Birds Georgia has received two Bill Terrell Avian Conservation Grants from the Georgia Ornithological Society to strengthen habitat restoration and shorebird protection along Georgia’s coast.

The grants will fund dune stabilization and grassland restoration on Jekyll Island and support implementation of Georgia's newly updated Bird Island Rule in collaboration with Manomet Conservation Sciences and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

"Coastal Georgia is home to some of the most important bird habitats in the state," said Adam Betuel, executive director of Birds Georgia. "These generous grants from the GOS will help ensure a thriving future for ecosystems that support everything from nesting plovers to migrating shorebirds.” 

Jekyll Island Restoration

On Jekyll Island, Birds Georgia will restore and manage 15 acres of globally imperiled southern coastal plain dune and maritime grassland habitat. These coastal dune ecosystems are rapidly eroding due to sea level rise, storms, invasive species, and human impacts.

The project will stabilize dunes, strengthen ecosystem function, and increase climate resilience by planting 10,000 native grass and perennial plugs – featuring culturally significant species like Muhlenbergia sericea (sweetgrass) – to support wildlife and honor the heritage of the Gullah-Geechee community.

Bird species expected to benefit from this project include:

• Wilson’s Plover
• Piping Plover
• Least Tern
• American Oystercatcher
• Painted Bunting
• Migratory shorebirds and other coastal wildlife
  
  

More than 75 volunteers and over 1,000 Camp Jekyll students will participate in planting events, educational programming, and hands-on stewardship activities. Interpretive signage, curriculum enhancements, and a public educational event in Brunswick will connect residents and visitors to the ecological and cultural importance of maritime grasslands.

"We’re creating a resilient, living system that both protects cultural heritage and fosters biodiversity,” said Gabe Andrle, director of conservation for Birds Georgia. “This project offers a model for restoration that can be replicated throughout coastal Georgia." 

Bird Island Rule Implementation

The second grant will strengthen habitat protection for shorebirds and seabirds at critical offshore bars and islands that provide essential nesting, feeding, and roosting habitat throughout the annual cycle.

Originally established in 1998, Georgia's Bird Island Rule protected five key offshore sites from human disturbance. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently updated the rule to include Brunswick Bird Island, Cumberland Dividings, and Ogeechee Bar, sites that have become increasingly important as dynamic coastal processes create new bird habitats. The amended rule enables seasonal closures using in-water buoys and signage, prohibits dogs year-round, and improves enforcement capacity through DNR's Law Enforcement Division.

The project addresses two critical threats to beach-nesting birds: human disturbance and predation. Clearly marked closures, cell-enabled trail cameras, and trained beach steward volunteers will reduce disturbance and enable real-time reporting to law enforcement. Monitoring data will evaluate the effectiveness of seasonal protections.

To address predation – particularly owl predation at Cumberland Dividings – trained wildlife professionals will humanely trap, band, and relocate owls away from nesting colonies, with adaptive management measures in place if needed. These combined efforts will enhance nesting success for Georgia's priority coastal bird species.

"After successful monitoring in 2025, we’re now ready to take action,” said Betuel. “The updated Bird Island Rule gives us the tools we need to protect critical nesting sites and reduce threats from disturbance and predation.” 

As Birds Georgia celebrates its Centennial year, these coastal conservation efforts reflect a century-long commitment to protecting birds and habitats across our state.

Birds Georgia has completed months of hands-on habitat restoration at the historic Wilburn Farm in the Davidson–Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, breathing new life into 19 acres of open grassland in the South River watershed. Supported by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program, this project marks Birds Georgia’s seventh award from the program and its third focal site in the South River watershed.

Before invasive plant removal began, Birds Georgia partnered with the Georgia Native Plant Society Stone Mountain Propagation Program for a seed collection workday. Those seeds were grown into native plants and later installed on-site, jumpstarting biodiversity and restoring a resilient ecosystem.

Over the course of the project, staff and volunteers removed invasive trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, including:

• Bradford pear
• Chinese privet
• Autumn olive
• Johnson grass
• Brazilian verbena

​They then planted more than 1,000 native plants, creating high-quality habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. This included native grasses such as broomsedge and splitbeard bluestem, as well as native forbs including blazingstar, coreopsis, and butterfly milkweed. Bird species such as the Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow have already been observed making use of the improved space.

"For years, the ecological value of Wilburn Farm was limited by non-native grasses that blocked native plants from thriving, reducing habitat for wildlife and affecting watershed health," said Gabe Andrle, Director of Conservation. "With this restoration, we're bringing back the critical native grassland habitat that has been disappearing rapidly across the Southeast. We hope Wilburn Farm becomes a sanctuary for birds and a place where the community can enjoy and connect with this revitalized landscape."

Wilburn Farm dates back to the late 1800s. After being abandoned during the Great Depression, the property was purchased in 1953 by Ross Wilburn, who repaired the house, built a pond, and constructed a horse barn. DeKalb County acquired the property in 2000, adding it to the Davidson–Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve.

The South River watershed, where Wilburn Farm is located, is a vital yet often overlooked resource in metro Atlanta. Spanning roughly 544 square miles, the South River provides critical habitat for migratory and breeding birds and is one of only two rivers in Georgia with an urban origin. Nearly 40% of the watershed lies in southern DeKalb County.

This project, along with Birds Georgia's other efforts within the watershed, serve as a model of bird-friendly habitat and protect South River-adjacent communities from flash flooding and other effects from climate change that are disproportionately impacting communities of color. Wilburn Farm is the fifth grant that Birds Georgia has received to complete habitat improvement work in the South River Watershed, including three grants for work at different areas within Panola Mountain State Park, at Lyon Farm, and now at Wilburn Farm.

This is the seventh award that Birds Georgia has received from The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program, which seeks to develop nation-wide community stewardship of local natural resources, preserving these resources for future generations and enhancing habitat for local wildlife. Grants seek to address water quality issues in priority watersheds, such as erosion due to unstable streambanks, pollution from stormwater runoff, and degraded shorelines caused by development.

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program is sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) with major funding provided by U.S Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, FedEx, Southern Company, and SalesForce.