The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a public hearing on proposed changes to the state’s “Bird Island Rule” aimed at providing greater protection for seabirds and shorebirds.

The changes are needed to include new islands formed since the rule was passed in 1998 and to better shield sites when they are being used for nesting, foraging and roosting, according to a DNR release Thursday afternoon.

The changes would allow for recreational access to many of the sites when they are not active, and also would remove from the rule one natural bar that has eroded to the point birds no longer nest there.

Public notice and a synopsis of the proposed amendments to Rule 391-4-7.-03 are available on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s website at https://georgiawildlife.com/regul

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