Newman Wetlands Center

Can you identify this beautiful songbird? Comment if you know!

#FunFactFriday If you live in the south, keep your eyes out for Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging in shrubs and deciduous trees. A winter resident in Georgia, ...these tiny birds spend the summer on their breeding grounds in the boreal forests of Canada. A boldly marked bird with a black eyebrow stripe and a flashy lemon-yellow crest, Golden-crowned Kinglets are not much larger than a hummingbird. They can be hard to spot as they move quickly among the tops of trees in search of insects. They’re often spotted in the same area as Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Carolina Chickadees. Keep your ears open for their high, thin call notes and song. Despite their diminutive size, these small birds can survive nighttime temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, often by huddling together for warmth. Photo by Dan Vickers. See more

Think about your favorite species of wildlife in Georgia. Is your favorite species a picky eater or opportunistic? Does it eat other animals or plants? On what other species does your favorite creature depend for survival? Do they need insects to survive? Let's consider this example. Cooper's Hawks are fast-flying, bird-eating predators. They depend on a healthy songbird population to survive and to feed their young. The songbirds they hunt, such as Eastern Bluebirds, Red-wi...nged Blackbirds, and Eastern Phoebes, eat mostly insects. A large percentage of insects eat plants. Those plants are also pollinated by insects. Caring about Cooper's Hawks means caring about insects and the plant species they evolved to eat. Did you know that there is an alarming decrease in insect populations across the globe? This decrease in causing ecosystems to collapse and many of our favorite species to decline as well. Here are more details about the causes of insect decline. https://e360.yale.edu//how-non-native-plants-are-contribut

Join NWC staff for an introduction to nature exploration. This program is ideal for beginners who may not feel comfortable going on longer hikes yet. We will explore some core naturalist concepts, learn to use a few apps to enhance your time outdoors, and get some practice time out on the trail. Dress for the weather; we will be outdoors for the duration of the program. Masks required. Please download and create an account on the apps iNaturalist and Seek by iNaturalist prior to the program. This can be done on a tablet or phone. Data not required. Call to register. 770-603-5606

We still have plenty of spots available for this beginner naturalist class happening tomorrow afternoon! We'll take a close look at what's happening in the wetland including checking out salamanders, fungi, and the local birds! We'll use technology to document what we see and contribute to citizen science.

Ring-necked Ducks breed in freshwater marshes & bogs across northern North America. They're diving ducks but can often be seen in shallow waters and beaver ponds. They prefer habitats with a lot of aquatic vegetation. They migrate south as their breeding grounds begin to freeze. During the winter, look for them in swamps, marshes, inland lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies. This pair was seen on one of our constructed treatment ponds last week along with numerous other Ring-necked Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal.

Do you know what species this bird is? She's no wizard, but she is an excellent hunter. She hunts using the element of surprise and speed!

Red-winged Blackbirds get their names from the adult males who have red feather patches on their wings. Female RWBL look much different than their mates as seen in these photos. Their beautiful brown, tan, and orange feathers are especially wonderful in the morning sun.

Check out this cool fish that lives in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River systems.

Have you ever tried a persimmon? They're a favorite food of coyotes this time of year. You might spot scat full of persimmon seeds along the trail -- quite a gross but effective method of dispersal!

Congratulations to CCWA staff for winning GAWPs Best Consumer Confidence Report award. Click the link in the attached post to see it.

According to AllAboutBirds.com, "Migration and winter are the best times to find American Pipits. Look and listen carefully for flocks in farm fields and other open areas, where pipits blend with the ground color or can be hidden by stubble. Keep an eye on reservoirs and rivers with sandy or muddy margins where pipits often hunt for aquatic insects. Flying pipits call frequentlyoften the first clue they are present." Pipits are often spotted in the open areas along the shore of Shamrock & Blalock Reservoirs and around the E. L. Huie Holding Ponds.

The land where Newman Wetlands Center sits has a rich history. NWC's conservationists are still learning about the cultural and natural histories of this place and continue to conduct research so we can accurately tell the land's stories. We know our site has been home to homesteaders, farmers, and Camp J. K. Orr. Long before that, this land was a part of the Muscogee Nation. Click on the link below to learn more. "The Muscogee (Creek) people are descendants of a remarkable ...culture that, before 1500 AD, spanned the entire region known today as the Southeastern United States. Early ancestors of the Muscogee constructed magnificent earthen pyramids along the rivers of this region as part of their elaborate ceremonial complexes. The historic Muscogee, known as Mound Builders, later built expansive towns within these same broad river valleys in the present states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina." Photo: Muscogee Mound covered in grass with stone entrance, sourced from: https://www.mcn-nsn.gov/culturehistory/

We want to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in our 25th anniversary celebration this week. We had a wonderful week sharing our love of wetlands, water, and wildlife with numerous participants, both in-person and virtually. We would like to thank our sponsors, Hazen & Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. for sponsoring educational programming and resources that we were able to share with our community members at no charge. We would also like to thank the present...ers who joined us for programs including: Clayton County Water's Stormwater department Henning, Caitlin, & Sam of Chattahoochee Nature Center Anne, Eli, Alexandra, Wayne, & Charlie of Georgia Important Bird Areas Anne McCallum, local author & NWC volunteer David & Veronica of Jacobs Engineering Group Daniel Sollenberger of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Georgia DNR Nate Hobbs of Bluewater Engineering Services Henry Adams of The Amphibian Foundation Corina, Adam, Gabe, & Melanie from Georgia Audubon Hannah Palmer of Finding the Flint Alexa Robinson from The City of Griffin Lastly, there's no way this week could have happened without the dedication and assistance from Jep, Jacob, & Vince of our Recreation Department! We will share more photos and videos soon!

Congratulations to our Dicfeos Microscope winners: Harrison, MacKenna, & Mark! We will share their thoughts on why nature is important soon!

At 4:00 PM today, we're going on a virtual tour of the Flint River headwaters. Join us by clicking this link. https://us02web.zoom.us//tZEqcO6upjsoHdeSM_l7Y_d2RbxpdcP3y

Just a reminder that Salamanders of Georgia led by the The Amphibian Foundation starts in 10 minutes. Sign-up here: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZcocO2prDwvHdfV6RfbqeoZY1-4yC_y_

Treatment Wetlands Tour

Georgia wildlife journey

We're giving away TWO Dicfeos Kid's Microscopes this week! Anyone ages 7 to 13 can enter to win with permission from their grown-ups. To enter, answer the following question: Why is nature important to you?... Get creative. It's up to you how you tell us. You can submit a video, an original artwork, a poem, a paragraph, or even a Prezi! Please include the entrant's full name, city, state, and age. Please email submissions to [email protected] or drop them off by 3 pm on Thursday, October 8th. We will accept one submission per child. We will announce the winners on October 9th. Winners can pick up their prizes at Newman Wetlands Center. This contest was sponsored by Hazen!

Stormwater Demo

There's still plenty of room to join us for the Georgia Wildlife Journey programs happening tomorrow at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The Chattahoochee Nature Center will bring a live raptor, snake, and mammal and introduce them to participants. We'll learn about their roles in our local ecosystem. This program is great for any age. This program will be outdoors and masks are required. Call us to reserve a spot at 770-603-5606.

There have been a few changes to our schedule next week based on registration and staff availability. Several of our programs have room for additional participants. Check out our events page for more details.

Join Hannah Palmer of Finding the Flint for a virtual tour of the headwaters of the Flint River. This fascinating tour will highlight some of the history and ecology of Clayton County as well as discuss hope for the future as metro Atlanta continues to grow. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZEqcO6upjsoHdeSM_l7Y_d2RbxpdcP3y