Ogeechee Audubon and the Carolina Butterfly Society are co-sponsoring a field trip this Saturday, October 3, to look for birds and butterflies in nearby Jasper County, SC. In the event of rain, the trip will reschedule for Sunday, Oct. 4.
The focus of the trip will be Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve, a wonderful and rare habitat of long-leaf pine, wiregrass and relict sand dunes. Bob-white quail and Bachman's sparrows love this area, as do many uncommon species of butterflies.
The group will then move on to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, where the hardwood hammocks scattered amid the fresh water marshes serve as "migrant traps" this time of year to concentrate southbound songbirds.
Our leaders will be Dennis Forsythe and Tim Miller, both accomplished birders and butterfliers.
Bring water, lunch or snacks, sun and insect protection, and binoculars. A field guide and close-focusing binoculars (for butterflies) are also recommended.
Meet at 9:30 AM at the junction of highways 321 and 336 in Tillman, SC, about 14 miles north of Hardeeville, SC. There is a small convenience store at the intersection where the group will assemble. For more information, please contact Tim Miller at 912-429-2700.
On a different, but related note, please click the link below to read an article that makes a persuasive argument on why we should not let our pet cats roam free in our neighborhoods!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/science/29angi.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&em
Dot
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Local Paddlers Wed
Congratulations to long time SC&K customers Sarah and Rick who married last evening. Savannah's Telfair Museum served as a beautiful backdrop with it's paintings and sculptures providing grandeur to the event. It was a very sophisticated affair, with accompanying violin and harp ensemble and a veritable who's who of Savannah Arts patrons.
But wait.. is that a kayak cake we see amongst the splendor??
The newlyweds are off to Puerto Rico for some paddling in the bio-luminescent bays. Here's to ya!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Half Off Week Now Over.
Our half price instruction week was met with a lot of positive response, with 15 people taking advantage of the cut price classes. We also had a good time teaching , as it enabled us to try a few new approaches and styles for 'getting the idea across.'
Most takers were signing up for the intro class, and the deal brought in those who may not of otherwise taken instruction.
And for those procrastinator fence sitters as well, this was their motivation.
Our 80' water is going to start cooling off pretty quickly...especially with 15" of rain water runoff heading this way.
We will be offering another cut price session in the winter.
We will also be holding some pool rolling classes and practice sessions.
Keep an eye out for that.
Most takers were signing up for the intro class, and the deal brought in those who may not of otherwise taken instruction.
And for those procrastinator fence sitters as well, this was their motivation.
Our 80' water is going to start cooling off pretty quickly...especially with 15" of rain water runoff heading this way.
We will be offering another cut price session in the winter.
We will also be holding some pool rolling classes and practice sessions.
Keep an eye out for that.
As you can see, students taking the half price classes were not given kayaks. They actually progressed much quicker.
No, not really. Everybody got their own kayak.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Aah, The First Day of Fall.
It feels a lot like Fall.
It smells like Fall.
By Jove, it is Fall !
Happy Fall Y'all
It smells like Fall.
By Jove, it is Fall !
Happy Fall Y'all
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mess of Canoes at Kanumesse
Kanumesse is the big European paddlesports Industry showcase event. Not open to the public, it is a product platform for new (?) ideas and designs that will be available for next season. It's a chance for the suits to hype up their knaf gimmicks and hang out with some hot birds in need of some instruction.
Fluid have reproduced the Element in a composite layup. Not sure why. It looks a lot like the Wavesport Flyer from 6 years ago. And what the hell is this...>>>
P&H showed off there new double skegged kayak.? Two 'inline ' skegs, one controller.. We will have to ask Ben Lawry about this one..
Some very hot looking PFD's from Palm... the accessory that they just can't quite get right... after all these years ! Why is it so hard to design a suitable, comfortable, practical vest ?
More details coming soon
And of course, this...the sectional SOT...well, about time.
So there you have it. Lots of great new stuff coming our way 2010. Did we mention Stand Up Paddle Boards ?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Dirty Ocean - Dirty Coast
Last year, volunteers in 100 countries working with Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup removed seven million pounds of trash and debris in a single day. Most of it was from beaches, riverbanks and lake shores.
As much as 70% of all trash that that goes into the ocean sinks to the bottom.
Of all this trash the most prevalent and damaging is fishing gear. The hand cast nest, hooks and monofilament that we find on a regular basis, either washed ashore or entangling wildlife are Lilliputian compared to the commercial fishing nets and traps abandoned or lost at sea. Some commercial gill nets are several hundred feet high and up to 6 miles long. Pacific trawl nets can easily swallow up a Boeing 747. 'Ghost Fishing' as it is know, is becoming an increasing concern for all our oceans.
In crabbing and lobstering regions, the presence of abandoned pots is a deepening concern. In the Gulf of Mexico 250,00 pots get lost a year and derelict traps claim between 4-10 million blue crabs each year in Louisiana.
An estimated 20-30 % of all New England lobster pots are lost each year.
To find out more about what you can do to help and to get involved in the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup
this weekend visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org/
Stats and info from The Ocean Conservancy.
As much as 70% of all trash that that goes into the ocean sinks to the bottom.
Of all this trash the most prevalent and damaging is fishing gear. The hand cast nest, hooks and monofilament that we find on a regular basis, either washed ashore or entangling wildlife are Lilliputian compared to the commercial fishing nets and traps abandoned or lost at sea. Some commercial gill nets are several hundred feet high and up to 6 miles long. Pacific trawl nets can easily swallow up a Boeing 747. 'Ghost Fishing' as it is know, is becoming an increasing concern for all our oceans.
In crabbing and lobstering regions, the presence of abandoned pots is a deepening concern. In the Gulf of Mexico 250,00 pots get lost a year and derelict traps claim between 4-10 million blue crabs each year in Louisiana.
An estimated 20-30 % of all New England lobster pots are lost each year.
To find out more about what you can do to help and to get involved in the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup
this weekend visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org/
Stats and info from The Ocean Conservancy.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Instruction Week
For our customers..
As a big thank you to all our customers for making it a great summer season, we would like to offer a week of half price classes. L1-4 for Sea Kayak, Surf Kayak, SOT, and Canoe. Call to reserve a spot. First come first serve.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Long Boat by Stanley Kunitz
When his boat snapped loose
from its mooring, under
the screaking of the gulls,
he tried at first to wave
to his dear ones on shore,
but in the rolling fog
they had already lost their faces.
Too tired even to choose
between jumping and calling,
somehow he felt absolved and free
of his burdens, those mottoes
stamped on his name-tag:
conscience, ambition, and all
that caring.
He was content to lie down
with the family ghosts
in the slop of his cradle,
buffeted by the storm,
endlessly drifting.
Peace! Peace!
To be rocked by the Infinite!
As if it didn't matter
which way was home;
as if he didn't know
he loved the earth so much
he wanted to stay forever.
from its mooring, under
the screaking of the gulls,
he tried at first to wave
to his dear ones on shore,
but in the rolling fog
they had already lost their faces.
Too tired even to choose
between jumping and calling,
somehow he felt absolved and free
of his burdens, those mottoes
stamped on his name-tag:
conscience, ambition, and all
that caring.
He was content to lie down
with the family ghosts
in the slop of his cradle,
buffeted by the storm,
endlessly drifting.
Peace! Peace!
To be rocked by the Infinite!
As if it didn't matter
which way was home;
as if he didn't know
he loved the earth so much
he wanted to stay forever.
Paddle Surf Jam- Oct 24
The event will take place on the south side of Tybee Pier. Exact location tbd.
Meet at The Strand parking lot at 7 am for check in and boat inspection. There is also a ESA stand up surf comp going on so make sure you stand in the right queue. Surfing will start at 8am and go until about 3pm. There will be an award ceremony at Hucapoos along with some paddle surfing big screen entertainment on the deck. @ approx 7.30pm.
Sign up now.
Catagories are:
First Timer
Tandem
Sea Kayak
HP men and women
IC men and women
Young guns
Inbetweenies
Old Bastards
.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Audubon Meeting .
Please join Ogeechee Audubon at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15 for a program about Georgia's Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
The IBA program is an international effort to identify and protect areas and habitats that are critical breeding and/or feeding sites for birds. National Audubon and its local chapters are central to this effort in the United States.
Georgia currently has identified 44 IBAs; 12 of them are right here on the Georgia Coast. On Tuesday, our speaker will be Charlie Muise, IBA Coordinator for the entire state. He will give us some important insights on how ordinary citizens who care about bird conservation can help the IBA program to achieve its goals.
The program is free and open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend or neighbor. We will meet at our new, temporary location in the First Presbyterian Church at 520 E. Washington St. in Savannah.
Hope to see you there.
Dot Bambach
Vice President,
Ogeechee Audubon Society
The IBA program is an international effort to identify and protect areas and habitats that are critical breeding and/or feeding sites for birds. National Audubon and its local chapters are central to this effort in the United States.
Georgia currently has identified 44 IBAs; 12 of them are right here on the Georgia Coast. On Tuesday, our speaker will be Charlie Muise, IBA Coordinator for the entire state. He will give us some important insights on how ordinary citizens who care about bird conservation can help the IBA program to achieve its goals.
The program is free and open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend or neighbor. We will meet at our new, temporary location in the First Presbyterian Church at 520 E. Washington St. in Savannah.
Hope to see you there.
Dot Bambach
Vice President,
Ogeechee Audubon Society
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