Fayette wetland preserve draws migrating birds
Join fellow nature lovers on a fun and informative morning Bird Walk on Saturday, April 13, at Sams Lake Sanctuary in Fayette County.
Brock Hutchins will lead the guided walk at the scenic wetland preserve owned by Southern Conservation Trust. Hutchins has led many field trips in Georgia and North Carolina. Hutchins is a long-time member of the Atlanta Audubon Society and is the coordinator of the Peachtree City Christmas Bird Count for Audubon.
Saturday’s participants should bring binoculars and meet in the parking lot on Old Senoia Road, Fayetteville, at 7:30 am. For directions or more information about community conservation and Southern Conservation Trust, visit the Trust’s website www.sctlandtrust.org.
Sams Lake was donated to the Trust by the Ferrol Sams family in 1995, and the wetland restoration was completed by the city of Atlanta in 2008. The shallow ponds and nesting islands draw many native and migrating bird species, including green and blue heron, egrets and hawks. Visitors may also see wild turkey, deer, beaver and armadillos.
Southern Conservation Trust is a local nonprofit conservation organization that owns, manages and protects over 1,600 acres of environmentally sensitive land for recreation, water quality protection, wildlife habitat and environmental education.
The Trust is the only community land trust focused on protecting farms, woodlands and environmentally sensitive land in Metro Atlanta’s Southern Crescent and the Upper Flint and Middle Chattahoochee River basins. The Trust also works with willing property owners to protect their land with a conservation easement that may provide significant tax benefits.
The Trust provides passive recreation to more than 30,000 residents annually. By managing our public preserves, we ensure families, adults and the greater community may enjoy the wonder and relaxation of nature walks, the excitement of cooling off in the protected waters or creating lasting memories of a family picnic, fishing or seeing an animal one might not normally encounter.
Providing opportunities for our community to engage and connect with nature is solely supported through contributed revenue including private and corporate support and multiple grants. Community support is vital to the Trust’s continued efforts to impact our community and ensure future generations inherit a thriving, sustainable greater community.
