Osprey – The Second-Most Widely Distributed Raptor
Most people would probably consider the bald eagle to be the most majestic bird of prey found around waterways in North America – or anywhere else for that matter. It’s hard to argue that they aren’t! But if you spend time around waterways in Georgia, you’re more likely to see an osprey. In fact, ospreys are the second-most widely distributed raptor and can be found throughout the world. A handsome bird, ospreys are mostly brown
Trash to Treasures!
When our crews are out attending to day-to-day lake management and stormwater services, they expect to take care of issues that are biological in nature, such as weed and algae control, pest control and debris removal from leaves and branches. However, we do come across a fair number of usable sports related balls, such as footballs and soccer balls that warrant another opportunity to be “recycled” but also kept from taking up space in the
Catfish: Heaven or Hell?
According to Webster: Any of a large group of scaleless fishes (Family Ictaluridae) with long barbells, somewhat like a cat’s whiskers, about the mouth and usually with sharp spines before the dorsal and pectoral fins. Well, that’s a start. There’s Black, Brown, Yellow, Snail, Flat and Spotted Bullheads, Channel, Flathead and Blue. Add on a host of very small species called Madtoms and that’s a mess of catfish. If you want to go global, it
Silt Happens: Erosion & Sedimentation
There are not a lot of natural lakes in Georgia. The majority have been created through the damming of flowing water or by digging a hole and filling it up with water. Sounds easy enough! However, there is a catch: erosion. Running water has a habit of picking up silt and sediments on the way to its destination. As long as that water is flowing, the particles are along for the ride. When it slows
Back to Nature – What the Shuck
Oysters are a beloved seafood dish across the country, especially along the gulf and east coast. Most frequently served raw on the half shell, oysters must be shucked before serving, which means the shell has to be pried open to get to the tasty part on the inside. Preparing and consuming oysters results in a lot of shells to dispose of. Rather than throwing them in the trash, many restaurants have taken to recycling this
The Tree That Keeps On Giving
‘Tis the season… …to dump your Christmas tree! It’s time to take the season to the curb and think about other things. Did you know that you can do more with a Christmas tree than just throw it out at the end of the holidays? The trees can be repurposed as a fish habitat! By securing weights (usually cinder blocks) to the trunks, they can be sunk to the bottom of lakes and ponds. Once
Dams Be Damned
The critical component of any lake or pond is the dam. In essence, without the dam, there is no pond. Man has been building dams for over 4,000 years. The first dams were constructed to prevent erosion, control flooding, and provide power and irrigation. After all these years the reason for dams has not changed. Throughout Metro Atlanta, lakes and ponds dot the landscape. All are man-made impoundments and all have dams. Dams can be
Discover Georgia’s Freshwater Lobsters: Crawdads!
Written by J.P. Burns Most people think you must travel to the ocean to encounter lobsters, but did you know that you can find a multitude of their cousins in the fresh waters here in Georgia in all sorts of different habitats. We have our very own lobsters hiding in the rocky streams and creeks in our backyards. I’m talking about crawdads! Crawdads, also known as crayfish, crawfish, freshwater lobsters, mud bugs… the list goes
Hard Armoring: Turning a Lemon to Lemonade
As its name suggests, East Cobb Park is a community park situated in the eastern portion of Cobb County, Georgia and is maintained by the county’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. The park includes 13 acres of woodlands and open spaces, with amenities including multiple playgrounds, a walking loop, several pavilions, and nature trails, some of which traverse along the adjacent Sewell Mill Creek. Given those amenities and the park’s location central to many
Confessions of a Former Snake Killer
written by Arthur “Nature Boy” Roberts I’m writing this on a tight budget, so you’ll just have to imagine the theme of 2001: A Space Odyssey, playing in the background. “The only good snake, is a dead snake, selah.” The Bible started it, having the serpent tempt Eve in the garden, for crying out loud. Snakes are bad. It was the wisdom of the ages and of my Granny, so for one score and more,
