Bird-Loving Georgia Graduate Turns Passion Into Nature Preserve

All who set out on a mission are answering a calling. In Isaiah Scott’s case, the call came from birds. The 22-year-old has harbored a lifelong passion for the creatures.   

Scott is a recent Cornell University graduate. His calling has led him to create a 16-acre nature preserve in his hometown of Rincon, Georgia. There, he plans to teach others about nature and his Gullah Geechee heritage. 

“Growing up, I loved nature. I loved animals. I loved being outdoors,” Scott told the Effingham (County) Herald. “I knew I wanted to work with animals, wildlife, or be a conservationist.”

Scott’s Wild Bird Preserve is one of many avenues for his birding passions. The Environment and Sustainability graduate also runs his own online business, the Rookery Collection. Through it, the self-taught illustrator sells bird-themed art, apparel, and notecards. He also leads Ike’s Birding Hikes (Ike is Scott’s nickname). It's a nature tour he started as a high schooler through 4-H and other community programs.

Scott’s father, Roger, is a trucking company owner. He helped Isaiah purchase the land for the preserve. He said his son has always loved the woods and the creatures that live in them.

“When Isaiah was little, he was first into fish,” Roger Scott told the Herald. “He would walk around and say, ‘I’m a catfish.’” A year later, his focus shifted. “He got into birds, so he went from ‘Catfish’ to ‘Birdman.’”

For now, Isaiah Scott is hard at work in the preserve. He's clearing trails, installing gardens with benches, and building a bird observation deck. He hopes to turn it into an outdoor classroom.

"I just envision a future where, you know, there will be more places such as this," Scott told WJCL-TV, "where people and wildlife can thrive sustainably in the landscape."

Thought Question: What is something you feel passionate about, and how might you use that interest to make a positive impact in your community?

Photo of an indigo bunting in a meadow courtesy lwolfartist on Wikimedia Commons.