Tag Archives: Banks Lake

Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2024-08-19

Update 2024-11-28: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2024-08-19.

August’s full moon, called the Sturgeon moon, will be a super moon and a seasonal blue moon, which occurs when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, instead of the usual three, according to Space.com. These two events make this moon fairly rare, so it will be a sight to see.

When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:29 PM, sunset 8:10 PM, end 9:15 PM, Monday, August 19, 2024

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Banks Lake Full, Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Seasonal Blue Moon 2024-08-19]
Banks Lake Full, Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Seasonal Blue Moon 2024-08-19

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Video: Bats of Georgia, including Banks Lake and Douglas –Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR, A WWALS Webinar 2024-08-15

Thanks to Emily Ferrall for the overview of the bats of Georgia. She including species likely to occur at Banks Lake, and footage of the Douglas warehouse bats. She mentioned the Anabat Acoustic Survey Volunteer Project. There was discussion of the Okefenokee Swamp, in a lively question and answer period.

Here’s the zoom video:
https://youtu.be/vLrNyShslSI

[Bats of Georgia, Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15, A WWALS Webinar, Banks Lake, Douglas, GA, Okefenokee Swamp]
Bats of Georgia, Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15, A WWALS Webinar, Banks Lake, Douglas, GA, Okefenokee Swamp

Emily Ferrall is a Wildlife Biologist, in the Wildlife Resources Division of the Wildlife Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR).

She specializes in research and monitoring for nongame mammals in Georgia and spends much of her time working with bats. Emily has been with GA DNR since 2016. Emily earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Georgia with an emphasis in wildlife science.

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman said a few words about what WWALS does, and WWALS Board President Sara Jay Jones gave a brief introduction, before Emily Ferrall spoke for about 45 minutes, followed by the Q&A period. Continue reading →

WWALS Webinar: Bats of Georgia, including Banks Lake and Douglas –Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15

Update 2024-08-17: Video: Bats of Georgia, including Banks Lake and Douglas –Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR, A WWALS Webinar 2024-08-15.

Emily Ferrall will give an overview of the bats of Georgia, including species likely to occur at Banks Lake, and she has footage of the Douglas warehouse bats to show. She will mention the acoustic volunteer program.

[WWALS Webinar: Bats of Georgia, Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15, including Banks Lake and Douglas warehouse]
WWALS Webinar: Bats of Georgia, Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15, including Banks Lake and Douglas warehouse

She is a Wildlife Biologist, in the Wildlife Resources Division of the Wildlife Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR).

She specializes in research and monitoring for nongame mammals in Georgia and spends much of her time working with bats. Emily has been with GA DNR since 2016. Emily earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Georgia with an emphasis in wildlife science.

Register in advance with zoom for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtc-urrD8uE9eK5isu8MaaDuonsv0L3tXe

WWALS Board President Sara Jay Jones will give a brief introduction, Emily Ferrall will speak for about 45 minutes, and we will have questions and answers. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23

Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for leading and sending these pictures of the Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, Thursday evening, May 23, 2024.

[Banks Lake Full flower Moon --Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise]
Banks Lake Full flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, 2024-05-23

Update 2024-05-30: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23.

Join us for a leisurely sunset and full moon paddle, maybe with bats.

This Outing is honoring teachers and nurses, who get free entry.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:58 PM, sunset 8:26 PM, end 9:30 PM, Thursday, May 23, 2024

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Banks Lake Full Flower Moon, Paddle 2024-05-23, At Banks Lake Outdoors, West of Lakeland, GA]
Banks Lake Full Flower Moon, Paddle 2024-05-23, At Banks Lake Outdoors, West of Lakeland, GA

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Banks Lake Full Pink Moon Paddle 2024-04-23

Update 2024-06-19: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Pink Moon 2024-04-23.

Join us for a leisurely paddle to see the sun set and the full moon rise. Water lilies are in bloom and bats are active.

When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:05 PM, sunset 8:06 PM, end 9:15 PM, Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Banks Lake Full Pink, Moon Paddle 2024-04-23, Sunset, Moonrise, Bats, and Blooming Lilies]
Banks Lake Full Pink, Moon Paddle 2024-04-23, Sunset, Moonrise, Bats, and Blooming Lilies

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Pictures: Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle 2023-11-27

Thanks to Holly Jones and Kimberly Godden Tanner for leading the November 2023 Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

[Banners, Safety lecture, Setting off, Sunset, Bat tree @ Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2023-11-27]
Banners, Safety lecture, Setting off, Sunset, Bat tree @ Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2023-11-27

The next one is coming up today, December 26, 2023.
https://wwals.net/?p=63711

Before we paddled last month, Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle 2023-12-26

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, led by Holly Jones, who won last year’s raffle kayak just before this paddle a year ago.

When: Gather 4 PM, launch 4:30 PM, moonrise 5:14 PM, sunset 5:37 PM, end 6:30 PM, Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[IG: igmany.html Holly Jones and family in raffle kayak they won in 2022, full cold moon rising 2022-12-07]
IG: igmany.html Holly Jones and family in raffle kayak they won in 2022, full cold moon rising 2022-12-07

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Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle 2023-11-27

Update 2023-12-26: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle 2023-11-27.

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Before we paddle, we will be drawing the winning raffle ticket for a Vibe Sea Ghost 130 kayak; you can still get raffle tickets.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, moonrise 5:40 PM, sunset 5:31 PM, end 6:40 PM, Monday, November 27, 2023

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full moon rising over Holly Jones and family in the raffle kayak they won 2022-12-07]
Full moon rising over Holly Jones and family in the raffle kayak they won 2022-12-07

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Hurricane Idalia heading for Suwannee River Basin 2023-08-29

Update 2023-08-29: Georgia declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Idalia 2023-08-29.

Hurricane Idalia is now Category 1 and is headed a bit farther west, taking it straight up the Suwannee River Basin.

[Hurricane Idalia probable path cone and collapsed road]
Hurricane Idalia probable path cone and collapsed road

Cat 1 means sustained winds of at least 74 mph, up to 95 mph. Inland it will probably rapidly degrade to a Tropical Storm. That still means 39-73 mph winds.

Before landfall, Hurricane Idalia may strengthen to cat 2 (96-110 mph with extensive damage) or cat 3 (111-129 mph with devastating damage).

I’m going out and securing anything that might turn into a projectile, even though I’m about a hundred miles from the Gulf Coast.

For those who are tired of being warned: this is a hurricane. It’s much better to be prepared than sorry.

I drove up from Gainesville yesterday, and there were already rain gusts strong enough to buffet my car and to cause everyone on I-75 to slow to 45 MPH. When the wind gets up to 50 MPH, you don’t want to be driving, even if you don’t run into flooding or bridges out. At 74 MPH, you want to be inside something solid. Continue reading →