Surfside Estates

A Work-In-Progress Page of Neighborhood Fun Facts & Information 

 

Join our Facebook Community by searching "Surfside Estates Gainesville Georgia".

In the United States alone, there are 60 million to 100 million free-ranging, unowned cats. These are non-native predators that, even using conservative estimates, kill 1.3–4 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals each year in the U.S. Read More...

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/faq-outdoor-cats-and-their-effects-on-birds/#

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Invasive Plant Alert 
Chinese Privet has been identified throughout the neighborhood. For more information,

click here:  https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/chinese-privet

When is the best time to plant in the Spring?
It is recommended that you begin to plant your garden in mid-March.

Wildlife
Bald Eagle (photograph at right by Tammy Poole), Deer, Box Turtles, Coyotes, Skunks, Chipmunks, Blue Herron, Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Squirrels...

What Bird Is That? Download the Cornell University Merlin Bird ID app from your app store!  It does a great      job of recognizing bird songs and identifying birds.

 

Check out the Georgia Audubon web site: https://www.georgiaaudubon.org/upcoming-events.html

Have a "Flink!"
Some of our neighbors have been sighted floating and drinking together, or "flinking".  

Olympic Rowing Center 
The 1996 Summer Olympic Rowing Venue is just down the way.  Sign up for lessons or enjoy water-front concerts, located at the rowing venue, throughout the summer. It's a pleasure to watch the rowers train with their coaches in the early morning.  Check their schedule and go cheer on competition rowers!

https://lakelanierrowing.sportngin.com/ourolympicvenue

Invasive Mystery Snail

From the Lake Lanier Association: Invasive Snail: Adult mystery snails are typically 2-3 inches long and none of our native species get much larger than 1 inch. The adults are olive green. Juveniles are clear or light green.

Very little can be done to remove them once established. Methods that would eliminate them would also eliminate native mollusks and other native aquatic invertebrates. Burrowing and the capability of surviving out of water for up to two weeks in a cool humid environment makes them quite resilient.

The current primary concern over this species is the potential for parasites that could be detrimental to other wildlife and in some cases humans. GADNR is currently collaborating with Dr. Tyler Achatz at Middle Georgia State College to assess the parasites present in the various new populations of invasive mystery snails in Georgia. That effort is ongoing.

Reporting new sightings to DNR would be the most useful action so that we can monitor the impact of the invasion as it progresses. Certainly, don’t collect, transport, or eat the snails as they are easily moved to new areas and could potentially carry some unpleasant parasites that can transfer to humans. Additionally, they were added to the prohibited animals list last year in Georgia, so it is currently unlawful to possess them. This was done in an effort to prevent their continued spread around the state and avoid this scenario from occurring in other places.

If you see something, say something!

LLA encourages you to report potential sighting of the mystery snails.

Please use the following information to submit a report to DNR:

Send report to:

Anthony Rabern at Anthony.Rabern@dnr.ga.gov

Region 2 Supervisor, Fisheries

Reports should include:

· Your Name

· Phone Number

· Email Address

· Picture(s) of the snail(s)

GPS coordinate or some kind of landmark / reference point