Blackbeard Island is one of the many small islands located off the coast of Georgia. As part of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Blackbeard Island serves a vital and important role as a wildlife refuge.
Blackbeard Island is one of seven refuges operated by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. Blackbeard is undeveloped and the perfect place for nature lovers to visit and explore.
Blackbeard Island was purchased by the Navy Department at public auction in 1800. They bought it as a source of live oak timber for ship building. Anyone who has been to the coast of Georgia knows what a Live oak tree is. Fortunately Live oaks still cover this small island. This is due in part to a Presidential Proclamation in 1940. It changed its designation from Blackbeard Island Reservation to Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge. This makes Blackbeard Island the perfect place for nature lovers of all kinds to visit and explore.
Today, the refuge on Blackbeard Island is 5,618 acres and includes maritime forest, salt marsh, freshwater marsh and beach habitat. 3000 acres today are National Wilderness. A trip to Blackbeard Island is like stepping back in time. It is a real chance to see what coastal Georgia was once like.
There are a variety of year round activities offered on Blackbeard Island, Georgia. Wildlife observation, especially bird watching, is available for visitors throughout the year. Hikers, bird watchers and nature lovers use existing trails and roads to observe and study nature. Saltwater creeks are open to fishing the entire year.
Blackbeard Island is accessible only by boat. You have to find your own boat to get there, which is part of he fun. The Fish and Wildlife Service does not provide transportation. There is a public boat ramp on Harris Neck NWR (Barbour River Landing) available to anyone needing to dock their boat. It is available as a landing site for trips to the island.
Anyone who needs helping renting a boat or finding a ride to the island can visit www.blackbeardisland.fsw.gov. They provide an updated list of local charter outfits that provide boat transportation to Blackbeard Island.
Bird Watching
Wildlife observation, especially bird watching, is excellent throughout the year on Blackbeard Island. In winter months, waterfowl are easily visible on the marshland and freshwater pools. I highly recommend visiting Black Beard Island in the winter if you do not enjoy hot weather. The southern location of this island provides mild winter weather. If you are more into watching and looking for songbirds, they are more visible in the spring and fall. The trails and roads throughout Blackbeard Island provide hikers and bicyclers with paths ideal for nature study. The terrain is flat and easily walk able.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are the way to go for families and anyone not familiar with Blackbeard Island. There are Seven local operations that hold permits for conducting guided interpretive tours on Blackbeard Island:The Altamaha Coastal Tours, which can be reached at (912) 638-6732. Bull River Marina, which can be reached at (912) 897-7300. Guale Coastal Excursions, which can be reached at (706) 533-6552. Savannah Canoe and Kayak, which can be reached at (912) 341-9502.Sea Kayak Georgia, which can be reached at (912) 786-8732. Wilderness Southeast, which can be reached at (912) 897-5108. Southeast Adventure Outfitters, which can be reached at (912) 437-6010.
The tours travel throughout Blackbeard Island. They treat visitors to the many different habitats and the maritime Forrest. The maritime forest contains a variety of neo-tropical migrant birds. Tours also travel along Blackboard’s magnificent, unspoiled beach. Bird watching here includes shorebird species such as American oystercatchers and endangered piping. Migrant and wintering birds such as the marbled godwit and peregrine falcon are also frequent beach visitors. These all make for fabulous camera and bird watching opportunities.
Deer Hunting
Blackbeard Island schedules two three-day deer hunts are scheduled in the fall and winter every year. Both hunts are non-quota, archery hunts. No guns permitted. Feral hogs may be hunted as well as deer. There are restrictions and restrictions as with any hunting trip. Hunters must carry a signed hunt permit with them at all times during the hunts, as well as all required state licenses.
Salt Water Fishing
Blackbeard Island is a great place to fish off the coats of Georgia. The saltwater creeks, which pass through refuge marshland, are open to fishing the entire year, however, freshwater fishing from any source on the refuge is prohibited. Remember to apply for a fishing license. You can buy a 24 hour license if you are only in town for a short time.
