January 2007
Monday, January 1 – New Year's Day
Wednesday, January 3
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
January 13-15 – Martin
Luther King Jr. Weekend
Take this long weekend to visit the Okefenokee and see the great flocks of migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes before they leave in February. Participate in Federal Lands Cleanup Day.
January Wildlife Notes
Big numbers of birds winter throughout the swamp you will find Sandhill Crane and Ibis particularly abundant near the junction of Grand and Chesser prairies and in the vicinity of Gannet Lake. Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and teal can be seen amid the prairies and backwaters. Tree Swallows and American Robins form large flocks, and gray Catbirds disperse among the thickets. Alligators are harder to see but like to sun in the middle of the day.
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February 2007
February –
National Bird Feeding Month (
birdfeeding.org)
Purchase a bird feeder and watch the birds
out your window. Then go birding in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Friday, February
2 – Groundhog Day (groundhog.org)
If
you’re not going to Punxsutawney, visit the Okefenokee.
The great flocks of migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes will be leaving soon.
Friday, February 2
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
Sunday, February 4 – Super
Bowl XLI,
Miami, FL
No tickets? Take a tour of the Okefenokee and then put your feet
up and watch the Super Bowl.
Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine's
Day
Monday, February 19 – President's
Day
Take
advantage of the three-day weekend to spend time away from politics
- in the Okefenokee!
February Wildlife Notes
The rites of spring start arriving
to the swamp as Ospreys begin nesting, you can observe aerial courtship
displays of red-tailed hawks, Southern Leopard Frogs can be heard calling.
Ferns raise new fiddleheads, early blooming wildflowers, such as Neverwet,
Arrowhead and Climbing Heath begin to flower. Wild turkeys seek mates during
the latter part of the month.
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March 2007
Spring Break!
March and April – School’s
out so bring the whole family. Make your reservations early.
Wednesday, March 1
The refuge begins staying open till 7:30
p.m. (through October 31).
Saturday, March 3
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
Sunday, March 11
Daylight savings time begins.
March 17 – St. Patrick’s
Day Weekend
Look for that lucky clover in the Okefenokee!
Sunday, March 21 – First
Day of Spring
First day of spring – day and night are of equal length.
Saturday, March 31 – Folkston Train Festival
Come join other train fans at Folkston’s Historic Train Depot
train video viewing. Bring your own video! Contact Okefenokee Chamber of
Commerce for information, 912-496-2536. Don't pass up the opportunity to
see the world-famous Okefenokee while you're here.
March Wildlife Notes
Florida Cricket Frogs, Pig Frogs, and Carpenter
Frogs join the choruses of Southern Leopard Frogs, Common Yellowthroats
and Red-winged Blackbirds can be heard singing. Pond Cypress begin to get
their leaves back. Wildflowers begin to bloom as the prairies fill with
golden club, bladderworts, Hurrah Bush, Titi, Hatpins, and pawpaws. Alligators
and aquatic turtles can be seen in bigger numbers sunning on exposed banks
and logs.
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April 2007
April is Keep America
Beautiful Month
Keep Charlton Beautiful promotes a cleaner
environment in Folkston and Charlton County. Support your local Keep America
Beautiful Chapter. Join a local clean-up committee or participate in a
clean-up day. Keep trash out of the Okefenokee Swamp. Bring out what you
take in. Remember POGO.
Sunday, April
1 – April Fools
Take the Okefenokee submarine tour. ;)
Monday, April 2
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
Sunday, April 15 – Easter Sunday
Enjoy the beauty of the earth – visit the Okefenokee
April 21 – Celebrate National Wildlife Week and Earth Day
8am - 2pm – Celebrate the beauty of the earth in the Okefenokee. And join
refuge staff and volunteers by helping clean up the environment. Daylong
activities including bicycle tour and exhibits.
Call the Visitor
Center at 912-496-7836 for information and schedule.
Saturday, April 21 – Earth Day
The actual date. Practice being friendly to your planet today.
Friday, April 27 – National
Arbor Day (arborday.org)
Plant a tree. Georgia's state tree is the Live Oak.
April Wildlife Notes
Land bird activity and variety increase
as incoming migrants join residents. Sandhill crane chicks are hatching
and ospreys are seen feeding their young in their high bulky nests. Alligators
bellow territorial warnings as mating begins. Orchids, Pitcher Plants,
Grass Pink, Fragrant Water Lily, Spatterdock, and Virginia Sweetspire are
in bloom. Swallowtail butterflies visit the blossoms of wild irises.
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May 2007
May is National Bike
Month (bikemonth.com)
Exercise is important. Bring your bike to
the Okefenokee or rent one from us!
Wednesday, May 2
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
May 12 - 13 – Mother's
Day Weekend and Migratory Bird Day
(birds.fws.gov/imbd ) & (birdday.org)
Go birding with Mom at the Okefenokee. Activities include
early morning bird walks, handouts, exhibits and night time owl prowl.
Visitor Center information 912-496-7836.
Wednesday, May 23 – World
Turtle Day
Visit the Okefenokee this weekend. Look
for turtles as you canoe or kayak through the wilderness.
May 26-28 – Memorial
Day Weekend
May Wildlife Notes
Many aquatic turtles are laying eggs, raccoons
are just as rapidly digging up and eating the eggs. Wading birds become
more conspicuous, common Nighthawks perform aerial displays. Warmouth perch
fishing is improving. Pine woods Tree frogs and Little Grass Frogs can
be heard calling. Watershield, Arrow Arum, and pitcher plants are in bloom.
Newborn fawns appear.
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June 2007
June is National River
Month (amrivers.org)
Two great American rivers start in the Okefenokee
Swamp – The Suwannee River which flows to the Gulf and The St. Marys
River, flowing to the Atlantic.
Friday, June 1
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
Saturday, June 2 – Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby
8am - noon – CastingKids contest, knot tying demonstrations, worm grunting and more. Call 912-496-7836 for more information.
Fishing is great in the St. Marys River,
the Suwanee, or in the Okefenokee Swamp. Rent a boat and hang out together.
June 16-17 – Father's
Day Weekend
Surprise Dad - Bring him to the Okefenokee
and then into town to watch trains at The Folkston Funnel.
Wednesday, June 21 – Summer
Solstice
Summer
officially begins with the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.
Come to the swamp before it heats up in Southeast Georgia. Take the Full
Moon Night Tour tomorrow.
Saturday, June 30 - Blue Moon!
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
June Wildlife Notes
Chorus, green tree, pig, carpenter and over
a dozen other species of frogs are heard during the evenings. White Water-lilies
and sweet-bay flowers bloom. Good bream fishing.
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July 2007
July is Baked Bean Month, National Hot Dog Month, and/or Blueberries Month
Celebratnig each or all three, this is a great time to have a picnic at the Okefenokee.
July 4 – Fourth of July!
Celebrate Stephen Foster’s birthday by visiting the Okefenokee’s Stephen Foster State Park in Fargo, Georgia.
Sunday, July 22 – Parent's
Day
Dad
would love watching trains at The Folkston Funnel. Mom would love the shops
downtown. The kids want to see alligators in the swamp. Spend a family
weekend in the Okefenokee area.
Monday, July 30
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
July Wildlife Notes
Young herons, egrets and ibis, now fully
fledged, leave the rookeries. Wood storks are observed feeding in the prairies.
Red-headed woodpeckers and pine warblers are seen in pine forest uplands.
Deer are best viewed in the early morning; the bucks are showing their
new sets of velvet-covered antlers.
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August 2007
August is Back to School
Month and National Catfish Month
Squeeze in a few days of family activity
at the Okefenokee before school begins. Bring your family to south Georgia
for some catfish. The Okefenokee Restaurant in downtown Folkston serves
some of the best. Great month for watching trains at The Folkston Funnel.
Tuesday, August 28
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
August Wildlife Notes
Small flocks of blue-winged teal arrive. Alligator nests hatch and the
young alligators may be heard "clucking" to their mother. Nighthawks and
chuck-will's widow frequent the evening sky, scooping insects from the air.
September 2007
September 1-3 – Labor
Day Weekend
End the summer canoeing in the swamp! Then, eat catfish at the
Kingsland Labor Day Catfish Festival (20 minute drive).
Sunday, September
10 – National Grandparents Day
Bring your Granny and Grandaddy, Gran or Paw paw out for a
picnic at the Okefenokee, and then into town to watch trains at the Folkston
Funnel this weekend.
Thursday, September
22 – First Day of Autumn
Fall
is a most beautiful time of year in the Okefenokee.
Wednesday, September 26
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
September Wildlife Notes
Fall migration begins as many different warblers move through
the area. Fall fishing improves as daytime temperatures lower.
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October 2007
October 8 – Columbus
Day Holiday
Spend this federal holiday in a national wildlife refuge like the Okefenokee!
Saturday, October
13 – Okefenokee Festival
Discover how settlers once lived in the Okefenokee at the Chesser Homestead - learn how they made soap, brooms, butter, quilts, baskets, washed clothes, smoked meat and survived. Sample boiled peanuts, soup and biscuits. Bluegrass music, stories and four-note singing. Parade, crafts and vendors in downtown Folkston.
Friday, October 26
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
Wednesday, October
31 – Halloween
See a spooky sunset among the spanish moss.
October Wildlife Notes
Black bears are active, feeding on acorns, nuts and berries.
Marsh hawks are seen gliding low over the prairies.
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November 2007
Wednesday, November 1
Refuge hours change to 5:30 p.m. closing.
Sunday, November 4
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Tuesday, November 6 – Election Day
Your vote is important. Exercise your right to vote.
Sunday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Thank you for your service, vets!
Tuesday, November 17 – Cane Grinding at the Homestead
10am - 4pm – Sugar cane grinding demonstration at Chesser Island Homestead - discover how to make cane syrup from start to finish. Cut and grind stalks fresh from the garden. Sample fresh-squeezed can juice.
Thursday, November 22 – Thanksgiving
Day
Take advantage of the long weekend off from work and school.
Bring the family to the Okefenokee and then downtown to watch trains.
Saturday, November 24
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
November Wildlife Notes
Robins and migrating greater sandhill cranes arrive with the
cool weather. Watch for the occasional bald eagle, migrating through the
swamp to Florida wintering sites. With cool weather comes the traditional
fall color change. Cypress needles turn a golden brown, and sweet gum leaves
glow a reddish hue before tumbling to the ground.
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December 2007
December
4 – Chanukah Begins
Chocolate coins begin to jingle in little pockets on the boardwalk.
Saturday,
December 8 – Christmas on Chesser Island
Celebrate the holiday season with hayrides, luminaries, refreshments, caroling, and live music. Warm by the bonfire while enjoying homemade cookies and cider.
Saturday, December 22
Winter begins this is the shortest day of the year,
Monday, December 24
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
December 25 – Christmas
Merry Christmas! Refuge is closed.
December 26 - January 1 – Kwanzaa
A trip to the swamp could be a Kuumba gift for someone special!
December Wildlife Notes
Otters are seen swimming in the
lakes and boat trails as alligators become less active. Wading birds
are prominent as they forage amid the prairies. Wood Ducks and teal can
be seen throughout the swamp.
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