Little St. Simons Island - Where Celebrating the Earth Happens 365 Days a Year

LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- "Green" is not only the color of the lush ancient maritime forest in spring and picturesque marshlands in summer, but "green" is also a way of living on Little St. Simons Island 365 days of the year.  Earth Day presents an opportunity to support sustainable practices that have enormous positive impacts on Planet Earth.  It's also a time for a simple reminder – get outdoors, refresh the spirit and enjoy the earth and its beauty.

Sustaining the earth is a way of life on Little St. Simons Island.  From composting to land stewardship, Little St. Simons Island is one of only two organizations in the United States to have received the prestigious Benchmarked Certification from Green Globe 21 for these efforts.  And, Earth Day celebrations on the island coincide with momentous wildlife birding activities on the island, which provide ideal opportunities to enjoy all that our planet offers.  

American Oystercatcher on Little St. Simons Island:

Walks on the island's seven-mile-beach take on a new meaning during the spring as the American Oystercatcher begins to nest.  The American Oystercatcher population has seen a steady decline and Little St. Simons Island provides an ideal setting to study the birds.  One of many concerns leading to the declining populations of the oystercatcher is the vulnerability of its nest.  Laid on beaches on the eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast, the camouflaged eggs and nest are extremely vulnerable to disturbance from natural predators and human activity.

The island's naturalists have partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on a multi-year project to identify ways to help protect this species and to ensure its survival for future generations.  The program on Little St. Simons Island compares the success of eggs protected from predators and those left naturally on the beach.  Observation by naturalists and guests of the nests with the replaced eggs during last year's program revealed strong acceptance of the parents of the replacement egg.  This guest interaction leads to awareness of this species and the measures taken to protect it.

"Guests immerse themselves in the natural history of the island and have the opportunity to learn what we are doing to conserve and 'green' our daily living on Little St. Simons Island," said Stacia Hendricks, naturalist, Little St. Simons Island. 

Sustaining the Earth:

Observation of the American Oystercatcher is just one of the countless activities offered to guests.  From arrival, guests are introduced to the island's dedication to conservation and preservation of nature.  The island's gardening staff gives tours of the USDA-certified organic garden and tips on simple modifications guests can make to ensure they have a relationship with their food.  Beachcombing walks reveal the beauty of the island's expansive beach, the wondrous creatures living in this habitat and the evidence of beach growth.  Little St. Simons Island is the only one of Georgia's fourteen barrier islands that has been growing rather than receding at an astounding rate of three feet of beach growth per year. 

From the lush ancient maritime forest and the fresh crop of vegetables in the organic garden to the engaging birding programs and beachcombing excursions, spring is a magical time to visit Little St. Simons Island where "green" living and a heightened awareness to conservation and preservation efforts is a way of life year-round.

For more information about Little St. Simons Island and for reservations, please visit www.LittleSSI.com. 

SOURCE Little St. Simons Island

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