The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

The very first Wilson's Plover egg of the season! . Each summer, Little St. Simons Island's beaches represent prime nesting habitat for a variety of shorebirds and seabirds including Wilson's Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and Black Skimmers. Many of these species have experienced population declines along the east coast as a result of beach habitat loss to development. As one of these threatened species, the Wilson's Plover is a high priority in our conservation strategies on Little St. Simons Island. . On Friday, seasonal Bird Technician, Diane, spotted the first Wilson's Plover egg laid on our beach this summer! Working with the Island Ecological Department, she will continue to monitor the progress of shorebird nests throughout the summer on LSSI!

Do you notice anything out of place in the wood workshop? . While Naturalist Nick was making trail signs, he noticed a Carolina Wren took up residence in the woodworking shed! . Carolina Wrens are cavity nesters, meaning they typically build nests in tree holes or stumps using an assortment of organic materials. These wrens typically live alongside human development and can often be found using man-made structures, like awnings and vacant mailboxes to build houses. In this ca...se, a wren seems to have located a drawer that was left open and uses pine needles, leaves, and even a piece of plastic to construct a nest. . We will halt sign production until the nest hatches and fledges. . Have you found any bird nests recently? Let us know in the comments down below! See more

"For the last word in procrastination, go travel with a river reluctant to lose his freedom to the sea" . ~ Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

The Great Egrets nesting at the Norm's Pond rookery have finished building nests. Look at the beautiful blue color of their eggs! . Scientists don't know exactly why the eggs have this magnificent pigment. Some studies suggest that the color could help the eggs stay at an ideal temperature during incubation, be used to indicate the health of an individual to other birds, or could attract the attention of other egrets to induce nesting behavior. . Have you seen Great Egrets nesting at Norm's?