The turtles are heading to Cape Canaveral. Talbot and Caton are going on a road trip. The adult loggerhead sea turtles are headed to Cape Canaveral after months at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

“The water here is too cold right now,” said Dr. Terry Norton, director at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

Talbot has been at the center for about four months. She was found with ropes around her shoulders that had embedded deeply into her skin. The center removed them and had to amputate about 8 inches off a flipper.  Caton took six months to recover from intestinal problems.

Posted in Diversions, Happenings, In the News, Nature Connection | 1 Comment »

* Date: December 19 – 24, 2009; Daily * Time: 4:00pm * Location: Jekyll Island Club Hotel Riverfront Lawn Come out this week and enjoy Scottish bagpiper Tim Akins as he heralds the season at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel! Beginning at Crane Cottage, he plays traditional airs and holiday favorites and parades toward the Riverfront Veranda. A crowd gathers along the way to enjoy his music and admire his tartan regalia. As dusk approaches, he advances to the banks of the Jekyll River for a last salute. Mr. Akins pipes each evening of Christmas week. It’s free, and not to be missed!

Tags: christmas bagpiper, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island hotels
Posted in Festivalgoer | No Comments »

Their sound is Glenn Miller. Their sound is Duke Ellington. But if you had to pick one-sound that defines the Jekyll Island Big Band, it would have to be the sound of foot steps in the dance hall where they’ve played for 30 years at the Jekyll Island convention center. The Jekyll Island Big Band’s annual New Year’s Eve concert will be its last at the old Jekyll Island convention center. $30/pp. 9pm – 12:30 pm. Call 912-635-4196 for group sales. CORRECTION Visit JekyllBigBand.org for more info.

Tags: jekyll island, jekyll island aquarama, jekyll island big band, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island new year's eve
Posted in Diversions, Festivalgoer, Happenings | No Comments »

Tags: georgia coast, hampton inn jekyll island, jekyll island, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island vacation
Posted in Diversions, Happenings, In the News | No Comments »

12-14-09 JEKYLL ISLAND FISHING REPORT
By Captain Vernon Reynolds
HELLO GUYS, THIS WILL BE MY LAST SCHUDLED REPORT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WILL BEGIN THE 2010 SEASON THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH. I MAY POST SPECIAL REPORTS FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT HAS BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND I AM LOOKING FROWARD TO NEXT YEAR. IF I CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY JUST LET ME KNOW. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas is barely a month away. Traditionally, the Sea Trout turn on around Thanksgiving and this year is no different. Captain Eric Moody had a good mess of Trout a few days before Thanksgiving taken on live shrimp and jigs fished under a float. I and a friend had 12 good Trout the day after Thanksgiving taken on live shrimp fished under a cork. Captain Larry Davis and his friend Lenard caught 28 trout up to four pounds the Monday after Thanksgiving taken on trolled jigs. David Capps caught 31 Trout casting jigs off a private dock in Fernandina December sixth. Most anglers reported good catches of Trout until the high tides hit the first of December. The tides moved back into the fishable range December 6 and will remain so until the end of the month.

Winter Trout fishing implies trolling and casting jigs. Trolling is a fun fishing method and it can produce lots of fish in a short period of time. Trolling involves slowly moving the boat along with the motor, slowly being the operative word, while pulling two to six jigs behind the boat. Trout are in an aggressive feeding mode this time of the year and will strike anything that resembles a meal. Most anglers start the day trolling with the jigs bouncing off the bottom every 30 or 40 feet. If this speed is not effective speed up just a little, this keeps the lure off the bottom as it becomes a swimming bait. Keep varying the speed until fish begin to hit the bait. Most fisherman troll along the bank where there is more structure such as oyster bars, ballast rock piles and dock pilings. If you can find such structure off the bank with your depth finder it is well worth fishing. Depending on such things as water temperature, salinity and clarity Trout may well prefer deeper water.

Trout can also be taken by casting and retrieving jigs either from the bank, an anchored boat or a boat powered by a trolling motor. I like the boat moving, you cover more water, allowing yourself to find more fish, and the view changes. Just being on the water is a thing unto itself and seeing what nature has to offer is one of the main pleasures of any outdoor activity.

Jig heads, the metal part with the hook come in several colors and sizes. Red, white and chartreuse are the most popular in one quarter to one half ounce sizes. Jig tails are a different thing. They come in numerous colors, sizes and shapes. I like the curly tail or the paddle tail for the most part. Two to four inch jig tails seem to work well for me, but I really like Berkley’s five inch Gulp Alive Crazy Legs Jerk Shad too. What color is the question? Some of the proven ones from Berkley and Saltwater Assassin (the two top manufacturers) are New Penny, Space Guppy, Chartreuse Pepper Neon, Opening Night, Candy Corn, and Electric Chicken. These are but a few to choose from. The D.O.A. shrimp is also effective bait when cast and retrieved.

Coastal Expeditions is owned and operated by Captains Eric Moody and Vernon Reynolds. For more information or to book a charter contacts us at www.coastalcharterfishing.com or call (912)265-0392.

Do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing.

Tags: captain eric moody, captain vernon reynolds, coastal expeditions, jekyll island fishing
Posted in Diversions, On the Water | No Comments »

Jekyll Island, Georgia is a prime example of an outdoor learning laboratory, one geared towards the maritime environment.

The following Jekyll Island educational opportunities not only present prime opportunities for learning, but they’re fun!

Tidelands Nature Center -

Drop in at Tidelands and experience a wide variety of nature activities revolving around marine ecology. It’s kids and nature, one on one!

Kids can touch and handle fauna, flora and just plain icky stuff at several hands-on study stations. Or learn about the lives of sharks swimming off the Jekyll Island coast. They can study maritime forests from close up, hiking through natural woodlands.
And learn about salt marsh, and how living things (including humans) benefit from it’s protection.
Kids can even learn to kayak, and take a guided kayak trip through Jekyll Island’s salt marsh ecosystem.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center -

This unique center located, in Jekyll Island’s Historic District, is dedicated to the study, protection and preservation of both sea and land based turtles. Kids can learn everything there is to know about sea turtles, from loggerheads to greens to leatherbacks and more, and about land-based turtles, too. Take a walk on the wild side – a turtle walk, that is, along Jekyll Island’s 10 miles of beach, looking for sea turtles and their nests, attend a sea turtle camp and become a junior conservationist, visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s hospital, and see how the staff rehabilitates sick or injured turtles, become a virtual sea turtle, and experience the life journey of a turtle, from hatchling to (hopefully) old-timer, adopt a sea turtle you can call your own, attend a turtle release, where the Center’s staff releases rehabilitated turtles back to the sea.

Maritime Forests -

Kids can learn about the importance of a maritime forest, and it’s relationship with other Jekyll Island ecologys.

Take guided walks through the maritime forest environment, and learn how it relates with the ocean, beach, dune, and marshland ecosystems. Don’t want to walk? Take a Segway tour, riding a gyroscopic Segway, and learn about the forest in style!

Salt Water Marsh Experience -

Kids get wet and wild with a kayak adventure into Jekyll Island’s river and salt water marsh environment.

Rent a kayak at Tidelands Nature Center. Their guides will teach you everything you need to know for safe kayak operation.
First leg – paddle across Rixen Pond. Watch out for leaping mullet – they’ve been known to jump into boats!
Second leg – portage from Rixen Pond to the boat ramp and put into Jekyll River, and gain first-hand experience with wind and tide. Paddling with a rising tide, with the wind at your back – that’s a breeze. But paddling into an ebbing tide, with the wind in your face – you’ll work like a dog!

Third leg – into the salt marsh, via several creeks that constantly narrow as you ply up-stream. Learn about several types of marsh grass. The barrier islands off the Georgia coast are known as the Golden Isles because the marsh grasses turn burnished gold in winter. Look for crabs, redfish, herons, and other marsh wildlife. And find out how the salt marsh environment not only feeds the fish that feed us, but filters pollutants from the uplands.

History -

Jekyll Island is rich in history, and inquisitive kids can soak in a rich brew of historic fact – along with a bit of speculation.

Check out the Millionaire’s Village. From the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, Jekyll Island was a playground for millionaires like J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller. The Jekyll Island Club was their play house, and the renovated mansions you can visit within the Historic District were their “cottages.

Visit the Jekyll Island museum for further history lessons, including Jekyll’s role in creating the Federal Reserve. Learn about the Wanderer, one of the last slave ships to bring slaves to America. It landed on Jekyll in 1858. And, get this – even Bigfoot likes a beach vacation. A Sasquatch was reportedly spotted on Jekyll Island in 1963No matter how they’re taught, kids can benefit from fun-filled educational activities, even on vacation. Whether the classroom is a barrier island like Jekyll, a mountain cove like Cade’s Cove in the Smokey Mountains, a National Park such as Yellowstone, or even an urban environment like Washington, D.C., there are plenty of educational opportunities for your kids to get a one-up on learning.

(c) 2010, Rick Freeland

Rick Freeland is a registered landscape architect and an avid Jekyll Island enthusiast. You can find more about his families adventures on Jekyll Island at http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/.

You can find more articles by Rick on landscape and garden subjects, as well as other interests, at http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/richardsfreeland.

Tags: education destination, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island educational activities, jekyll island history, sea turtles, tidelands nature center
Posted in Beach Bummin', Bird Watching, Diversions, History comes Alive, Just for Kids, Kayaking & Canoeing, Nature Connection | No Comments »

For all of you traveling to Jekyll Island (or anywhere else I suppose) this holiday- if you happen to be cool enough to have an Iphone – here are some cool Iphone apps to help you with your travels.

Reposted from Mashable.com by Megan Berry

Megan Berry is an evangelist for Mobclix, the industry’s largest mobile ad exchange, working on social media and marketing. She also blogs at The Huffington Post and the Mobclix blog. You can follow her on Twitter as @meganberry, or through the @Mobclix handle.

Sometimes going home for the holidays can be a case of collective insanity. I tend to fly on the big travel days when the airport security lines are ridiculously long, my flight is more expensive, and my family is more stressed than normal.

This year, I plan to use my iPhone as a problem solver for all my holiday woes. From traveling, to shopping, to entertaining the kiddies, these iPhone apps cover everything but those family fights (even the iPhone’s not that miraculous!).

Brave the Travel Madness

1. Flightcaster

This app doesn’t just tell you your current flight status, it actually predicts the likelihood that your flight will be delayed. It takes into account factors such as weather, incoming aircraft, other delays, and historical data, and then gives you a percent chance that your plane will be on time, less than 1 hour delayed, and more than 1 hour delayed.

At $7.99 it’s a bit pricey, but its ability to forecast delays definitely makes it worthwhile (you can also access the same data on their site for free if you’d prefer). It worked like a charm for my flights, but obviously results may vary. Now, if only it could actually prevent delays.

Price: $7.99

2. GasBag

For those of you driving instead of flying, you’ll love this app. GasBag helps you find the cheapest gas station in any given area so you can fill up without breaking the bank. Simple and easy to use, although it doesn’t have data for every location and station. Another app to check out is GasBuddy ($2.99) which serves a similar purpose.

Price: Free

Save Money on Gifts

3. ShopSavvy

This great app allows you to scan the barcode of any item in a store and see prices online and from nearby retailers. With this app you can ensure you’ll get the best price for every gift, even when you’re shopping in a hurry. Warning: you may get so caught up with the coolness of this product that you scan way more products than necessary.

Price: Free

4. Yowza Mobile Coupons

With Heroes actor Greg Grunberg as the co-founder, this app has made quite a splash. At a time when everyone is looking for ways to save money, this app helps you do just that.

You won’t find a coupon for every store, and not all of them will be useful, but in my opinion, if you find even one great deal from this app then it has more than proved its worth.

Price: Free

Take Stress Out of the Holiday Meal

5. Grocery IQ

Around the holidays, grocery stores can be as crowded as the aiports. That why it’s important to know exactly what you need so you don’t have to make more than one trip. With GroceryIQ, you can create lists of items you need to get and even organize your lists by aisle or store so you can shop as efficiently as possible. If only this app could buy the groceries for you, then it really would be perfect.

Price: $0.99

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6. Epicurious

With 25,000 recipes, this app should have everything you need to make your holiday meals happen. It even has holiday-specific recipes for Christmas cookies, edible gifts, and Christmas and Hanukkah dinners. My favorite category is the aptly-named “I can barely cook.” You can also email recipes and use its step-by-step mode.

Price: Free

Keep the Kids Entertained

7. Movies

Sometimes on hoildays everyone gets cooped up in the house for a bit too long. This can lead to stress, fights, and kids throwing footballs in the living room. Sometimes the best solution is simply finding an excuse to get out. The Movies app allows you to see what movies are currently playing near you, look up reviews, and find theaters and show times.

Price: Free

8. Goofy Mad Libs

The iPhone has a huge selection of apps for young kids, however, the one problem those apps don’t solve is the worry associated with actually handing your precious iPhone over to a child. Goofy Mad Libs has the perfect solution, where you can ask kids for the Mad Libs, read them the silly story, and never have the iPhone leave the comfort of your own hands. This app even has a free version called Mad Libs Lite if you’d like to try it out first. It’s also great for car trips.

Price: $3.99/Free

Throw the Perfect Holiday Party

9. Mixology

The perfect holiday party requires the right drinks, and Mixology will help you create them. Select drinks by category (including hot drinks which may be just right for a holiday-themed party), liquor type, or name. You can also use the liquor cabinet feature to select what you have on hand and have the app suggest what drinks you could make.

If almost 8,000 drinks sounds like too many options, you can also shake the phone to get a random drink selection and take the choice out of your hands. As a bonus, there are bartending tips and techniques if you want to impress your friends (or just not embarrass yourself).

Price: Free

10. Pandora ()

The right selection of music requires a lot of time considering your guests, your song selections, and how each song fits your party’s mood. Or, you could just use the Pandora app instead.

Select a song or genre for Pandora to work from and you’ll have a whole party’s worth of music with one minute of prep. Pandora even has Christmas and holiday music, so it can truly accommodate any taste (good or bad).

Cost: Free

Tags: holiday survival, iphone apps, jekyll island travel, mashable.com
Posted in Diversions, Happenings, In the News | 2 Comments »

All paid & free night stays must fall within this period & all nights must be used within one reservation. This promotion is not valid with any other discounts, over holidays or special event dates. Rates vary depending on room type, & all rates & dates are subject to availability. Purchase one room now through January 2010 and get one FREE! Room must be booked at our non-discounted rack Rate for one night and the second night is FREE. Call Toll Free: 1.888.635.3003 Valid 11/12/09-1/31/10 Book your reservation directly by calling Days Inn & Suites Jekyll Island and ask for the BOGO promotion!

Tags: days inn jekyll island, jekyll island ga, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island vacation
Posted in Diversions, Happenings | No Comments »

HOLIDAY EVENTS Due to the popularity of “The Holidays in History” tour offered the past several years, the Jekyll Island Museum has expanded what was just a weekend program into a showcase for virtually the entire month of December. ISLAND TREASURES Through the months of January and February, the Jekyll Island Authority hosts “Island Treasures on Jekyll Island”, a unique treasure hunting experience on Georgia’s most popular beach. PARADISE I rise before first light to witness another of God’s miraculous revelations, the beginning of a perfect new day in Paradise…BY BEN PORTER Beachscape is also available to read on our blog, as a downloadable pdf version, or the best way to get it, is to come visit Jekyll Island, and pick up a copy at our Greeting Station!

Tags: Jekyll Island Beachscape
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The treasures are hand-crafted glass floats, called Island Treasures. The glass floats have been sought after by Jekyll Island guests since 2002. Each is unique and stamped with the year to be a collector’s item for the lucky beachcomber who finds one.

Island Treasures mimic glass floats once used on the fishing nets of fishermen in the early 1900s. The floats would sometimes break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep. Collecting these glass floats became a hobby in the 1950′s, declined as commercial fishing moved to plastic and Styrofoam floats. Glass fishing floats became rare and are highly sought after and very valuable today.

During these first two winter months, the Jekyll Island Authority recreates this hunt-and-find experience. The glass float treasures are the works of commissioned artists from across the country. “Beach Buddies” hide them along the shore line every day for lucky visitors to find and keep. Treasure finders can register their Island Treasure at the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center to receive a bio on the artist and a certificate of authenticity. The Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center has Island Treasure floats and an array of the other colorful glass creations for purchase in-store or online at www.jekyllisland.com/islandtreasures.

Since the promotion began six years ago, over 1,000 glass floats have been found by guests from across the U.S., Canada and England. Jekyll Island floats are collector’s items and can be occasionally found on auction sites like eBay.

Those who are unable to visit Jekyll Island can participate in a virtual treasure hunt on www.jekyllisland.com. Search the website for small, hidden Island Treasure pictures. The first person to click on one will win an actual Island Treasure that will be shipped to them.

Tags: hand-crafted glass floats, island treasures, jekyll island hotels, Jekyll Island Island Treasures, jekyll island vacation, jekyll island winter vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin', Beachscape, Diversions | No Comments »

by Andrea Marroquin

“The Holidays in History” tour will begin at the Jekyll Island Museum. Small groups of guests will venture by tram throughout the Historic Landmark District.

“Our costumed characters will change frequently and will be a daily surprise,” said John Hunter, the Director of the Jekyll Island Museum. “Guests will see the entire district and enter two of the cottages. But which cottage interiors they visit will also change on a daily basis. This enables us to be responsive to those guests who want to come back for a variety of experiences with us.”

Guests might witness a Victorian Christmas at Club Cottage in the year 1890 or an Edwardian holiday season at Mistletoe Cottage around 1910. They might hear about the Jekyll Island Club’s seasonal celebrations inside historic Faith Chapel, built in 1904. They might take their revelry into a rustic hunting retreat at Moss Cottage in the year 1905. Or they might participate in festivities at Indian Mound Cottage in the year 1917.

“Jekyll Island is an ideal backdrop for this program,” Hunter explained. “Our history is so rich and our historic buildings span a very broad time range.”

The museum possesses an array of costumed characters to draw from as well as a talented crew of interpretive guides. Experiences will vary throughout the month of December and no two tours will be the same.

“We hope that this tour will help to spread the sentiment of the season and bring those joys into our guests’ holidays today and in the future,” Hunter said.

Jekyll Island Museum, Stable Road. Program offered daily, December 6-31, 11 am, 1 pm, & 3 pm, except December 24 and 25. Rate is $16 for adults, $7 for children 6-12, and free under 6.

see more online

Sneak preview of the tour on youtube
youtube.com/user/JekyllIslandMuseum

Tags: holidays in history tour on jekyll island, jekyll island history, jekyll island museum
Posted in Beachscape, Diversions, History comes Alive | No Comments »

Looking for a unique gift for someone special? What better gift than a romantic getaway at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel! Good anytime between Nov. 1st, 2009-Feb. 28, 2010, this popular package is being offered at a 25%. It includes traditional queen or king accommodations for two nights, champagne and fresh fruit upon arrival, and a breakfast buffet each morning. How about that as a special treat for the ones you love.

The perfect gift for that golf enthusiast. Dec. 1st-Jan. 31st, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will be offering an exciting “Golfer’s Heaven Package.” Guests receive FREE GOLF each day. Rates include accommodations and 18 holes of golf on one of Jekyll Island’s four beautiful, challenging courses. Rates start at $85.00* per night for hotel accommodations.

This holiday season, give the gift of memories, give the gift of Jekyll Island!

Tags: great gifts ideas from jekyll island, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, shopping on jekyll island
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The 34th annual Jekyll Island Bluegrass Festival will strum in the New Year with harmonic voices and catchy rhythms. Concerts begin at noon on Thursday and continue through Saturday evening.

Top bluegrass bands featured are Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dailey & Vincent, the Travelin’ McCourys, and Blue Highway.
Saturday night’s headliner is Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Enjoy numerous arts and crafts booths and select from an array of festival food.

We enjoy producing this festival on Jekyll Island,” said Susan Anderson of Adams and Anderson, LLC. “The weather on Jekyll Island is great this time of year and many of our guests from the north like to get away to somewhere warm.”

date I December 31, 2009 – January 2, 2010
tickets I One day: adults, $35 (General Admission), $40 (Reserved), $25 (Children 6-13). Three days: $85 (General Admission), $95 (Reserved), $50 (Children 6-13). Tickets can be reserved in advanced or purchased on-site.
more I www.aandabluegrass.com The event is family friendly. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed.

Tags: bluegrass, Jekyll Island Bluegrass Festival
Posted in Beachscape, Festivalgoer | No Comments »

The Jekyll Island Big Band book is full of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Johnny Mercer, even Clyde McCoy’s “Sugar Blues”. Jekyll resident Bob Weitz has scored charts of tunes made popular a second time by Brian Setzer, like “Jump, Jive and Wail”. Band Leader Dr. Hal Crowe’s personal influences with Swing and Jazz style go back to his childhood spinning LPs by Benny Goodman, Al Hirt, and Duke Ellington, all of whom he also had the good fortune of seeing live at various times.”

A pumped up, better and bigger than ever final New Years Eve at the current Jekyll Island Convention Center, our home venue, prior to its being demolished and rebuilt.” says Crowe, “The Atlantic Hall, previously called the ‘Aquarama’ for years, is a remarkable dance hall. Great bandstand, sound, and terrazzo dance floor – there’s nothing like it anywhere around. We’ll miss it!”

Having been around 30 years, the Jekyll Island Big Band has had the pleasure and advantage to amass a talented network of area musicians. The players are all professionally experienced from symphonic, club & cruise ship instrumentalists to music educators.

There are 15 pieces in the Jekyll Island Big Band. The director conducts 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 5 saxophones, bass,piano, & drums. Occasionally, joined by a guitar, vocalist, or congas & steel drums!

date I December 31, 2009
more I www.jekyllbigband.org
phone I (912) 635-3636
Groups (15+) please contact Judit Vaczi (912) 635-4196
location I Jekyll Island’s “Aquarama Ballroom”, Convention Center

Tags: jekyll island big band, jekyll island new year's eve
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I rise before first light to witness another of God’s miraculous revelations, the beginning of a perfect new day in Paradise…

Marsh Oaks, my beloved marsh-front hideaway beside the Julienton River on Harris Neck Island, is as close to Heaven as God will allow me to go in this life.

Nestled deep among endless miles of lush marsh and tidal creeks in Georgia’s pristine Golden Isles, my gazebo and favorite old rocking chair face west, where
stunning sunsets produce a colorful magic sunset show every afternoon. This dark, pre-dawn morning, a setting sliver of moon produces just enough light to see the silhouettes of horizon and landmarks.

In the quiet reverence of this hour, I sit astonished by the absolute silence of my refuge. The tranquil absence of sound is broken only by the soft whisper of my own breathing and the slow rhythm of my rocking. I imagine I hear my heart beating, but am not sure. I know no other place to hear such quiet.

Long before the sun rises above the live oaks behind me and begins its journey across the day, the world comes slowly to light and life. With each increase in intensity and elevation, the sun casts a new wave of color and shadow across the marsh, from early gray to brilliant lush shades of green, with enough gold accents to remind us that this treasure is very special.

The world slowly awakens. The first sound is songs of the birds, then the flutter of their wings and vocal chatter of their presence. The earliest are flights of Woodstorks, Ibis, Egrets and Herons, lazily winging south over the marsh in white and silver clouds, bound for their favorite sandbars along the river. They don’t hurry; breakfast will be waiting.

At the gazebo a few feet from my chair, the little folks arrive. At first light, the voracious Hummingbirds show up to greedily attack Jim’s sugarwater feeder like it is their last meal, ignoring the rich nectar in the bright red begonia blooms on the deck below. They go for the easy meal, then hover and buzz and squeak two feet before my face before darting back to a nearby tree to guard the feeders. The “hummers” show up in mid-April, after a long and hazardous trek from Central America. They’ll summer and raise their young here and will leave mid-September.

At the seed feeders, the first to arrive are the “showbirds,” the Painted Buntings, fresh from Mexico and Central America. Our most colorful visitor, the tiny male is adorned like royalty, a miniature parrot with bright patches of red, blue, chartreuse and gold. His mate follows, more modestly dressed in the loveliest subtle shades of soft olive-gold and gray.

Next comes the cocky Red Cardinal, prancing, preening and chirping, his little red crest of a crown twitching about. He struts about the feeder like the Catholic cardinals in all their colorful finery dancing around the Pope. Once he has established ownership, his mate gracefully sails in. She is much more genteel, less noise and action. Her quiet dress is of muted shades of red and silver.

Finally, the little Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Wrens, Redwinged Grackles and a few others show up for breakfast, all chattering and happy.

From the ballast-stone chimney in the house, a black whirlwind cloud of chimney swifts boils out to enjoy their mosquito and sand-gnat breakfast in the marsh. Diving and swooping, the little acrobats will eat thousands of the pests today.

In this lovely, quiet, tranquil place, no thought of adversity or turmoil may intrude. The miracle of God’s universe takes my breath away and reminds me how beautiful and precious life is, and how richly God has blessed our world and us. I am filled with humble gratitude to be allowed into this marvelous cathedral of God’s nature.

The sun is up, presiding over another perfect Spring day. As I rise to begin another day, I mouth familiar words…

“This is the day the Lord has made. Thank God! Seize the day and make it yours!”

Tags: birding, harris neck, jekyll island, jekyll island vacation, marsh oaks, pre-dawn bird watching
Posted in Beachscape, Bird Watching, Diversions | No Comments »

William and Almira Rockefeller’s spacious vacation home on Jekyll Island, Georgia will soon be receiving callers for the first time in quite awhile.

Indian Mound Cottage was built in 1891 as a winter retreat for Gordon McKay but was purchased by the Rockefellers in 1905. William Rockefeller, brother to John D. Rockefeller was a charter member of the Jekyll Island Club beginning in 1886. It was William and Almira Rockefeller who oversaw the additions and renovations that gave Indian Mound Cottage its present day appearance.

In recent months, the cottage has been thoroughly restored, inside and out, from the roof on down. Now the ambitious project is finally nearing completion.

John Hunter, the Director of Historic Resources for the Jekyll Island Authority, manages one of the largest ongoing preservation programs in the Southeast, caring for Jekyll Island’s 34 historic buildings. Indian Mound Cottage was funded from the capital improvement budget of the Jekyll Island Authority. “The preservationists with JHC from Peachtree City have accomplished a mighty task with this 12,000-square foot structure,” Hunter said.

During the project, workers replaced the cedar-shake roof as well as the airconditioning system. They repainted the exterior shingle siding and trim. They painstakingly scraped, patched, repaired, primed and painted the porch railings, deck, columns, and balconies. They industriously repainted all of the interior walls and ceilings, as well.

“Great care has been taken to retain the many unique details and craftsmanship inside the house, from the banister, to the molding, to the mantelpieces,” Hunter commented.

Period-inspired carpeting in historic colors and patterns, a contribution from the Friends of Historic Jekyll Island, will also be newly installed throughout the entire second story.

The newly restored home serves as a wonderful backdrop for the museum’s period furnishings, its lithograph portraits of William and Almira Rockefeller, and the many documented stories of the family’s visits to the island that bring the house to life and stir the imagination.

Gretchen Greminger, the Curator of the Jekyll Island Museum, reported that some interesting architectural finds were located during the course of the restoration process. Work crews came across original plaster remnants, some original shingles dating to the McKay period of the house, and notably a George Cowman signature. “The George Cowman signature was found on one of the wall studs inside the wall in Almira’s bedroom. George Cowman was the contractor that did the Rockefeller additions,” Greminger explained. “Given that we have been working to restore this structure to the way Cowman first made it look for the Rockefellers, I believe that gives us a very real and direct link to the man who wrote his name here,” Greminger reflected. “I like to think he would be happy with what we have done.”

Members of the public wishing to see Indian Mound Cottage newly restored can look forward to that opportunity. Indian Mound will soon reenter the cottage rotation in the Jekyll Island Museum’s daily tours of the historic district.

phone I (912) 635-4036
event rental I (912) 635-4403

Tags: indian mound cottage on jekyll island, jekyll island history, jekyll island museum, national landmark historic district
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Passport to the Century

Travel into the past. Hear the remarkable story of the Jekyll Island Club in the American Gilded Era and enter two restored cottages filled with rich tales and elegant furnishings.
date I September 8– December 31, 2009
hours I 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. daily I Approximately 90 minutes.
price I $16 Adults, $7 Children 6–12 (Free under 6).

The Holidays in History

The cottages of the historic district are decorated for the season! Imagine Christmas through the ages as you venture inside the cottages of Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District and experience the holidays from the Victorian Era to the Jazz Age.
date I December 6–31, 2009 (Except December 24 & 25)
hours I 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. daily I Approximately 90 minutes.
price I $16 Adults, $7 Children 6–12 (Free under 6).

Self-Guided Walking Tours

Purchase a souvenir guidebook full of the museum’s archival images to genuinely appreciate the island’s detailed architecture and rich history. Explore the inviting pathways of the National Historic Landmark District on bicycle or by foot and find a treasure trove of information panels throughout the district.
date I Daily (Except Christmas & New Year’s Day)
more I www.jekyllisland.com/history
phone I (912) 635-4036
price I Tour availability and pricing subject to change.

Tags: jekyll island history, jekyll island museum tour schedule, jekyll island national landmark historic district, jekyll island vacation
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Whether viewing a young hatchling or a 200-pound adult loggerhead at the center, sea turtles fascinate us, awaken our curiosity, and connect us to nature. Learning about each of the GSTC’s patients, guests develop a new understanding and appreciation of sea turtles. More important, guests have the unique portunity to fully understand the stories of individual sea turtles at the center and get closer to these endangered animals than they might otherwise. After all, there just aren’t many sea turtles swimming around Kansas.

As visitors leave, they often feel like they’ve made a special connection with a new friend. One of the other questions we are frequently asked at the Center is “How can I help?” With the holidays upon us and the spirit of giving in the air, people are looking for special gifts to give their loved ones. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center can help in that department as donations, center memberships, items from its gift shop, and the ever-popular Adopt-a-Sea-Turtle program put smiles on faces of those who give and receive, knowing that their gifts support the GSTC in helping endangered sea turtles survive for future generations. And if sea turtles could smile, they probably would as well!

PATIENT OF THE MONTH

Caton, a sub-adult loggerhead turtle, arrived this past summer after being rescued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from nearby Blackbeard Island. Stranded on the beach and too weak to move, Caton was brought to Georgia Sea Turtle Center where she was tested and treated. Happily, Caton recovered very nicely. With her release back into the wild only days away, staff began to notice that something wasn’t right with her behavior. Fortunately, Dr. Norton diagnosed the problem and her condition once again improved. Unfortunately, the ocean became too cold while she recovered for her to be safely released. So, we are graced by the presence of this active loggerhead until next spring when she can be returned to her ocean home.

See More Online at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org

Tags: Caton the sea turtle, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, sea turtles, sea turtles jekyll island, volunteering georgia sea turtle center
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FUNDAMENTALS – MOST IMPORTANT, MOST IGNORED

In my 25 years of providing golf instruction, many students seem to seek two elusive basics from a golf lesson—distance and consistency. The students explain that their game is “on again – off again” and that they seem to lack the distance they should be achieving. I have found that the majority of players are missing some basic fundamentals of a golf swing.

The fundamentals of golf are like the foundation of a house. A good foundation supporting a house makes for a long lasting and enjoyable home. A house with a poor foundation is livable but has many problems over the course of time. Just like a golf swing.

There are only 2 basic fundamentals to a sound golf swing. Grip and posture. We will mention the posture aspect first. You want to make sure that have set yourself in a good, athletic position. Bent from the waist, a slight knee bend, with your weight evenly on the balls of your feet. Most people that I have encountered have played some sort of athletics over the years and have no problem accomplishing this.

A poor grip is the fault seen by golf instructors. There is an old saying that “you will never see a good golfer with a bad grip or a bad golfer with a good grip”. No truer words were ever spoken. Players tend to grip the golf club in a manner which is most comfortable to them. With the club positioned more in the palm of the hand. The proper grip should be as deep into the fingers as possible. Starting at the base of the pinky finger and across to the middle joint of the index finger. The next step is to roll the hand over and locking the club under the heel pad of the hand. If this is done correctly, you should be able to hold the club with the middle two fingers of the hand. There are a couple of checkpoints that we use to insure the club is gripped properly. The “V” formed between your thumb and index finger should always be pointing at your right shoulder. And when you look down you should be able to see the first two knuckles of your left hand. Gripping the club in this manner will allow the clubface to square itself at impact, thereby eliminating the need to adjust for the slice.

If you feel that you are having a problem with these fundamentals or other areas of your game contact your Jekyll Island PGA Professional for help.

Jekyll Island offers individual lessons, corporate and group clinics, as well as 1, 2, and 3 day schools. Weekly clinics starting in December.

phone I (912) 635-2368

Tags: golf instruction, golf lessons, golf tips, jekyll island ga, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island vacation
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Jekyll Island revitalization is NOW UNDERWAY and the initial phase is now being realized with the completion of the design for Great Dunes Park.

The first phase of the park consists of 8 acres with the northern boundary at the intersection of Beachview Drive and Shell Road. The entirely new accessible park experience includes; new landscaping, walks and parking (195 spaces), three family pavilions, one group pavilion, a 4,100 SF Beach Deck Pavilion, and a Restroom/Changing building. The Beach Deck Pavilion connects to an accessible dune crossover for access to the beach. Bicycle parking, showers, and an environmental sculpture area will also
complement the new park. The pavilion structures have a relaxed coastal style and are constructed of pressure treated wood with standing seam metal roofs. The Restroom building includes individual changing areas for men and women and has low maintenance stained concrete floors and standing seam metal roofing.

Construction will begin with the December 7th ground breaking. Phase I of Great Dunes park will take approximately 5 1/2 months and will be complete by summer 2010.

Tags: great dunes park, Jekyll Island Beachscape, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island redevelopment, jekyll island revitalization
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