by Joseph Colbert, Wildlife Biologist and Yank Moore, Director of Conservation
What happens when timing meets conservation creativity? Something truly special.
FROM FAIRWAYS TO HABITAT
After the successful renovation and expansion of the Great Dunes Golf Course, blending favorable elements of the old Oleander course with a bold new design, an exciting transformation is unfolding just beyond the greens. Portions of the former Oleander fairways have been turned over to the Conservation Department and are being reborn as thriving wildlife habitat. The result is one of the most unique and ambitious conservation projects on Jekyll Island to date.
RESTORING COASTAL GRASSLANDS & WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
Where golfers once lined up their shots, conservation staff are now planting native grasses that historically blanketed the coast and much of the southeastern United States. These restored coastal grasslands are rare, beautiful, and incredibly valuable to wildlife. When arranged carefully, they also create a natural wildlife corridor, a safe passage that allows animals to move between natural areas without interruption or interaction with the millions of visitors Jekyll Island welcomes each year.
SUPPORTING PRIORITY SPECIES
These grasslands will provide prime prairie habitat for birds such as savannah sparrows, loggerhead shrikes, and southeastern kestrels, all of which are listed in the Jekyll Island Conservation Plan as priority or watch-list species. Nearby forested areas are also being enhanced through controlled burning and careful under-brushing, with the goal of encouraging diverse ground-level vegetation needed by species such as Chuck-will’s-widows, box turtles, and pine woods tree frogs.
CREATING FRESHWATER WETLANDS
And no ecosystem is complete without water. To address this need, existing golf course drainage infrastructure has been adapted to create a new freshwater wetland. This wetland will support wildlife such as breeding wood ducks, frogs and their tadpoles, along with crawfish, while also providing a reliable freshwater source for mammals including deer and marsh rabbits.
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO CONSERVATION
Because conservation is even more powerful when experienced firsthand, the corridor will incorporate former golf cart paths to create a connected network of walking trails. These trails invite guests and visitors to step into the landscape, connect with nature, and see conservation in action.
PROJECT TIMELINE & NEXT STEPS
This remarkable project is expected to be completed by early 2027. Final details, including interpretive education features and supplemental wildlife habitats such as bird nest boxes and underground hibernation chambers for reptiles, are currently being finalized.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donor support makes projects like this possible. Every contribution helps bring these habitats to life and supports the wildlife that call Jekyll home, helping to turn former fairways into lasting flyways. To support conservation efforts on Jekyll Island, click HERE.
