Just a short report about a a recent outreach opportunity that we had down here in Georgia. The Georgia River Network puts together a series of paddles to get people out on the water to enjoy and appreciate our rivers. NANFA Georgia has participated for the last couple of years. Usually, by setting up an aquarium at their lunch stop and giving a short talk about the fishes of the river that they are spending the day on.
Last weekend we were on the Middle Oconee River here in Athens, GA. I was joined by Jeff Walsh and John and Karen Duktig from here in Georgia, Doug Dame from Florida and Matt Knepley from SC. We parked at the back door of State Botanical Gardens if Georgia and bushwacked our way to the river and set up our aquarium on a sandbar.
We found a total of eleven species including our two state endemic Cyprinella species.
Gambusia
Bluehead Chub
Altamaha Shiner (state listed, but abundant at this location)
Ocmulgee Shiner
Bluegill Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Bass (juvenile)
Snail Bullhead Catfish
Pickerel (guesses welcome, only the second one I have ever seen in this part of Georgia)
Turquoise Darter
Blackbanded Darter (I mean were were still in Georgia)
The NANFAns had fun...
...and lots of paddlers seemed interested in the fishes.