This morning we shared the exciting news of the Land Trust's Pennies for Preservation launch. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, this information was sent to some of you more than once. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience, and we hope you enjoy our E-newsletter below!

In a recent Zoom meeting of Land Trust executive directors from across the country, one of the facilitators asked what was the favorite aspect of an ED's job. Everyone who answered said it was "getting out on the land."

Luckily, we live on an island where being on the land is easy if we make the effort to close the laptop cover, silence the iPhone, and open the door. In this issue of our monthly e-newsletter, we're pleased to say that you can again return to Cannon's Point Preserve after weeks of the Preserve being closed. Now that the rain has stopped and the days are a tad cooler, we hope you'll also consider a picnic in our backyard at the Land Trust's office and enjoy your lunch among the trees. Or sit on a bench next to our little lending library and "check out" one of the offerings in our book nook.

However, if you can't get out on the land, then be on the watch for those fall and winter hummingbirds at your feeders, or enjoy the Georgia Department of Natural Resources virtual CoastFest this month. Or visit one of our Pennies for Preservation partners, those hardworking local business owners who have supported the Land Trust and the entire community over the past few years through our 1% voluntary giving initiative.

Lastly, please don't forget that all those who become Live Oak members or renew or upgrade to that membership level before October 15, will have a chance to win a Fire Kettle donated by the generous and talented artisans at Sea Island Forge. What better way to celebrate the onset of a new season than gathering outdoors around a roaring flame that is held within a piece of art.

As always, thank you for your support, and be well!

Emily Ellison

SSLT Executive Director

During these last many weeks of dealing with spikes in cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Glynn County, we opted to temporarily close Cannon’s Point Preserve. It was not a decision we took lightly, especially since the desire to be outdoors for most of us has been greater than ever during the pandemic. But after surveying our loyal Preserve docents and consulting with local officials, we made the difficult decision to close our gates for a while to ensure the health and safety of all visitors, volunteers, and staff. 

Now we're working to reopen the Preserve slowly with a modified schedule of operations. Whenever possible, the Preserve will be open during the normal Saturday-Monday, 9am-3pm schedule. 

However, since the Preserve must be staffed when open to the public, and since we rely on trained docents to help fill shifts during operating hours, we may have to close on days when we are unable to fully staff all shifts. Therefore, please visit our website regularly to learn the dates and times when the Preserve will be open each week.

The weekend schedule will be updated by 3pm every Friday.

Cannon’s Point Preserve by becoming a trained Land Trust volunteer.

As a Preserve Docent, you will learn about the cultural and ecological significance of this historic 608-acre property. You will also have a chance to enjoy all that the Preserve has to offer as you assist visitors and work with other CPP volunteers and staff. Hours are flexible and training can be done virtually at your convenience. Please reach out to Marty Moody at mmoody@sslt.org if you are interested in joining our corps of dedicated volunteers.

Fall 2020 arrived officially on September 22, and the milder and shorter days are arriving too. So are one of the most magical and intriguing of all birds -- those heart thrumming, wing whirring hummingbirds. Although migrating hummers sometimes arrive as early as August, they appear at feeders anytime throughout autumn and winter.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, most of the species seen in Georgia during these months include the common ruby-throated hummingbird, as well as the rufous and black-chinned hummingbird like the one pictured here.

When these mosquito-eating birds aren't wintering in coastal Georgia, many of them spend the coldest months in Mexico after traveling more than 4,000 cross-continent miles. And while it's lucky for us that they love dining on mosquitos, remember that they also need some supplements now and then. So keep your feeders up through the fall and winter, and keep your binoculars and cameras at the ready!

Learn more about these beauties from our friends at GaDNR HERE.

And courtesy of SSI resident Jim Bruce,

watch videos of more awe-inspiring hummingbirds HERE.

Just because summer is over, it doesn't mean mosquitos are gone too. Rather, because of all the recent wet weather, it feels like they're out with a vengeance. In an effort to make them a little more tolerable, we want to share with you a few of the ways that mosquitos are important to our coastal ecosystems.

For one, while in their larval stage, mosquitos are not only a great food source for fish and predatory insects but, according to entomologist Catherine Gill at Purdue University, they are also filter feeders helping to turn over organic matter. Once they emerge from their larval stage and take flight, they serve as pollinators and are an important food source for salamanders, bats, lizards, frogs, and nearly all species of birds, including hummingbirds!

The species that are most common at Cannon’s Point Preserve, Guale Preserve, and other Land Trust properties are the two kinds of salt marsh mosquitoes. Both breed in the rich salt marsh ecosystem and across the Altamaha delta. Fortunately, salt marsh mosquitoes are NOT known for carrying diseases such as West Nile or Encephalitis. So see, they're a bother, but like most things -- they're not all bad.

Have you seen the newest additions to our Little Lending Library? Over the last few weeks, we've added seating, a dog leash hook and water bowl for your convenience (as well as your pet's), and lots of new books.

Many thanks to those who have shared some of their favorite novels, poetry collections, guidebooks, and volumes covering the rich history of St. Simons Island and the natural beauty of Coastal Georgia. It is always fun to see what books have been "checked out" and what new books have been added. From children's books to field guides, and from sci-fi and mysteries to cookbooks and memoirs, community members have gotten into the act of taking a book and sharing a book. We hope you'll drop by soon, look at the newest offerings and maybe take home something you've been wanting to read and either return it when you're finished or replace it with another.

Be sure to take a "selfie" and tag us on social media @stsimonslandtrust when you visit. And if you want to donate more books to our Land Trust LLL, you can drop them off at our front door or add them to the "stacks" inside the library. Thank you!

Whether you're visiting our Little Lending Library or curling up under a reading lamp at home, we hope you'll join us in creating a Book Nook wherever you are. Each month, the Land Trust staff will share a link to a book we've found particularly compelling whether it focuses on the environment, land conservation, the history and beauty of St. Simons and other barrier islands, biographies on some of the people who have made positive impacts in Coastal Georgia, or locals who have published a new tome. From fiction to field guides to Gullah Geechee culture and everything in between, look to our monthly e-newsletters for links to our favorite recent reads. And please share your favorites with us. No book reports required!

To start us off, we want to highlight Paul S. Sutter and Paul M. Pressly's Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture: Environmental Histories of the Georgia Coast. Learn more and purchase this book HERE.

As a token of our gratitude for the wave of early membership renewals we have received, we have EXTENDED the deadline to win a Fire Kettle and accessories from our great friends at Sea Island Forge.

In order to be eligible to receive a hand-crafted 30-gallon Fire Kettle, along with spark screen and twisted poker, and free delivery (valued at more than $2,000), simply:

The lucky winner will be notified on October 16th and the fire kettle and accessories will be delivered at no cost for those in Glynn County. Be on the lookout soon for other offers from Sea Island Forge!

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) will not host an in-person CoastFest this year, but they still have exciting opportunities for you and your family to learn new things about the Georgia Coast, interact with marine biologists and CRD staff, and see the interesting critters that inhabit this unique ecosystem!

From September 30 - October 2, a variety of live-streamed sessions are being offered via YouTube Live and hosted on their website. You'll have the chance to meet marine biologists, learn about what they do to conserve Georgia's Coast and ask questions in real time, all from the safety and comfort of your home or classroom.

In addition, the Land Trust's very own Cannon's Point Preserve Education Task Force has created a short video, the "Marvelous Marshes" of the Preserve, to share with all participants. You can view this video in between event sessions each day of CoastFest. Enjoy!

Approximately twenty years ago, a group of islanders created RUPA (Residents United for Planning and Action), an apolitical organization whose mission was to keep people informed about the island’s challenges and opportunities and to keep them aware of the work and priorities of local elected officials. “We were trying to save the natural beauty of the island and to seek more representation,” according to Tom Niquette, who was RUPA’s most recent board chairman.

While participation was strong (with nearly 500 members), RUPA strove to meet with the County Commission every ninety days. But over the past few years, participation dropped off, and the organization officially disbanded earlier this month. However, the balance of funds in the organization’s checking account totaled close to $6,000, and its leadership wanted to make certain that those monies went to a good purpose. On September 22, former RUPA board officers presented those remaining funds to the St. Simons Land Trust. “After consulting with board members,” said Bob Brittin, RUPA’s board treasurer for many years, “the consensus was that the Land Trust was the most worthy and worthwhile organization to contribute to.”

The consensus at the Land Trust is that we’re genuinely grateful for the years of dedication to the community from the membership and leadership of RUPA and that we’re truly appreciative of this generous contribution and endorsement.

Land Trust staff often receive photographs of supporters sporting their SSLT hats from places all over the world! And now that facemasks are as common as headwear, we're being sent pictures of folks wearing our SSLT masks. Most recently, staff member Raleigh Kitchen received this shot from her father who had just finished hiking to the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine. He couldn't help but take a selfie at the summit with his SSLT cap on his crown.

Has your SSLT hat or mask traveled to some fun locations? If so, whether they're showing up far or near, we'd love to see your photos! Share with us by emailing your pictures to rkitchen@sslt.org or tagging us on social media @stsimonslandtrust.

We extend heartfelt congratulations to

Katherine Moore, who this month was named as the new President of The Georgia Conservancy.

"In naming Katherine Moore as our new President, culminating a two year process of transition, The Georgia Conservancy is placing at the helm a woman of extraordinary reputation and ability across the Georgia Environmental and Conservation community. Her remarkable work in Sustainable Growth - in cities and towns across Georgia (including here in Brunswick) over the past decade has earned her the respect and gratitude of the Georgia Environmental community - and that of everyone with whom she has worked."