1: Kindergarten
First: Kendra Evans, 5, Red Oak Elementary, Stockbridge
Second: Amelia Brown, 5, Pine Log Elementary, Rydal
Third: Anniston Scott, 6, St. Joseph Catholic School, Athens

Division 2: First-second grades
First: Shekinah Glory Ledgister, 8, second grade, Jackson Elementary “School of the Arts,” Jonesboro
Second: Anna Kate Taylor, 7, first grade, South Effingham Elementary, Guyton
Third: Rachel Wicker, 7, second grade, St. Joseph Catholic School, Athens

Division 3: Third-fourth grades
First: Andrew Edwards, 9, third grade, Pike County Elementary, Zebulon
Second: Jaya Womack, 8, third grade, Jackson Elementary “School of the Arts,” Jonesboro
Third: Ellie Harman, 9, fourth grade, The Museum School of Avondale Estates, Decatur

Division 4: Fifth grade
First: Rihan Mammen, 11, The Museum School of Avondale Estates, Decatur
Second: Winter Gocher, 11, Jackson Elementary “School of the Arts,” Jonesboro
Third: Caroline Hicks, 11, St. Joseph Catholic School, Athens

Participants entered at the local school level with drawings and paintings depicting their observations of Georgia’s native plants and animals. The 2015 contest theme was “Georgia’s WILD Animals and Plants: A Natural Investment.” To celebrate the silver anniversary and the price reduction of the wildlife license plates to $25 (a major source of nongame funding), students were asked to design a Georgia license plate. Drawings were judged based on aspects such as theme, originality and the quality and impact of the artwork. Top school-level entries proceeded to the state contest at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens.

All winning pieces are showcased on the Wildlife Resources Division’s Flickr site, www.flickr.com/photos/wildliferesourcesdivision (in the “2015 Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest” album).

This artwork also will be on display in the Visitor Center & Conservatory at the State Botanical Garden in Athens from May 5-13, along with other state-level entries.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is home to a stunning range of collections, displays and trails. Please check the garden’s website (http://botgarden.uga.edu) or call (706) 542-1244 for details on operating hours and directions. The State Botanical Garden is a gift to vis­i­tors and resi­dents of the state of Georgia; therefore, parking and admittance are free. If you enjoy the garden, please con­sider leaving a donation on-site or online.

The Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest is sponsored by the DNR Wildlife Resources Division, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network Inc., or TERN, friends group of the Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest or contact the Nongame Conservation Section office in Social Circle at (706) 557-3226.

Georgians can support important conservation, recreation and education efforts as well as other programs for Georgia’s nongame wildlife by purchasing a bald eagle or hummingbird license plate or donating directly to the Nongame Conservation Section. This agency receives no state appropriations for its mission to conserve nongame wildlife, native plants and natural habitats.

Learn more atwww.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/support.

STATE ARCHERY TOURNAMENT – OVER 500 GEORGIA ARCHERS QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (April 23, 2015) – Georgia will be well-represented at the 2015 National Archery in the Schools Program National Tournament in May after more than 1,000 archers shot in this year’s Georgia-NASP State Tournament at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.

More than 40,000 arrows were shot on March 25, with Dodge County High School walking away as the high school division champion and overall highest scoring team with a score of 3,327, capturing its first state title since 2012. Dodge edged North Murray High School, which was shooting for a third consecutive high school state title, by 18 points.

Bagley Middle School in Chatsworth won the middle school team division title with a score of 3,297, winning its second straight state championship. Bagley Middle has won four of the past five middle school championships.

Woodlawn Elementary won its fifth elementary division state crown in the past six years by posting a 3,171 team score and will return to Nationals in Louisville, Ky., where the school has won two National titles (2011, 2013).

More than 50 school teams and 1,000 student archers who shot on squads of 12-24 in elementary, middle and high school divisions competed at the 2015 Georgia-NASP State Tournament. Twenty-nine Georgia schools will be represented at NASP Nationals May 7-9 in Louisville where 511 archers from the Peach State will compete for a national title and a shot at a piece of $100,000 in college scholarships that will be awarded.

The National Tournament will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center with an expected 11,000 archers from more than 40 states competing, making it the largest archery tournament in the world.

WINNING SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS

Winners at the 2015 Georgia-NASP State Tournament include:

Dodge County High’s Morgan Graham was the top overall male shooter with his score of 295. North Murray’s Haley Bagley arrowed a 291 to win the top overall female shooter. Both individuals were awarded a $5,000 scholarship check.

Isaiah Beloin from Gladden Middle School in Chatsworth shot a 293 to win first place in the middle school male division. Alyssa Laviana from Bagley Middle won first in the middle school female division with a score of 283.

Indian Creek Elementary’s Maddie Merritt out of Douglas shot a 282 to win first in the elementary female division. Woodlawn Elementary’s Holden Jones scored 279 to take home first place in the elementary male division.

All division winning teams automatically qualify for nationals, while several other schools met qualifying scores to reach this year’s National Tournament in May. A “team” consists of 12 to 24 shooters with at least four members of the opposite gender. Nearly 45 percent of the state tournament field was female. Individuals finishing in the top 10 at state automatically qualify for the national tournament.

Archery teams that competed in the Georgia-NASP state tournament had to win their division at one of eight regional tournaments in January and February or shoot a regional score high enough to be selected as a wildcard team. More than 1,800 student archers competed in the regional tournaments in 2015.

Complete team and individual results are available online at www.nasptournaments.com. For more information on NASP, which is available to all schools in 4th-12 grade that become certified in the program, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/NASP.

Melissa Cummings
Communications and Outreach Specialist
Wildlife Resources Division
(706) 557-3326

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