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Riverkeeper shows off wildlife photography
Exhibition at Old Jail in Darien
Yellow Crown Night Heron AB Reedit
A yellow crown night heron stands in a McIntosh County marsh. - photo by Photo by James Holland
The Altamaha Riverkeeper is featuring a photography exhibit, "Wildlife in the Altamaha" by James Holland, at the recently renovated McIntosh Old Jail Art Center in Darien.
The exhibit will last through March 27.
The newly renovated Old Jail, on Highway 17, was built in 1888. Along with the courthouse and old firehouse, it is one of Darien's three oldest public buildings. The hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and admission is free. It is the first exhibition of Holland's work in Darien.
Holland grew up in Cochran, where he loved hunting and fishing, almost any activity that involved the natural world. His boyhood love of nature carried over into adulthood and he chose a life's work on the water as a crabber. He says that when he began, his crab pots were always brimming with 1,500 pounds of crabs a day. Over the years, his catch dwindled to less than 200 pounds a day.
When he and many crabbers lost their livelihoods, Holland began researching the biology of fish, crab, oysters and shrimp. From talking with scientists, professors, naturalists and fisherman, he learned the devastating effects that pollution had on the watershed and its inhabitants.
In 1999, Holland and other concerned citizens founded the Altamaha Riverkeeper and for the last 10 years he has dedicated his life to stop pollution in the largest watershed in Georgia.
Holland works tirelessly, making site visits, testing water, taking thousands of photos to document pollution, and communicating with regulatory agencies to improve water quality.
The work includes generating awareness on the effect that increasing water pollution has on humans, a multi-million dollar seafood industry, recreation, and wildlife.
On most site visits Holland takes time to photograph the wildlife.
"I respect nature," he said. "By sharing my photography, I want to increase appreciation and protection for our magnificent wildlife and habitat. I want generations to come to be able to enjoy where we live. We support the McIntosh Art Association; by partnering with them at the Old Jail, we can promote the conservation of our historic and natural resources."
For more information, call (912) 437-8164.
You can join ARK and learn more about the coalition of citizens working to protect our natural resources online at www.altamahariverkeeper.org.
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