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		The Nature Conservancy in Georgia Georgia Home Contact Places We Protect Field Trips & Events Press Releases Volunteer Ways of Giving Landmarks Publications How We Work

Go Deeper About Painted Buntings Famed naturalist and artist David Sibley shares eight illustrations of increasingly rare and threatend birds, including the painted bunting. Each illustration is accompanied by detail information about the species. Migratory Bird Program The Nature Conservancy works across state and country lines to conserve migratory bird habitat in the Western Hemisphere. Learn about our efforts and what you can do to protect the future of migratory birds. Winnie the Wimbrel's Surprising Flight In May, Conservancy scientists tagged a migrating wimbrel – a shorebird species that passes through Georgia –  with a satellite transmitter, recording her surprising journey from Virginia to Alaska. Retrace Winnie's flight and learn what this research means for migratory bird conservation efforts. Notes from the Field Read stories from partners, biologists and staff about their experiences in the field either visiting special places or working to conserve Georgia's natural diversity. Journey to Little St. Simons Island Mother gopher tortoise Prescribed fire training From Georgia to China Coosa Valley Prairie Pigeon Mountain salamander Butterflies in north Georgia

By Scott D. Coleman

At 6:30 a.m. I left the quiet compound of Little St. Simons Island and began driving the bumpy road to the north end of the island.

As I jostled along in the truck, the woods were already alive with a chorus of bird calls and songs.

Northern parulas, summer tanagers, great crested flycatchers, yellow-throated warblers, white-eyed vireos and even a couple of great horned owls could all be heard as I drove through the maritime forest. 

Rounding the corner on the north end, the Altamaha River Sound, a large expanse of marsh and water, came into view.

With little searching, I found a metal stake near the edge of the marsh, marking the beginning of transect points for a painted bunting project.

The staff of Little St. Simons Island is helping with a regional project to assess and monitor the painted bunting population that breeds and nests here in the summer. For two days in June, we conducted point counts along transects to look and listen for painted buntings.

A Beautiful Bird Under Threat
The male painted bunting is arguably the most beautiful bird in North America. With a violet head, bright red under parts and lime green back and wings, it’s easy to understand why. 

Unfortunately, painted buntings have been declining throughout much of their range – from central North Carolina to the Bahamas and Cuba. There’s a western population of the species, also in decline, that extend from southern Missouri and Kansas to Mexico and southward to Panama.

In coastal Georgia, clearing of maritime forests for development seems to be the buntings’ greatest threat. But the buntings on Little St. Simons Island have nothing to fear.

Conserving a Wild Isle
A 10,000-acre privately owned barrier island, Little St. Simons has remained largely undisturbed. The 1 percent of the island that is developed includes an eco-lodge and resort – providing a place for visitors to study and appreciate the natural wonders and beauty of the island.

The remainder of the island remains natural, making it high-quality habitat for painted buntings and other wildlife, including many species of concern like the wood stork, the island glass lizard, and the nesting loggerhead sea turtle.

As the ecological manager for Little St. Simons Island, part of my job is to collaborate with conservation partners and to help with projects like this painted bunting survey. I also work to ensure that the habitat these species need is protected.

A small team of biologists from The Nature Conservancy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a private research center are working with us to develop a conservation plan for the island. This plan will work to ensure that the integrity of the islands’ natural areas and important wildlife habitats is maintained and may also include strategies for restoration of areas that have been impacted.

By working to protect these habitats, we are providing areas for foraging, cover, reproduction and nesting, migration stopovers and overwintering for dozens of species of wildlife.

A Bright Future
Only seconds after starting the survey, I heard the first melodic call of the male painted bunting. Soon another call followed. Then I spotted one of the gaudily colored males, perched near the top of a Southern red cedar close to the edge of the marsh.

Fortunately, for this bunting and many other species that live on Little St. Simons Island full-time or visit during their migration, the conservation work that’s in progress will ensure the land and water they need will be protected for years to come.
 

As ecological manager for Little St. Simons Island, Scott D. Coleman works with public and private conservation partners. At present, Scott is working closely with Nature Conservancy staff to develop a conservation plan for the island. He can be reached at scottc@LittleStSimonsIsland.com.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Marc Del Santro (Little St. Simons Island, north end overlooking Altamaha River Sound); Photo © Tom Eisenhart/TNC(male painted bunting); Photo © Christine Griffiths/TNC (Scott Coleman).