Big Haynes Creek Nature Center

Be on the lookout! Just in time for the spooky season, Big Foot has returned to Big Haynes Creek Nature Center.As you're hiking the trails, look all around for this bigger than life creature lurking in the shadows or in the trees!If you spot him, no need to fear; just take a photo and let us know that he is near! Post your pic with hashtag #BigFootatBigHaynes to participate in our Trick or Treat drawing for a chance to win a basket full of frightfully delightful goodies! ...Winner will be announced on FB on Halloween and can pick up their prize at the admin office of the Georgia International Horse Park on November 1st! #BHCNC #halloween2021 #bigfoot #bigfootsighting #trickortreat #traillife #wetlandscreatures #creaturefeature #october #fallfun #bigfootchallenge

Saw a bald eagle today.. I think he was bald, he had his feathers combed over to one side. #BHCNC #WetlandsHumor #GotJokesSaw a bald eagle today.. I think he was bald, he had his feathers combed over to one side. #BHCNC #WetlandsHumor #GotJokes

Rainy days are for ducks at Big Haynes Creek Nature Center. In this case, Pied-billed Grebes. These ducks have thick soft feathers that were used as hat decorations in the 19th century. Interestingly, they are known to eat their own feathers and even feed their feathers to their young to aid in digestion. Photo credit: Michael Rodock #BHCNC #duckydays #piedbillgrebe #fallmigration #gaconservation

Let's examine some of our creepy and crawly critters this month starting with the #Joro spider! The colorful specimen is identified by its black legs with yellow bands and multi-layered golden silk web. Joro spiders are native to Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. They are considered invasive in North America where they have been found in NE Georgia and Western South Carolina since 2013. Interestingly, they have been observed feeding on the invasive stink bug species! This Joro was photographed by Michael Rodock at Big Haynes Creek Nature Center near the boardwalk. #BHCNC #CreepyCrawlyMonth #Spiders #October #Joro

We are veery thrilled that photographer, Becky Cover encountered this thrusher on the northern end of Big Haynes Creek Nature Center. The Veery is a migratory songbird unlike any other - as it can fly up to 160 miles in one night at altitudes of 2,000 meters! Their efficient wings carry them to transoceanic routes, on relatively small stores of fat - all the way to central and southern Brazil! Interestingly, Veeries prefer to breed near beaver wetlands - we hope that means ...we will see them again in the Spring! #Fallmigration #Veery #BHCNC #birdsofBigHaynes #gaconservation #wildaboutwildlife

We love seeing the plumage on the droves of blue-winged teal ducks that have recently stopped over at Big Haynes Creek Nature Center. Blue-winged teals are long-distance migrants, with some birds heading all the way to South America for the winter! It's a little early to see them in our #wetlands, as typically they arrive in October. But, as they only fly 30mph, it's no wonder they got an early start on their travels! Photo by GIHP/BHCNC staff... #bluewingteal #Fallmigration #duckmigration #birdsofbighaynes #wetlandwonders #gaconservation #BHCNC

Happy first day of #Spring! Everything’s blooming at Big Haynes Creek Nature Center and all around the Horse Park! Come and enjoy this beautiful #weekend with us!

We are all in a #flutter over this Falcate Orangetip butterfly spotted by Michael Rodock, wildlife photographer, just this week! This is a true springtime butterfly with most activity in March, April and May. The name refers to males that have the orange tip on the forewings. This one was photographed while feeding on chickweed flowers at the Georgia International Horse Park on the Yellow #trail. ... Thank you, Michael, for sharing such a special find with us! #butterfly #GIHP #falcateorangetip #BHCNC #FlutterFriday

#Opossums are the ultimate clean-up crew! With an average lifespan of only 2-4 years, these gentle, and often, misunderstood animals are essential to our ecosystem because they get rid of so many unwanted pests. ONE opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks in a single season! If cornered. these critters will hiss or growl, but It is much more likely that the opossum will faint or play dead at the prospect of a confrontation. This physiological response is involuntary and automati...c. If you see one as you wander through Big Haynes Creek Nature Center, be sure to tip your hat to them for all the hard work that they do! They deserve our #appreciation! #PraiseOpossums #BHCNC #wildaboutwildlife

Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us at Big Haynes Creek Nature Center! Let's celebrate with a little trivia! Did you know All shamrocks are clover, but not all clovers are shamrocks. Shamrock comes from the Gaelic word seamrog, which means "little clover," but no one not even botanists is sure which species of clover is the "real" shamrock. ... For more fun facts about these tiny little plants, check out this great countdown! https://www.treehugger.com/things-you-didnt-know-about-sham #Shamrock #stpatsday #BHCNC #17funfacts

Good morning from the Creek! Today's "chirp report" highlights three very different species - all spotted at the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center in the last week! Let's dive in to learn about these fascinating residents! Part duck, part submarine, pied-billed grebes adjust their buoyancy and often use this ability to float with just the upper half of the head above the water. They catch small fish and invertebrates by diving or simply slowly submerging. They build floating ...nests of cattails, grasses, and other vegetation. An adult red-shouldered hawk is spotted with a juvenile! If they are looking for prey, they won't have any issues- these hawks have a highly developed sense of sight that gives them an advantage to find prey from a very far distance! Black & White warblers forage for hidden insects in the bark of trees by creeping up, down, and around branches and trunks. Despite their arboreal foraging habits, they nest on the ground at the bases of trees. credits: Becky Cover(pied-billed grebe & black/white warbler) Michael Rodock (pair of hawks) #ChirpReport #BHCNC #WetlandWonders #WildAboutWetlands