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Life and Liberty on Jekyll Island

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

Join us on Saturday, June 27, as Jekyll Island kicks off America’s 250th anniversary celebration at the historic Horton House with Life and Liberty.

Step back in time and experience the colonial era firsthand. Meet costumed interpreters and enjoy interactive activities like quill making, learning the art of tabby construction, sampling colonial tea, and more.

Be sure to catch lively Fife and Drum Corps demonstrations every half hour, bringing the sounds of the American Revolution to life.

Hootenanny’s BBQ will be on site serving up flavorful fare inspired by the era.

Set along the beautiful marsh edge, this unforgettable event is the perfect way to celebrate our nation’s beginnings and build excitement for Independence Day.

Saturday, June 27
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Coastal Bird Conservation Takes Flight on Jekyll Island

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

By Libby Sutton, Conservation Technician

Expanding Shorebird Monitoring Efforts

Jekyll Island’s shorebird conservation efforts continue to grow as staff expand monitoring and habitat research across the island. Shorebird surveys are conducted to monitor populations and better understand migration routes and timing, patterns of habitat use, and overall population trends. This monitoring also supports the recovery of imperiled species by identifying critical stopover and foraging habitats and informing conservation and management actions that reduce threats and improve long-term survival.

To support this work, the Conservation Department participates in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS), a long-term, volunteer-based monitoring program coordinated through Manomet. Jekyll Island contributes monthly counts following ISS protocols, adding to a broader dataset that documents seasonal shorebird use and population change over time. This year, shorebird surveys have increased from only a few surveys annually to 1–2 surveys each month to better document shorebird aggregations and habitat use across the island in different seasons.

Protecting Wilson’s Plovers

Since 2015, the Conservation Department has worked to better understand and protect Wilson’s Plovers (WIPL), a shorebird listed as threatened in Georgia. Regular nest monitoring, tracking, and habitat protection efforts have helped document the importance of Jekyll Island’s beaches and dunes as critical nesting habitat for WIPL.

Throughout the nesting season, weekly nest checks allow staff to monitor nesting activity, success, and potential threats. While the season is still in its early stages, conservation staff have already confirmed five nests, with three still actively incubating.

New Focus on Wading Bird Nesting

In addition to shorebird monitoring, bird conservation work on Jekyll Island is expanding into wading bird nesting. The Conservation Department is now surveying nesting colonies to identify the ponds, vegetation communities, and habitat features most frequently used by nesting wading birds.

Across five monitoring sites, staff have already confirmed 15 active wading bird nests this season. These efforts will help guide future habitat management and restoration projects, with the long-term goal of improving nesting opportunities for species such as the Wood Stork. Together, these initiatives continue to strengthen Jekyll Island’s role as an important refuge for coastal bird conservation.

Powered by Support

These monitoring efforts are made possible through the Jekyll Island Foundation, which has helped provide critical field equipment used during these surveys, including a new spotting scope.

Help Protect Jekyll Island’s Coastal Birds

The success of these conservation efforts depends on continued community support. Your gift helps fund essential monitoring, habitat protection, and research that directly impacts the survival of threatened coastal bird species.

Make a difference today—support Jekyll Island’s conservation work by clicking HERE.

Earl Grey: A Spunky Little Sea Turtle with a Surprising Secret

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

By Jaynie L. Gaskin

Hospital staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center are very experienced in treating the seven species of sea turtles that occur in our coastal waters. But recently, one small patient caused quite a stir upon arrival at the hospital.

An Unexpected Arrival

When NOAA biologists called to confirm that eight critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles would be transferred to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, they had one additional request: could the Center also accept another cold‑stunned turtle needing long‑term care? This extra patient was a juvenile loggerhead from the New England Aquarium, measuring just 32 cm (13 inches)—a true “pocket logger,” as sea turtle folks like to say.

The Center was able to accommodate the additional turtle, and the rehabilitation team prepared a ninth tank, carefully lowering the water temperature to match the turtle’s body temperature. Cold‑stunned sea turtles must be rewarmed gradually to prevent shock, and because this turtle was a different species, a separate tank was required.

Each turtle was placed in an individual banana box lined with beach towels and transported more than 1,000 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, to Jekyll Island. Their journey was made possible thanks to a private company that generously volunteered space on their jet. Upon arrival at the St. Simons Airport, GSTC staff carefully unloaded each box, checking the turtles and recording their temperatures before transport to the Center.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

After loading nine boxes into the GSTC turtle van, I noticed something amiss.

“Where is the loggerhead?” I asked. “These are all Kemp’s Ridleys.”

The pilots confirmed that all turtles had been unloaded, so the team began opening boxes again. Peering inside one, I spotted the missing turtle. “Oh—here they are,” I said softly. “This little loggerhead looks so much like the others, I must have counted them as just another Kemp’s.”

Once all patients were accounted for, we departed for the Turtle Center. “It’s been a long time since I misidentified a sea turtle,” I admitted to hospital manager Rachel Overmeyer. “That little guy really fooled me with their round shell and small head.”

Meet Earl Grey

After arriving at the Center, each turtle received a brief exam before being placed in water to rest overnight. Staff couldn’t help noticing that the young loggerhead displayed a curious mix of physical traits usually associated with two different species. The team quickly gave the turtle a fitting nickname: Earl Grey, after the blended black tea.

Over the next several days, veterinary staff performed full physical exams, bloodwork, and X‑rays to assess the health of all nine patients. Thanks to the Center’s new PA system, visitors in the Learning Center were able to listen as the hospital team evaluated Earl Grey in real time.

A Curious Combination

As the veterinarian examined Earl Grey, he pointed out several unusual features. A sharp hooked tip at the front of the beak is typically found on Kemp’s Ridley turtles, not loggerheads. The shell raised even more questions. Loggerheads usually have heart‑shaped carapaces, while Kemp’s Ridleys have round shells. Earl Grey’s carapace appeared unusually round, with ridges more characteristic of a Kemp’s.

With staff curiosity officially piqued, a small blood sample was sent to the University of Georgia for genetic testing.

Recovery, Discovery, and Release

Just as rehabilitation was nearing completion, the genetic test results arrived. Earl Grey was confirmed to be a first‑generation hybrid—with a loggerhead father and a Kemp’s Ridley mother—the first hybrid sea turtle ever treated at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Spunky, curious, and always hungry, Earl Grey is now on track for release this summer, marking both a successful recovery and an exciting scientific discovery for the Center.

Support Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Conservation

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s rehabilitation, research, and education efforts are made possible through the generous support of donors through the Jekyll Island Foundation. Contributions help provide lifesaving medical care for injured and ill sea turtles like Earl Grey and support conservation initiatives that protect sea turtles and their habitats for future generations.

Click HERE to support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and make a donation today.

Digging up the Past

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

By Patrick Carmody, Museum Educator

Did you know that Jekyll Island has an active archaeological research program that informs museum interpretation? Jekyll Island’s Curator, Andrea Marroquin, ensures that historical sites are documented and preserved, including the prehistoric remnants of the Native American cultures that once called Jekyll Island home. Andrea’s most recent archaeological project has been spearheading an analysis of a decades-old project.

The current initiative revisits a series of excavations from the 1990s, when another archaeologist was leading a field school around the Horton House on Jekyll Island. A field school is a mentored experience in which students participate in hands-on work as part of an off-campus class. In this instance, the mentor was Professor Crook, and the students’ coursework focused on learning best practices in archaeology through participation in archaeological digs on Jekyll Island. Dr. Ray Crook served as director of the University of West Georgia’s Waring Archaeological Laboratory from 1991 until 2007. In the early 1990s, Dr. Crook led a series of field schools on Jekyll Island with the intent to conduct excavations, teach students how to safely carry out archaeological digs, and expand knowledge of both the prehistory and history of the island.

Through those field schools, several artifacts were carefully unearthed, documented, and shipped to Carrollton, Georgia, for future analysis at the University of West Georgia. The artifacts recovered by the teams, along with site maps, research notes, and additional records, have since remained at the university. With financial support from the Jekyll Island Foundation, and in partnership with the University of West Georgia, the Jekyll Island Authority has recently contracted Brockington and Associates to analyze these discoveries. Given the variety of artifacts uncovered during the excavations, the findings are expected to reveal valuable insights into the island’s ancient history.

These pieces of the past may contribute to further interpretation at the Jekyll Island Museum, inspire additional educational programming, or lead to new wayside panels highlighting the island’s story on the north end. Evidence from these digs may offer deeper understanding of the cultures that once lived on the island, including details about diet, lost structures, and evidence of trade.

Financial support from the Jekyll Island Foundation has been critical in processing these findings. To support the Jekyll Island Authority’s Historic Resources team and help preserve this unique history for future generations, click HERE.

Gould Casino – A Façade Worth Preserving

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

After years of exposure to coastal winds, salt air, and sun, the iconic façade of the Gould Casino has been thoughtfully restored, returning one of Jekyll Island’s most recognizable landmarks to its historic elegance. While the Gould Casino is not open to visitors, the newly renovated façade now provides a beautiful and meaningful display for guests as Historic Landmark tours pass slowly by, sharing stories of Jekyll Island’s Gilded Age and the people who shaped it.

The $233,000 restoration project was made possible through strong preservation partnerships dedicated to protecting the island’s heritage. Jekyll Island Foundation contributed $133,000 toward the façade renovation, joined by $100,000 from the Friends of Historic Jekyll Island. Together, these investments ensured the exterior was preserved with the craftsmanship and care required of a nationally significant historic landmark.

As the restoration work was completed, architectural details once softened by time reemerged, allowing the Gould Casino to once again reflect the refined character of Jekyll Island’s early resort era. Today, the refreshed façade stands as a striking visual reminder of the island’s past—quietly anchoring the historic district as tour trams glide by and guides bring the Gilded Age to life.

Though the façade is what visitors see today, the Gould Casino’s story runs much deeper. From its role during Jekyll Island’s early resort years to its lasting presence within the historic district, the building represents the layered history that defines the island. Readers interested in learning more are invited to explore a companion article that dives deeper into the people, events, and moments connected to this remarkable structure.

Preservation projects like this are only possible through continued community support. Every contribution helps protect the places that tell Jekyll Island’s story—ensuring they remain part of the visitor experience for generations to come. If the restored Gould Casino inspires you, please consider supporting ongoing preservation efforts and helping safeguard Jekyll Island’s historic legacy.

From Fairways to Flyways: A New Chapter for Oleander Golf Course

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

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.

Native Species Exhibit

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

The newly completed Native Species Exhibit within the Georgia Sea Turtle Center immerses guests in Georgia’s coastal ecosystems—maritime forest, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and sand dunes—through engaging visuals and interpretive signage featuring native wildlife. The exhibit deepens visitor understanding of habitat connections and conservation needs across barrier island ecosystems.

GW Spotlight

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

Dinner Under the Stars for 12 @ Horton House

Twelve guests gathered for an unforgettable ‘Dinner Under the Stars’ at Horton House, hosted by Tim and Christie Kinsey and presented by the Jekyll Island Foundation and Authority. This exclusive experience was won at the 2025 Gilded & Wild event, adding an extra layer of excitement for the lucky winners. The evening featured a curated menu and cocktails by Chef Kevin Truong and his team from Willet’s Lowcountry Restaurant, Westin Jekyll Island, showcasing their partnership and culinary talent.

Want to be part of experiences like this? Join us at this year’s Gilded & Wild! Click HERE to learn more.

Transforming Tours with ListenTALK

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

By Hannah Catherman, GSTC Education Program Manager

Providing accessible and diverse programming remains a top priority for the Education Team at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. With recent funding from the Jekyll Island Foundation, the Center acquired ListenTALK devices that significantly elevate the quality of its educational tours. These portable headset systems allow guests to enjoy a more personalized experience while learning about the essential role sea turtles play in coastal ecosystems.

Through the use of ListenTALK, guests are immersed in sea turtle conservation via direct, clear communication with their guide. The headsets reduce background noise, integrate with existing hearing aids for improved clarity, and create a dedicated channel that fosters meaningful one‑on‑one interaction. This technology ensures that every visitor—regardless of hearing ability—can fully participate in and enjoy the Center’s programming.

Since January 2025, the Education Department has welcomed 2,350 guests across more than 47 programs using the ListenTALK devices. This technology has enabled the team to enhance tour quality and strengthen relationships with large‑scale tour operators by offering an individualized experience to groups of all sizes. With partners such as American Cruise Lines participating in educational programming, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is sharing its mission with visitors from around the world and encouraging deeper engagement in sea turtle conservation.

Looking ahead, the Education Department is eager to explore new program ideas and expand its offerings. The ListenTALK system opens opportunities for dynamic, immersive group experiences accessible to every visitor. The team remains committed to inspiring future generations of ocean stewards through innovative tools and meaningful educational encounters. These devices help deliver personalized, memorable experiences—ones guests are unlikely to forget.

Join the Effort to Protect Sea Turtles

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s work in rehabilitation, research, and education depends on supporters who believe in protecting wildlife and inspiring conservation. If you’d like to help advance this mission—and support tools like ListenTALK that expand access to high‑quality education—click here to give.

Every gift directly supports sea turtle care, community outreach, and the future of conservation.