The Board of Natural Resources revised what’s called the Bird Island Rule in January. Overwhelmingly supported by public comments, the changes added sites, set and clarified seasonal closings, dropped one area no longer used for nesting, and extended to all protected areas a year-round ban on pets.

DNR’s Tim Keyes said updates to the 1998 law were needed to address changing habitats on the coast and the “unique vulnerability” of shorebirds and seabirds, many of them rare and all nesting in colonies.

“On these sites, one person and a dog can do more damage in the shortest period of time to the most wildlife than anywhere else in state,” said Keyes, coastal program manager for the Wildlife Conservation Section. “In the heat of summer – when unprotected eggs and chicks can die in minutes – you could essentially wipe out the productivity of that species in the entire state.”

For example, the only known place in Georgia where sandwich and royal terns nest is on Brunswick Bird Island, a dredge island created in St. Simons Sound after the original Bird Island Rule passed.

Staff are installing new signs, including on buoys to help make clear when boats are barred from landing. And game wardens will be monitoring sites, said Capt. Chris Hodge of DNR’s Law Enforcement Division.

“These habitats are critical to the reproductive success of our nesting seabirds and shorebirds,” Hodge said. “Our game wardens will be working closely with Wildlife Conservation Section biologists to make sure the habitats are protected during nesting season.”

The areas added are already closed seasonally: Ogeechee Bar near Ossabaw Island from March 1-Oct. 15 and both Brunswick Bird Island and Cumberland Dividings in Camden County from March 15-Aug. 31. The year-round closure of other Bird Island sites is unchanged except for Pelican Spit off Little St. Simons Island, which because of erosion is no longer used for nesting and was removed from the rule.

The nonprofit Birds Georgia also will help monitor sites, via a Georgia Ornithological Society grant.

Learn more about the Bird Island Rule and protected sites.

BIRD ISLAND RULE UPDATE/AT A GLANCE

• Adds Ogeechee Bar, Brunswick Bird Island and Cumberland Dividings.
• Applies seasonal closures at Ogeechee Bar (March 1-Oct. 15) and Brunswick Bird Island and Cumberland Dividings (March 15-Aug. 31).
• Continues year-round closure of previously covered sites – Little Egg Island Bar, Satilla River Marsh Island and St. Catherines Island Bar natural areas – except at Pelican Spit, which because of erosion is no longer used for nesting and has been removed from the rule.
• Continues seasonal closures on part of Little Tybee Island Natural Area as designated by signs.
• Extends closures to the low-water line: No landing boats or walking in the intertidal zone.
• Prohibits pets year-round at all sites.