January
January 1 – New Year's Day
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
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
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.
If
you’re not going to Punxsutawney, visit the Okefenokee.
The great flocks of migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes will be leaving soon.
Full Moon Night Tour at the Okefenokee Swamp
February 14 – Valentine's
Day
President's
Day
Take
advantage of the three-day weekend to spend time at 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
Spring Break!
March and April – School’s
out so bring the whole family. Make your reservations early.
March 1
The refuge begins staying open till 7:30
p.m. (through October 31).
March 17 – St. Patrick’s
Day Weekend
Look for that lucky clover in the Okefenokee!
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
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.
April Fools
Easter Sunday
Enjoy the beauty of the earth – visit the Okefenokee
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
May is National Bike
Month (bikemonth.com)
Exercise is important. Bring your bike to the Okefenokee and see
a different side of the Swamp!
Mother's Day Weekend
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.
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
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.
Fishing is great in the St. Marys River,
the Suwanee, or in the Okefenokee Swamp. Rent a boat and hang out together.
Father's
Day Weekend
Surprise Dad - Bring him to the Okefenokee
and then into town to watch trains at The Folkston Funnel.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Labor
Day Weekend
End the summer canoeing in the swamp! Then, eat catfish at the
Kingsland Labor Day Catfish Festival (20 minute drive).
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.
First Day of Autumn
Fall
is a most beautiful time of year in the Okefenokee.
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
Columbus
Day Holiday
Spend this federal holiday in a national wildlife refuge like the Okefenokee!
Annual 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.
Halloween
See a spooky sunset among the spanish moss and be sure to visit
downtown for all the festivities of Trick or Treat on Main Street.
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
November 1
Refuge hours change to 5:30 p.m. closing.
Veterans Day
Thank you for your service! We all really apreciate the active
duty and veteran service men and women and their families for all the give and
continue to fight for freedoms that we all enjoy!
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.
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
Host your holiday party at the Historic
Mizell House Inn & Gardens!
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.
December 25 – Christmas
Merry Christmas! Refuge is closed.
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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