TLA Honors Dave Scott Bird Trail & Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project as 2025 Volunteer Groups of the Year

For decades, residents of The Landings have lived within a uniquely natural setting that requires thoughtful care and stewardship. This year, The Landings Association (TLA) is recognizing two volunteer groups whose work helps manage and protect key elements of our island environment for the benefit of the entire community.

The Dave Scott Bird Trail and the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project, both operating under the umbrella of Skidaway Audubon, are The Landings Association’s 2025 Volunteer Groups of the Year, honoring decades of hands on conservation, community education, and resident led stewardship.

“These two projects exemplify what makes The Landings so special,” said Dawn Cordo, President of Skidaway Audubon. “People relocate here for many reasons, but nearly all are drawn to the beauty and abundance of nature. Skidaway Audubon works hard to help preserve this special place, and these volunteers are at the heart of that mission.”

A Trail That Began with One Man — and Took Flight

The Dave Scott Bird Trail traces its roots to the early 1990s, when Dave Scott, a retired World War II Navy pilot and Landings resident, recognized the sharp decline in Eastern Bluebird populations and decided to do something about it. What began as a modest effort has grown into one of the largest actively monitored birdhouse trails in the Southeast.

Today, trained volunteers maintain and monitor 240 birdhouses along all six Landings golf courses and at sites throughout Skidaway Island. From February through September, monitors check boxes weekly, record nesting data, ensure safety from predators, and clean houses between nests.

“To say we are honored is an understatement,” said Sarah Lucas, co chair of the Dave Scott Bird Trail. “An honor such as this is really a celebration of so many dedicated individuals who have worked quietly and tirelessly over the last 30 plus years. The difference we’ve been able to make for the bird population — and for the community as a whole — is entirely due to our volunteers.”

That impact is measurable. In 2025 alone, Bird Trail volunteers recorded 1,320 fledglings, including Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Brown headed Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmice. The group’s work has helped establish best practices for safe nesting, including the use of predator guards and thoughtful box placement.

“Safety is key to successful nesting,” Lucas explained. “Everything we do — from baffles to box spacing — is about giving these birds the best possible chance to thrive.”

The Bird Trail’s success has earned statewide and national recognition, including the North American Bluebird Society’s Barbara Chambers Memorial Award and the Garden Club of Georgia’s Award of Merit, the highest honor that organization bestows on a non member.

Members wanting to share the great work of the Dave Scott Bird Trail, while supporting a good cause can click here to purchase a book written by Lucas and her co-chair Brenda Ecken. Songbird Village, is an 83-page full color hardback book highlighting the more than 30-year history of Skidaway Audubon's Bird Trail along with “volunteer spotlights and best practices for and from the birds”. The book includes detailed information and photographs about all four types of the birds that frequent the birdhouses on the Trail.

Saving a Species, One Nest at a Time

Equally impactful is the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project, a seasonal but labor intensive effort that protects diamondback terrapins that lay eggs in vulnerable areas such as golf course sand traps. The project was born in 2002, when Landings resident Carolyn McInerney saw the first sighting of a nesting diamondback terrapin.

Each year, starting the end of April, volunteers patrol Landings’ golf courses, often responding to sightings reported by golfers, grounds crews, and observant residents. When nests are found, eggs are carefully relocated to protected hatch boxes, safe from predators.  Starting in late July, volunteers check the hatch boxes every single day, and hatchlings are released immediately.

The Diamondback Terrapin Rescue project, like other Skidaway Audubon initiatives, raises environmental awareness through education and outreach, including off-island events. In 2025, the group held 23 educational events, both on and off island. Most events were held during the months of August through early October so they could include hatchlings.

 Lisa Isenhour co-chairs the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project with Jim Olsen. She noted that while not every release is public, the project hosts five community hatchling releases each summer, giving residents a rare opportunity to witness conservation firsthand.

 "It’s incredibly meaningful for people — especially children — to see these tiny hatchlings make their way to the marsh,” she said. “Those moments stay with them. We’re always happy to talk with any group, church, school, class, or other organization about our program and why these turtles are important to our marshes.”

In 2022, the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project was honored with the Community Conservation Award from the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group, a consortium of colleges and terrapin groups representing the 15 states where terrapins are found.

Together, Dave Scott Bird Trail and the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project engage nearly 50 active volunteers, all part of Skidaway Audubon’s broader network of approximately 150 resident volunteers.

 Perhaps it is a sense of purpose that motivates residents to participate and return year after year, according to Cordo. Regardless of the reason, the whole community appreciates their commitment and effort.

 “Volunteers really feel like they are part of a group,” Cordo said. “They know they are making a difference, and they love being outside, taking in the sights and sounds of their home here in The Landings.”

TLA General Manager/COO Karl Stephens shared that both Dave Scott Bird Trail and the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project are deserving of this honor for their commitment and collaborative spirit.

“These volunteers represent the very best of The Landings,” said Stephens. “The dedication demonstrated by the volunteers of the Dave Scott Bird Trail and the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project reflects an extraordinary commitment to environmental stewardship and community service. Their work supports the long -erm health of our island and strengthens the sense of shared responsibility that defines The Landings. We are sincerely grateful for their continued service and congratulate both groups on this well deserved recognition. Their contributions have made a meaningful and lasting impact on our community.”

Don Wurzel, President of TLA’s Board of Directors, echoed Stephens’ appreciation for both groups.

“The Dave Scott Bird Trail and Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project are truly deserving of recognition as The Landings Association’s 2025 Volunteer Groups of the Year,” said Wurzel. “Through years of dedicated service, these volunteers have made a meaningful impact on our community by supporting responsible environmental stewardship, education, and conservation. Their commitment reflects the very best of The Landings, and on behalf of the Board and the entire community, we thank them for their outstanding contributions.”

Skidaway Audubon is an all volunteer organization supporting conservation, sustainability, and education initiatives across The Landings. Residents interested in learning more or volunteering to help with the Dave Scott Bird Trail, the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue Project, or another Audubon initiative are invited to visit www.SkidawayAudubon.org and explore opportunities under the Volunteer section.

As this year’s recognition makes clear, stewardship at The Landings is not just a responsibility — it’s a shared tradition, carried forward by neighbors who care deeply for the place they call home.