Audubon South Carolina

Slow Spring Getting Active

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Weather has made it a slow spring in the swamp at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, but things are now more active, including us. The part-time land manager has retired, the land manager position has become full-time, and the education director is also the land manager until a new education director is hired. Hence, the dearth of blogs.

Here are some shots from the boardwalk over the last two weeks:

Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Mark Musselman

Cypress Knees - Mark Musselman

Brown Water Snake - Mark Musselman

Female Ebony Jewelwing Eating Mayfly - Mark Musselman

Common Yellowthroat - Mark Musselman

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Mark Musselman

Greenish Rat Snake - Mark Musselman

Prothonotary Warbler Fledgling - Mark Musselman

Female Prothonotary Warbler With Caterpillar - Mark Musselman

Female Prothonotary Warbler Feeding Fledgling - Mark Musselman

Prothonotary Warbler Eggs - Mark Musselman

Prothonotary Warbler Nest - Mark Musselman

Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Mark Musselman

Northern Parula - Mark Musselman

Male Prothonotary Warbler Starting Nest - Mark Musselman

Male Prothonotary Warbler At Nest Cavity - Mark Musselman

Spring? Spring? Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:26:00 +0000

We have not posted lately from the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, because the weather has kept things relatively quiet in the swamp over the last ten days. The weather has also kept our camera indoors, so we have gone to the files for this entry's images.

Overcast skies and cool weather continue today and have kept reptile sightings at a bare minimum. Based on our observations, there do not seem to be as many Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) around the boardwalk. Normally, there would be plenty of male-vs-male battles for territory and mates. However, the territories around the boardwalk are relatively quiet and behavior is civil. Therefore, we suspect that all residing Prothonotary Warblers have ample space and mating opportunities and have no need to waste energy in confrontations. Meanwhile, plenty of Black-throated Blue Warblers (Setophaga caerulescens) have been seen along the edge of the swamp and behind the nature center as they linger along their migration north.

Black-throated Blue Warbler - Mark Musselman

Several of the Prothonotary Warblers around the boardwalk are banded birds from previous years. We have begun to create individual pages for those banded birds, so if visitors spot a banded bird or previous visitors have images of banded birds, they can see their bird's Beidler Forest history. This week, A037 has been battling for territory in the area near Goodson Lake, A250 has been absent, A048 appears to have an unbanded mate in the area around #7, and A012 and his unbanded mate have a nest and four eggs in the nest box behind the sign at #18.

Prothonotary Warbler (A037) - Mark Musselman

Unfortunately, the nest in the cypress knee near the tower at Goodson Lake previously used by A026 appears to have been cleaned out by a raccoon. Visitors had been reporting activity at the nest site, but yesterday nesting material could be seen hanging from the cavity entrance as well as floating in the shallow water below the cavity. Both the unbanded male and female visited the nest site with the female repeatedly entering and exiting the cavity. The fact that the male was bringing caterpillars to the nest site and feeding them to the female outside of the cavity leads us to believe that there were quite recently chicks to feed. If a snake had visited the nest, it would have consumed the eggs or chicks without tossing the nesting material. Raccoons are not as subtle as they reach into the cavity to remove what they seek to eat.

Cypress Knee Nest Cavity - Mark Musselman

On a brighter note, the Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) are reusing the nest they had last year in the bald cypress near #154 on the boardwalk. No chicks were observed and the adult remained on the nest. Earlier this week, we searched for the Swallow-tailed Kite nest that we are sure exists as these kites are spotted above the eastern half of the boardwalk on a daily basis. Using Google Earth, we captured the coordinates for trees that appeared to be above the rest of the canopy. We visited those trees, but did not find anything that would be considered a nest. The weather was overcast, cool and windy, so it was not a great day for soaring kites. A kite flying to the nest would have made discovering the nest much easier. We will keep plotting Swallow-tailed Kite sightings on the map in hopes that the nest location will become apparent. You can help with Swallow-tailed Kite conservation by reporting your sightings to the Center For Birds of Prey website.

You can help ornithologists by monitoring nests you discover. The procedures, to protect you and the birds, can be found at the Nestwatch site. Currently, only two Prothonotary Warbler nests are being monitored and they are both at the Francis Beidler Forest.

The rainy weather did not bother every living thing. Mac Stone and friends were out in the swamp on Sunday and captured some amazing images (see Mac's here), including a White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn resting near a cypress.

Fawn - Mac Stone Photography

Birds of Project PROTHO

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:44:00 +0000

The old-growth, bald cypress-tupelo swamp at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest contains some of the highest densities of breeding Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) in South Carolina.

Project PROTHO was an effort to learn more about the breeding biology of these warblers within our unique ecosystem and to support our conservation efforts, we captured and banded a number of birds. You can read more in previous blog entries. Each Prothonotary Warbler has a unique color-band combination that allows the identification of individual birds.

A257 with prey - Mark Musselman

Banding Color Scheme

COLOR	NUMBER
Purple/white	0
Red/white	1
Pink	2
Light Green	3
Yellow	4
Red	5
Light Blue	6
Black	7
Orange	8
Dark Blue	9
Aluminum	A

Bands are read from lower left to upper left to upper right to lower right.

Although we no longer have a permitted bird bander at the center, sightings of color-banded birds continue to provide valuable data on site fidelity, territory size, daily and seasonal movements, and nest success rates. Your recorded data (ask for a data sheet) will add to the scientific knowledge about these birds.

If you have seen or photographed banded Prothonotary Warblers and are interested in the details we have obtained regarding their bandings, territories and nesting attempts, you can use the links on the Project PROTHO page to navigate to each bird's page.

We are in the process of building the pages, so let us know if your bird is not yet shown and we will give that bird priority treatment!.

Wine & Warblers 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:09:00 +0000

Wine and Warblers at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest begins today at 5:00 p.m. There are still spaces available on the later walks. After a refreshing rain last night and this morning, the precipitation has moved off shore leaving pleasantly cool conditions for this evening's festivities!

There are plenty of warblers around the boardwalk...

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) - Mark Musselman

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) - Mark Musselman

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) - Mark Musselman

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) - Mark Musselman

...as well as wading birds, like White Ibis and Yellow-crowned Night Herons.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) with crayfish - Mark Musselman

Yellow-billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus) made their presence known this week, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) have returned and Barred Owls (Strix varia) never fail to make an appearance.

If you cannot make it this year, mark your calendars for April 2014!

Recent Arrivals

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:07:00 +0000

In the last week, quality boardwalk time has been limited. If we were not accomplishing other tasks (tractor maintenance, driveway repair, paperwork, etc.) and were on the boardwalk leading a group, the weather often did not cooperate. Like many of us, animals are not as active during rainy or unseasonably cool weather. Today, however, was a different story.

Prothonotary Warblers are singing and battling for territories. Just in time for Wine & Warblers happening on Sat.

Prothonotary Warbler inspecting cavity - Mark Musselman

A014 singing - Mark Musselman

The warmer weather has also brought out the reptiles.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Common Musk Turtle - Mark Musselman

Red-bellied Water Snake - Mark Musselman

Even some of the normally-nocturnal creatures were out to sample the bounty of the swamp.

Raccoon - Mark Musselman

There were plenty of other sights and sounds, including an American Crow flying back to its nestlings with the chick of another species secured in its bill. Everything has to eat! We will be doing just that at Wine and Warblers.

Birds on the Boardwalk

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:55:00 +0000

The winter chill appears to have finally departed the old-growth swamp at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest and the flora and fauna are responding! We were out on the boardwalk looking for banded Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) and found several, including A048 pictured below. Prothonotary Warblers are still not back in great numbers and, as in previous years, most are beginning the season higher in the canopy than can be expected once territories are established. Additionally, Prothonotary Warblers have yet to push out from the edge of the swamp, so they are only seen between #3 and #7 (tags #114 to #133).

Prothonotary Warbler (A048) - Mark Musselman

Near #131, a large bird flew through our peripheral vision and caught our attention. Upon inspection, an American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) had landed on a nest (circled in the image below).

Nest high in a cypress - Mark Musselman

Initially, it appeared that the crow, known to raid other birds' nests, was pecking at the chicks in the nest. While pondering what species may have a nest like we were observing, a Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) soared overhead and a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) called as they circled above the canopy. We have been trying to locate the Swallow-tailed Kite nest that we are sure is nearby and the thought of the kites' chicks becoming a crow meal was unsettling. Fortunately, after twenty minutes of observation, a murder of crows came calling, all flew off, and the heads of the two American Crow chicks popped up over the nest edge.

American Crow on nest - Mark Musselman

American Crow chicks - Mark Musselman

Just before #7 on the boardwalk and unusually low in the canopy, we encountered a Northern Parula picking meals from a spider web.

Northern Parula - Mark Musselman

The reptiles were also out. Spotted Turtles, Eastern Mud Turtles, Yellow-bellied Sliders, Five-lined Skinks, Banded Water Snakes, and the attractive Eastern Cottonmouth shown below.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

As the sun lowered in the sky, a shadow crossed our path and we caught a glimpse of a soaring Swallow-tailed Kite.

Swallow-tailed Kite - Mark Musselman

Obviously, the many branches and leaves between us and the kite made getting a quality image nearly impossible. Possibly sensing this, the kite accommodated us by landing on a snag and preening. Initially, the bird was between us and the setting sun, which allowed us to produce nothing but silhouettes. Fortunately, the bird waited patiently as we moved around the boardwalk in order to put the sun at our back.

Swallow-tailed Kite - Mark Musselman

At long last, the kite decided to move on, but not before giving us a clear shot of it in flight.

Swallow-tailed Kite - Mark Musselman

No matter how many times we have walked the boardwalk, we always see something new, or see it some place new, or doing something new, or simply allowing us a better photographic opportunity. Although every season has its strengths, spring definitely provides a target-rich environment!

Spring Break on ARHS Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Earlier this week, before the rain arrived, we visited the nature trail at Ashley Ridge High School (ARHS) to see what birds had returned for the breeding season. A pair of Northern Mockingbirds nesting in an oak along the parking area greeted us at the trail's head. Through their mimicry, we had a preview of the bird life we could expect to encounter along the trail.

Northern Mockingbird - Mark Musselman

Here's the complete list of what we saw:

Ashley Ridge High School, Dorchester, US-SC
Apr 2, 2013 11:05 AM - 1:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Clear, 60Fs
28 species

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) 40
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 3
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 4
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 6
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) 1 (FIRST for trail!)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 5
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 6
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) 3
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 5
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 12
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4

As soon as we entered the swamp, we encountered a pair of bickering Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and several Swamp Sparrows foraging along the wet margins. A rabbit, possibly a Marsh Rabbit, made a overly dramatic and noisy exit from the grasses growing in a sunny, wet area. To paraphrase Shakespeare, the rabbit doth protest too much, methinks. Maybe young rabbits were stashed in the grasses.

Swamp Sparrow - Mark Musselman

Immediately thereafter, we spied a large flock of White Ibis foraging, mainly for crayfish, through the narrow swamp. Note the scarlet red of the bill, face, and legs, areas which are normally pinkish to orange in the non-breeding season.

White Ibis - Mark Musselman

A variety of plants signaled that spring has arrived. The parasitic Squawroot (Conopholis americana) was flowering. This chlorophyll-free plant gets what it needs from the roots of a neighboring tree in the red oak family.

Squawroot - Mark Musselman

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) was blooming...

Red Buckeye - Mark Musselman

and provided a meal for a Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae).

Cloudless Sulphur on Red Buckeye - Mark Musselman

Cloudless Sulphur - Mark Musselman

Finally, at the west end of the trail, Atamasco or Easter Lilies (Zephyranthes atamasco) were blooming.

Atamasco Lily - Mark Musselman

Along the way, we heard and saw a variety of birds, including the loudly singing Common Yellowthroat and the secretive Gray Catbird.

Common Yellowthroat - Mark Musselman

Gray Catbird - Mark Musselman

From out of the canebrake at the west end of the trail, we saw our first Swainson's Warbler ever along the trail! We had expected the bird to be in there, as it prefers canebrakes and dense areas in or abutting swamps, but we had yet to spot one. Last year, we identified the first Prothonotary Warblers using the swamp along the trail (not yet spotted in 2013) and now a Swainson's Warbler. That is one productive little swamp!

Can you guess what was not there on the way out? The warming day brought out the reptiles. We walked up on an unsuspecting Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus).

Southern Black Racer - Mark Musselman

As the snake patrolled, it did detect us and shot across the water in the ditch and, as quick as lightning, raced up the far embankment disappearing into the thick vegetation. There is a good reason for calling these snakes racers.

Southern Black Racer - Mark Musselman

We also encountered a small Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata fasciata) sunning on the far side of the ditch, but it too made a quick escape upon detecting us. Nearby, however, a frog appeared oblivious to our presence. It continued to call even as we continued to approach its apparent location. All along the trail we heard peeps and chirps as frogs launched into the water to avoid our intrusion, but not this one. As we continued to move, we began triangulate the frog's position. Puzzled by the continued odd call and afraid that moving closer would finally caused the frog to flee, we used our binoculars to scan the frog's suspected location. There was some slight movement on the far bank approximately 20 feet away, but the eye we saw appeared to have scales around it, though the leg was definitely amphibian. Before we could unravel the enigma, the snake let loose its captured meal, the frog launch to the safety of the water, and the unidentified snake bolted into the thick vegetation.

We were surprised and disappointed that the snake gave up its meal so easily and at such a distance from the perceived threat (us), but the experience made for another first along the ARHS nature trail!

Spring Break Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:01:00 +0000

Not every college students thinks beaches and parties when it comes to Spring Break. Last week, volunteers from The University of Missouri spent their break volunteering at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest. The students spent their evenings in our rustic (emphasis on rustic) cabin and spent their days helping us clear tasks off of our to-do list.

Cabin - Mark Musselman

Day 1 included power washing the ramps into the nature center, reattaching deck boards on the education boardwalk where the pressure treatment in the wood had corroded the uncoated deck screws, and repair to the main boardwalk where an oak's rotten base had given out and a section of the boardwalk paid the price.

Fallen Oak - Mark Musselman

Repaired Boardwalk - Mark Musselman

Day 2 involved clearing oaks from the first longleaf pine plot planted a Beidler Forest. The plot had not been managed aggressively enough and oaks had crowded or were in the process of crowding out the longleaf pines. A broken chainsaw and cold weather ended the day early, but not before the remaining forest of oaks snickered at the minimal damage. We'll be back in the fall with herbicide in backpack sprayers to deal with the remaining oaks, which will give the longleaf pines the access to water and nutrients they will need to grow. After that, routine prescribed fires will keep the competition at bay.

Day 3 involved more oak removal at a younger longleaf pine site (see previous entries here) where the oaks are young and plentiful, but easier to remove with loppers. After cutting, the stems were treated with a dyed herbicide to prevent resprouting.

Volunteer Loppers - Mark Musselman

Treated Stems - Mark Musselman

Although a day's work only affected a small percentage of the total tract, the effect is obvious in the before/after images.

Before (area 1) - Mark Musselman

After (area 1) - Mark Musselman

Before (area 2) - Mark Musselman

After (area 2) - Mark Musselman

As opposed to the previous day being able to see the fruits of their labors made for a happy group of volunteers!

Mizzou Volunteers - Mark Musselman

While at the site, students received a basic lesson in longleaf pine ecosystems, including the longleaf pine's adaptations to fire. Although fire killed many of the younger non-longleaf pine trees, the longleaf pines long needles and tight arrangement around the terminal bud protect the bud from the heat and fire. The needles that are brown will fall off, new needles will emerge and the tree will continue to grow without nearby competitive vegetation.

Longleaf Pine After Fire - Mark Musselman

Likewise, wiregrass and other herbaceous plants will emerge after the fire and provide food, cover, and nesting sites for wildlife, including wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and the disappearing bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus).

Wiregrass After Fire - Mark Musselman

Day 4 included repair of a meeting building on the far side of the swamp that is used for fish fry meetings. Although nothing like winter in Missouri, the cool weather was not what had been hoped for, so the day's sunny weather pushing into the upper 60Fs was a treat...even without a beach.

Thank you, Mizzou!

Prothos Are Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:57:00 +0000

Visitors spotted the first Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) of the season along the boardwalk and our guide spotted several along the canoe trail this morning!

Prothonotary Warbler - Mark Musselman

Despite the cool temperatures, it appears spring has finally arrived!

Boardwalk Happenings

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:46:00 +0000

Although the chill in the air gives the impression that winter has yet to exit the stage, it is officially spring and the plants and animals at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest are responding accordingly. Over the last two days, we have had master naturalists from the Lowcountry Institute on Spring Island and third graders from Harleyville Elementary School.

We did not see many reptiles on either day due to the cool temps, but we did get some good looks at what did venture out into the open. We spotted an Eastern Cottonmouth on our way to Goodson Lake.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Surprised by our return from the lake and in a "box canyon" of logs and trees, the cottonmouth quickly showed its displeasure with the eager paparazzi. Pop quiz: How did the cottonmouth get its name?

On the return loop of the boardwalk, we came upon several Black and Turkey Vultures picking at an unidentified dead mammal at the water's edge. The Turkey Vulture's sense of smell likely helped it located the carcass below the emerging canopy and the Black Vultures likely followed the lead of their cousins.


Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture eating dead mammal - Mark Musselman

After touring the boardwalk, the masters naturalist group drove to a downstream location at a marl bluff near Mallard Lake.

Master Naturalists - Mark Musselman

The underlying marl causes the soil on the bluff to be more basic than the typical Lowcountry soil allowing for the growth of plants usually associated with the Piedmont and Upstate. Marl had nothing to do with the yet-to-be-identified fungus on a Muscadine Grape vine as it was down in the swamp.

Unidentified fungus - Mark Musselman

[Note: After searching the web, we have edited this entry and replaced slime mold with fungus. It appears that the fungus is not a slime mold but a saprophyte (Fusicolla merismoides), which survives off the sap from a wound in the grape vine. Apparently, in approximately two weeks, all signs of the fungus will disappear and the Muscadine Grape will suffer no lasting effects.]

Bronze Frog - Mark Musselman

Fire and Fern - Mark Musselman

Bloodroot is one of the plants benefiting from the less acidic soil.

Bloodroot - Mark Musselman

Bloodroot gets its name from the red color of its root. Science is a tricky business.

Bloodroot has red root - Mark Musselman

Master reptile wrangler and leader of the naturalist group, Tony Mills, caught the young Southern Fence Lizard shown below as well as amphibians like the Bronze Frog shown above, Southern Cricket Frogs and several species of salamanders.

Southern Fence Lizard - Mark Musselman

Yesterday was another cool morning when the third graders from Harleyville Elementary came calling. The young, sharp eyes not only spotted the only snake of the day, another cottonmouth, but also picked out the young Marsh Rabbit shown below. Can you see it?

Young Marsh Rabbit - Mark Musselman

Around the boardwalk and especially in the parking area, birds are busy fueling for their flights north or they are busy setting up breeding territories here. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers singing in addition to their usual "speee" call.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Mark Musselman

Black-and-white Warbler - Mark Musselman

Female Yellow-rumped Warbler - Mark Musselman

Downy Woodpecker - Mark Musselman

Yellow-throated Warblers and Northern Parulas are singing and a White-eyed Vireo and a Common Yellowthroat were heard for the first time this year. Finally, Prothonotary Warblers will be arriving within the week!

Help Find Rusty Blackbirds

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:07:00 +0000

You can help scientists prepare for the retooled Rusty Blackbird Winter Blitz in 2014 by identifying habitats containing Rusty Blackbirds from March through April 2013.

More details at eBird here.

We have seen Rusty Blackbirds at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest and multiple times along the nature trail at Ashley Ridge High School (ARHS). See the blog entry here.

Male Rusty Blackbird - Mark Musselman

Female Rusty Blackbird - Mark Musselman

The Francis Beidler Forest contains 17,000 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp (1800 acres of old-growth), but the swamp at ARHS is less than 15 acres. Therefore, do not feel that a stand of flooded forest near you is too small to warrant an investigation!

Wild Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:46:00 +0000

South Carolina's wild turkey season begins today. As we have posted previously, the wild turkeys in and around the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest were caught in the Francis Marion Forest in 1987 and released here.

Wild Turkey - Mark Musselman

In the images above taken on 3/11/2013, the males can be seen trying to impress the females and intimidate the other males. The urge to compete may lead males to right to a hunter posing as a rival. We have enjoyed our morning and evening sightings of wild turkeys, but suspect that they will be keeping their heads down for the near future.

Dwarf Trillium

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Dwarf Trillium (Trillium pusillum) has begun to bloom at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest. No flowers can be seen from the boardwalk, but plants have emerged from the leaf litter near the boardwalk and will be blooming soon. Here are entries from years past.

Dwarf Trillium - Mark Musselman

Dr. Richard Porcher began studying the Dwarf Trillium after Hurricane Hugo opened the forest canopy above the plants, which precipitated a spike in the trillium population. Currently, Dr. Danny Gustafson of The Citadel is studying the Dwarf Trillium and annually brings his ecology class to Beidler Forest to collect data.

Camouflaged Data Collectors - Mark Musselman

A downward trend in the species' population has been detected as the canopy has begun to fill. In order to help this rare plant maintain or increase its population, we will be conducting some selective pruning in and around the study plots. We will trod lightly as not to trample any plants or any ants that serve as seed dispersers. The trillium seeds have nutrient rich appendages, called elaiosomes, which the ants eat once they have carried the seed back to their nest. Housecleaning throws the unharmed seed out with the trash and new Dwarf Trillium colonies can begin some distance from their parent plants.

Mutualism, ask your kids or a friend's kids, is at work. The ants benefit, the trillium benefits, and we benefit by being able to see a rare plant right in our figurative backyard.

Hiring for Education Manager Position

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Position Description

Location:
Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest

Immediate Supervisor:
Michael Dawson

Purpose of the position:

The EDUCATION MANAGER plans, creates and supervises the day to day operation of the full spectrum of educational offerings available both at and away from the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest. He/She will pay particular attention to the Center’s alignment with National Audubon’s Strategic Plan. He/She will also assist the Center Director with Beidler Forest Sanctuary management and protection, as well as State Office support as needed.

Essential Functions:

1. To oversee and supervise the day-to-day development, implementation, and delivery of a wide variety of general visitor educational activities which are designed to bring people and the resources/facilities of the sanctuary together for positive experiences and move them along the continuum from understanding to appreciation to conservation action.

2. To oversee and supervise the development, implementation and delivery of a curriculum of educational programming created for school children that is tied directly to state Education Standards, while contributing to Audubon’ Strategic Plan and conservation outcomes.

3. Participate as a member of a team to conduct education and cultivation activities for key constituencies such as private landowners and foresters.

4. To respond to National Audubon’s lead on aligning Center activities to its strategic plan and to develop, implement and deliver programs and projects in support of the Plan’s conservation outcomes. Particular attention will be paid to the Bird Friendly Communities goals and objectives.

5. Take responsibility for the scheduling, pre/post information, guide/speaker assignment, etc. for all guided programming and off site outreach for the Beidler Forest.

6. To create, plan, promote and conduct special events, walks, and programs designed to encourage visitation and participation at the Center.

7. Build and maintain the Beidler Forest pages of the Audubon South Carolina website, assuring its current content, “tourist friendliness” and teacher usefulness.

8. Assist the Center Director in the recruiting, training, scheduling, recognizing and keeping of volunteers to the Center. Assist the Center Director in the recruiting, training and scheduling of Seasonal Naturalists in the spring and fall.

9. To serve as the principal "go to" staff member for all things bird related (identification, biology, monitoring, etc.) out of the Beidler Forest office, as well as assisting the state team in conducting Bird Friendly Bottomland Forest Management site visits, grassland/shrubland bird studies, and assisting with the shore bird Beach Stewards program.

10. To act as part of the Audubon South Carolina team, endeavoring to achieve its conservation outcomes as addressed in National Audubon’s Strategic Plan.

Additional Functions:

1. Assist Center Director and/or Land Manager as needed with sanctuary facilities and equipment maintenance, biological monitoring and field biology/research.

2. Run the visitor center desk one weekend per month.

3. Plan, promote and conduct a series of at least three weeks of summer day camps for area children with themes and activities in support of Strategic Plan Conservation Outcomes.

Relationships:

Internal:
Center Director
State Office Director
Development Director
Office Manager
Finance Manager
Seasonal Naturalists
Land Manager
Volunteers
Part-time staff
NAS Centers and Education Staff

External:
Area teachers
Area school administrators
Staff from other education providers
Sanctuary neighbors
Staff from other area non-profits, governmental agencies, resource or educational organizations
Local media
Local Civic and Service Clubs

Equipment: (e.g., computer, typewriter, calculator, copy machines, telephone, etc.)

Computer, copy machine, GPS unit, digital camera, hand power tools and other maintenance equipment, canoe/kayak, video projector. Trucks (some with standard shift).
Qualifications: (e.g., education, training, experience, licenses and skills)

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, one of the Natural Sciences, or Education and previous experience as a Naturalist. Demonstrated passion for birds at a minimum and experience with avian research/monitoring would be a plus. Familiarity with promotions, good writing and public speaking skills, and sense of humor. Demonstrated ability to self start and work with little supervision.

Physical Requirements: (e.g., lifting, reaching, climb, push/pull, etc.)

Must be able to routinely walk the 1.75 mile boardwalk.
Must be able to canoe or kayak.
Must be able to lift 50 lbs. or more.
Must be able to reach, push a garden cart, wield a machete or bush ax, and accomplish
other fairly physical tasks..
Must be able to tolerate the heat and humidity of a South Carolina summer while outside
for hours at a time.
Must be able to endure bugs (especially chiggers, yellow flies, occasionally mosquitoes)

Application:

Applicants MUST apply through the Audubon Career Center at the following link…
https://careers-audubon.icims.com/jobs/1679/job?mode=view

2013 Summer Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

The Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest has announced the 2013 summer camp dates!

There is a choice of three week-long summer day-camps during June. Francis Beidler Forest contains the largest remaining stand of virgin, cypress-tupelo swamp in the world. This is the perfect setting for stimulating a child’s love for nature!

Campers listening to bird song - Mark Musselman

Birds will be the 2013 theme to guide campers through each week. Campers will become amateur naturalists themselves by engaging in science, hands-on activities and arts. You can view images from last year here.

A tentative schedule can be viewed here and an enrollment form can be downloaded here.

The programs for the summer camp are geared for grades 1 through 6. The camp day will last from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at a cost of $85. Please call Beidler Forest at 843-462-2150 to secure a place for your child in the week of your choice.

The dates for the 2013 summer camp will be:
Session I: June 10-14
Session II: June 17-21

Previous advanced campers - Mark Musselman

For older campers, we will once again host an advanced camp.

Advanced Swamp Camp

For the third year, the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest is offering a day-camp for teenagers (ages 13-16) from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm June 24-28. The cost is $100 per camper. Campers will spend the days outside exploring the various habitats throughout the sanctuary. Those unwilling to stomp in the swamp getting wet and dirty should not apply. Activities will include GPS navigation, canoeing, wildlife identification, and whatever we encounter! Explore this GIS map to see where campers went and what they saw in 2012!

Limit: 15 campers. Call Beidler Forest at 843-462-2150

2013 Wine & Warblers

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

It is almost time for Wine and Warblers!

On April 20th, join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each spring. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tastings as you explore the ancient swamp forest.

Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina and the cost is $40 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required. Walks begin at 5:00 p.m. and depart each half hour. Please make reservations for your time slot by calling (843) 462-2150.

Click here for additional images and descriptions of past years' Wine & Warblers!

Warbler species will begin arriving this month with the Prothonotary Warblers returning on one of the last days of the month. In the meantime, here is a sample of what has been around the boardwalk in the last week:

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 25, 2013 10:00 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: overcast, 40Fs, repairing boardwalk
11 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 26, 2013 2:20 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.75 mile(s)
Comments: Overcast to clear, windy, 60Fs
20 species

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 3
Barred Owl (Strix varia) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 3 Saw at #105, #165, and #169
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 2
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 27, 2013 1:55 PM - 2:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Partly cloudy, 60Fs, parking area
15 species

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1 (and again yesterday)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 4
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1

Prescribed Burning

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

After the rain during the previous weeks, last week turned out to be a good week to burn with the season drawing to a close. At Audubon's Francis Beidler Forest, we were able to burn two tracts, as was the Charleston Audubon and Natural History Society at their McAlhaney Nature Preserve. Charleston Audubon posted images and descriptions of the procedures and goals for their burning.

As we have noted in previous posts, the main purpose of burning forest land is to reduce the fuel load and prevent disastrous wildfires like the one near Myrtle Beach four years ago. Whether by lightning or careless human activity, forests will burn at some point. Not only does less fuel equal a less intense fire, some ecosystems, like the Longleaf Pine savanna, have evolved with periodic fire and require fire to maintain their health.

The first site we burned was the Longleaf Pine restoration tract we planted in January 2007.

Longleaf restoration site preburn - Mark Musselman

Longleaf restoration site (wiregrass) preburn - Mark Musselman

It appears that fire is essential for production of viable seed by these plants. Wire grass may actually be the most important, if not the most obvious, species in a longleaf pine savanna, because it is the plant that produces most of the fuel for the fires that sustain the community. Longleaf pines themselves do not produce enough fuel to keep their “home fires” burning. If it weren’t for wire grass and the fires it sustains, the savannas would cease to exist. That is exactly what happens when fire is suppressed in these communities. -- Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations

Starting fire with drip torch - Mark Musselman

Drip torches containing a 4:1 mixture of diesel to gasoline were used to set the fire on the downwind side of the stand, which allowed the fire to burn into the wind at a slower, steadier pace than if the fire were started on the upwind side of the stand.

Burning into wind - Mark Musselman

A fire break was plowed around the entire stand to ensure the fire did not migrate beyond the stand's boundaries and interior dirt roads allowed the stand to be burned in seven separate sections. However, in the event that fire were to find a way across a break, volunteers were ready to extinguish the flames by smothering the fire with flappers or shoveled soil or by spraying the errant fire with water.

Volunteers Howard Bridgman and Paul Cooler - Mark Musselman

Although ascetically unattractive immediately after the burn, wiregrass and forbs will quickly begin to sprout producing an enhanced habitat for wildlife like wild turkeys, bobwhite quail, and fox squirrels. Longleaf Pine benefit from the elimination of competing hardwood tree species and the reduction of fuel on the ground, which if allowed to accumulate could generate a fire too hot for the Longleaf Pines to withstand.

Longleaf restoration site postburn - Mark Musselman

The next day we burned a Loblolly Pine stand at the northern end of the Francis Beidler Forest. The 37 acres were divided by fire breaks into three unequal units. We began with the smallest (3 acres) to see how the fire would travel through the stand. The fire burned slowly into the gentle west wind.

Loblolly Pine stand preburn - Mark Musselman

Recent rains kept the site moist and east-west running furrows between the rows of planted pine kept the fire from burning south to north.

Loblolly Pine stand preburn - Mark Musselman

Loblolly Pine stand slowly burning - Mark Musselman

Fire burned slowly and steadily where not stymied by standing water.

Loblolly Pine stand slowly burning - Mark Musselman

In the end 75-80% of the fuel was burned across the site. In drier areas, the burn rate was 100%, while other areas (image below) did not burn in the low, wet areas.

Loblolly Pine stand postburn - Mark Musselman

Both burns successfully accomplished our goal of fuel reduction and exceeded our expectations considering the moist conditions. However, hazards remain until all the hot spots are extinguished and all of the equipment is properly stored back at the center. There is little room for error when driving the ATV up the ramp into the bed of the pickup. Pushing the accelerator lever instead of gripping the brake lever results in spectacular damage to the toolbox and quality entertainment for the bystanders. To quote Homer Simpson, "Doh!"

ATV vs toolbox - Mark Musselman

2012 Nature Photography Contest Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:14:00 +0000

Audubon South Carolina Announces Winners in

2012 Nature Photography Contest

Audubon SouthCarolina is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Audubon South Carolina Nature Photography Contest, co-sponsored by the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association.

The contest invited photographers to capture the beauty of the natural world at one of South Carolina’s two Audubon Sanctuaries: Francis BeidlerForest (Harleyville) and Silver Bluff(Jackson), as well as any other natural habitat in South Carolina. Over 40 entries were submitted by participants from across South Carolina.

Contest Winners - Nancyjean Nettles

“BEST in SHOW Award” was won by Raymond Colin Murray of Charleston, SC, for “Taking Flight,” featuring a Barred Owl flying directly toward the photographer.

First Place, Wildlife: Catherine Miller (Charleston, SC) for “Parenting Pause”

First Place, Plant/Landscape: Mary Presson Roberts (Tega Cay, SC) for “Leaf Reflection”

Second Place, Wildlife: Raymond Colin Murray (Charleston, SC) for “Skimming the Shore”

Second Place, Plant/Landscape: Sherry Schumann (Monck’s Corner, SC) for “Autumn Walk”

Third place, Wildlife: Sparkle Clark (Columbia, SC) for “Food for the Nestlings”

Wildlife: Marian Davis (Columbia, SC) for “Sphinx Moth Caterpillar”

Third place, Plant/Landscape: Joanne Wuori (Columbia, SC) for “Spring Morning”

Plant/Landscape: Mary Presson Roberts (Tega Cay, SC) for “Forest of Green”

A generous anonymous donor provided cash awards totaling more than $1,000 for the winners.

The winning photographs will be on display for several weeks at the Summerville Visitor Center at

402 N. Main Street.

Rain, Rain, Save the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

It was beginning to look like there would not be any canoe trips at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest due to the minimal rain since August 2012. With yesterday's rain on top of the rain last week, that is no longer an issue. In fact, two groups were on the canoe trail yesterday. The morning group beat the rain and the drop in the temperature, but the afternoon group did not fair as well. It was still a beautiful paddle, but hot beverages and maybe a warm fire were on most of the post-paddle schedules.

Last Tuesday, we took advantage of the "eye of the storm" to make a quick walk around the 1.75-mile boardwalk. We quickly spied a Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) and a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), both likely in search of mates.

A shower of Red Maple debris greeted us early along the boardwalk. Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are messy eaters.

Red Maple seeds on boardwalk - Mark Musselman

Depressions in the upland areas created by Hurricane Hugo-felled trees filled with water. Amphibians will use these ephemeral, fish-free pools for breeding. You may have heard the chorus of frog calls in your neighborhood too.

Upland forest - Mark Musselman

Elsewhere, water has reached even the elevations where the Dwarf Palmetto grows.

Swamp - Mark Musselman

Water flowing by knees - Mark Musselman

If you stand near the fork (#115) on the boardwalk, you will likely hear what appears to be the roar of a mountain stream. Obviously, that is not the case here in the nearly level coastal plain. What you will be hearing is the cumulative noise of water flowing over the quarter mile of beaver dam. The log near #154 that skims debris floating on the water's surface is also close to being overtopped.

Log across channel - Mark Musselman

We saw plenty of birds that were also taking advantage of the break in the rain.

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 12, 2013 1:55 PM - 3:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.75 mile(s)
Comments: Mostly cloudy, 60Fs
25 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 2
Barred Owl (Strix varia) 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 9
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 4
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 4
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 11
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 10
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 12
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 9
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 3
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 20
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 6

At #7, an Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) took the opportunity to catch some sun atop the log it uses for its winter den.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Beaver gnawing on Sweet Gum - Mark Musselman

Approaching Goodson Lake, evidence of fresh beaver (Castor canadensis) foraging could be seen on numerous trees and knees. Like many of us, we're sure the beavers are looking forward to the warmer, sunnier weather of spring. However, unlike the beavers, we do not need to worry that the warming temperatures allow the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) to feed once more.

2013 Great Backyard Bird Count Day1

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Did you count any birds in your yard or neighborhood in support of the Great Backyard Bird Count? If you didn't, why not? It's easy! There are still two more days after today.

Yesterday, we were at Middleton Place and here is some of what we saw on day #1:

American Coot - Mark Musselman

Common Gallinule - Mark Musselman

Double-crested Cormorant eating fish - Mark Musselman

Wood Stork - Mark Musselman

Middleton Place, Dorchester, US-SC

Feb 15, 2013 3:25 PM - 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.25 mile(s)
Comments: Clear, 60s
27 species

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) 1

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 26 <

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 2
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) 4
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 6
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 5
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 6

American Coot (Fulica americana) 3

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 10
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 6

Great Backyard Bird Count 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:42:00 +0000

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held during this coming weekend (Feb. 15-18).

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes or longer, if one wishes, on a single day or on each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

Northern Mockingbird - Mark Mussselman

Participants count birds anywhere for 15 minutes or longer during the four-day period. They tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any one time. For example, if three robins are spotted in the yard, the count for robins would be three. Later, if a single robin is spotted in the yard, the count for robins would remain at three (most seen at one time) and not increase to four. Participants can report their counts by filling out an online checklist at the Great Backyard Bird Count website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

As the count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own towns or anywhere in the United States and Canada. They can also see how this year's numbers compare with those from previous years. Participants may also send in photographs, including a contest, of the birds they see. This is a tremendous opportunity for teachers to address science, social studies and math standards while helping scientists learn about birds in our hemisphere!

By knowing where the birds are, scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn much regarding the current state of birds. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

The GBBC is a citizen-science project where everybody’s help, no matter how small, is valuable. Help make sure the birds from our community are well-represented in the count. It does not matter whether a report is for five species on a backyard feeder or during a walk through the neighborhood or for 25 species spotted during a day's outing to the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest.

There are plenty of ways to participate! You do NOT need to be an expert on birds.

You can find tips here for counting birds, especially large flocks.

There is a poster of some common backyard birds here.

Facebook

Twitter using #GBBC

Sparrow Banding

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:59:00 +0000

Between January 26th and January 29th, we were banding sparrow species in a variety of habitats. Mark LaBarr, Audubon Vermont and a federally certified bird bander, flew down to coordinate the proceedings and band the captured sparrows.

In the eastern United States, grassland habitat continues to disappear and consequently bird species that prefer that habitat are also in decline. Previously, we have reported on our efforts to restore grassland habitats within the Francis Beidler Forest.

The four days of banding began at the recently burned Spring Branch grassland restoration site.

Unburned and burned Spring Branch - Mark Musselman

Lex Glover removing sparrow - Mark Musselman

Other certified banders, Lex Glover of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and Aaron Given of the Town of Kiawah, were on site to assist with the banding and data collection, but the significant help came from the Summerville High School Navy Junior ROTC volunteers. The effort to capture and band sparrow species is not like some netting stations which are situated to be in the flight paths of birds conducting their normal activities. Sparrows spend the majority of their time on or quite close to the ground, so they need to be flushed from their cover towards the mist nets. That is where the extra bodies proved to be invaluable.

Purple line shows track of Mark Musselman during the day of banding

The middle of the three sections shown above in orange was the only section not burned. The nets were initially set along the fire break to the west and set later along the fire break to the east.

Summerville HS NJROTC volunteers - Mark Musselman

With the large grassland habitat and small coverage area of the mist nets, the sparrows would have had no trouble leaking around the three banders and three Audubon staff members trying to drive the birds towards the nets. However, with the quantity of high school volunteers joining the effort, we were able to cover a wide swath of the grassland and curl in the ends of the line to keep the birds moving directly away from the noise and humans and towards the waiting nets

The majority of the approximately 60 sparrows captured were Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. However, there were also several Savannah Sparrows and one Grasshopper Sparrow as well as an overly curious Northern Mockingbird. The mockingbird was shown to the students and released without any bands, but all sparrows were given an official United State Geologic Survey (USGS) band. You can read more about the North American bird banding program here.

Mark LaBarr with Northern Mockingbird - Mark Musselman

Savannah Sparrow - Mark Musselman

Grasshopper Sparrow - Mark Musselman

The second day of banding include a shut-out at the Longleaf Pine restoration site. The emerging pine habitat still has a significant number of short oaks and wiregrass ground cover, which is clumpy and not nearly as dense as the grassland habitat at Spring Branch. A return to Spring Branch later in the day resulted in additional sparrows being captured and banded, but without the large number of volunteers, we did not capture anything close to the numbers we saw flying over and around the nets and the six humans.

Clark tract - Longleaf Pine restoration

Days three and four were spent at the Oakridge landfill in Dorchester County and the Bees Ferry landfill in Charleston County. Although landfills seldom, if ever, evoke images of wildlife habitat, they can be beneficial to some species once portions or the entire landfill have been closed. Once a section or cell of the landfill has been capped, grasses are encouraged to grow on top and on the sloped sides in order to prevent erosion of the capping material. Trees, however, are no allowed to grow as their roots would penetrate the capping material, which would allow water in and pollutants out of the waste cell. Driving the mist net poles in to the ground would have the same effect as tree roots, so the poles needed to be set in buckets of sand. This sounds good in principle, but the occasional gust of wind would topple at least one pole, which would in turn pull down several others. Valuable time was then spent picking grass, twigs, and blackberry stems from the delicate nets.

Oakridge Landfill

Oakridge landfill has the distinction of having the highest point in Dorchester County at an elevation of 255 feet. The small grassy lump in the left half of the panorama below is that high point.


Panoramic view from top of Oakridge landfill - Mark Musselman

Methane capture - Mark Musselman

Mark LaBarr removing sparrow - Mark Musselman

Setting mist nets - Mark Musselman

House Wren - Mark Musselman

Although we did not take pictures of the second site closer to the top of the landfill (see panorama above) was much more like an open grassland. The site was full of sparrows, but we were again plagued with a limited number of bird drivers. Additionally, the steep slope worked in the birds' favor. When flushed from their cover, the birds flew straight out before diving back down for cover. Unfortunately, straight out put them over the top of the mist nets running parallel to the contour of the hill. The sparrows were not captured and banded, but their presence was noted and the habitat deemed suitable for grassland sparrow species.

Bees Ferry landfill was the site of the final day of banding.

Bees Ferry Landfill

Help from a variety of volunteers made it possible to set the poles and nets on an increasingly windy day. Like the Oakridge landfill, poles could not be set into the ground to avoid puncturing the cap and or lining material. Now, with an ample force of volunteer bird drivers, we lacked the bird numbers we had seen on previous days!

Mark LaBarr removing sparrow - Mark Musselman

Mark LaBarr setting nets - Mark Musselman

Volunteers helping set nets - Mark Musselman

First for Mark LaBarr, Le Conte's Sparrow - Mark Musselman

The day began with a breeze and the winds continued to increase in advance of the approaching cold front. Setting the nets, already difficult with the sand-in-bucket system, was all the more frustrating due to the random gusts of wind. However, Mark LaBarr was able to band his first Le Conte's Sparrow and landfill supervisor, Ron Tibbetts, was able to release one of the banded sparrows.

Mark LaBarr helps Ron Tibbetts release sparrow - Mark Musselman

Setting net at second site - Mark Musselman

Although wind and manpower prevented all of the observed sparrows from being captured and banded, we were successful in determining the general usefulness of a variety of grassland habitats to support wintering sparrow species. In the end, sites like the landfills might mow less, which would save them money (salaries, fuel, maintenance) and provide better habitat for bird species in search of a winter home.

The birds banded over the four days will soon be heading north to establish breeding territories. It's a long shot, but it is possible that Mark LaBarr could capture in his springtime nets a bird he first met here in South Carolina!

Sandhill Cranes in the Bend

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:27:00 +0000

Sandhill Cranes (Gurs canadensis) are back in the Bend this winter. The Bend is the community roughly bordered by Four Holes Swamp to the north and east and I-26 from the northwest to southeast.

The Bend

Specifically, the cranes are often seen in the large field bordered by Second Bend Road and Two Churches Road. Although range maps do not show the bird as a winter resident for our area, we have spotted Sandhill Cranes in that field over the years. During the 2011 Christmas Bird Count (CBC), 15 Sandhill Cranes were seen and 79 were observed during the 2012 CBC. In February 2011, we photographed 20 cranes in the field and saw 17 and 24 on consecutive mornings this past weekend. We did not have time to stop for a photograph this weekend, so the image below is from February 2011. However, an image taken this weekend would have appeared identical.

Sandhill Cranes in Henbit - Mark Musselman

Mornings are a better time to observe the cranes at the location marked in the image. We have never observed cranes in this field late in the day. Lex Glover, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, suspects that the cranes we are seeing are a small foraging flock from the large contingent Sandhill Cranes wintering at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge north of Lake Marion. The birds feed mainly on grains and seeds along with some insects. Therefore, once the fields get plowed in preparation for spring planting, the cranes will be gone from the area until next winter.

Grassland Burn

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:42:00 +0000

Previously, we have reported how the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest is working to restore grassland habitat for birds and other wildlife. This week, we burned approximately 25 acres of grassland near the intersection of I-26 and Hwy 15.

Grassland plants have adapted to periodic dramatic change whether that change was caused by lightning-strike fires, fires set by Native Americans to manage their hunting grounds, or herds of grazing bison. As Native Americans learned, fire is an effective and beneficial land management tool. In grassland ecosystems, fire prevents trees from invading and dominating the habitat, returns nutrients to the soil, and stimulates growth in native grassland plants. The tender new growth, flowers, seeds, and fruit provide food for a variety of animals that are in turn food for other animals. By spring, the site will be prime for grassland bird species returning from their wintering grounds in search of breeding territory.

Prescribed burns are well-planned events. In fact, this burn was delayed by several days until the winds shifted out of the southwest, which allowed the smoke to travel northeast over the swamp and away from nearby I-26 and US Hwy 15. Using drip torches containing a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline, the northeast corner of the plot was lit so that the fire burned back into the wind, which helped to keep the fire slow and steady.

Grassland Prescribed Burn - Mark Musselman

Volunteers and staff patrolled the borders of the burn plot to ensure flames did not cross the plowed fire breaks. If any breaches were to occur, backpack water sprayers, ATV-mounted water sprayers, rakes, flappers, and shovels were available to quickly snuff out the errant flames.

Ricky Covey Monitoring Burn - Mark Musselman

Grassland Prescribed Burn - Mark Musselman

Ricky Covey Monitoring Burn - Mark Musselman

It was a full day (45 volunteer hours, 38 staff hours) of hard work, but all went well and we were treated to a beautiful sunset.

Sunset - Mark Musselman

Warm Weather Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (Swampy) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:57:00 +0000

At the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, the recent spell of warm weather has increase the activity of more than winter-weary humans! In the last week, we have spied snakes soaking up the sun's rays and eschewing their cold-weather sanctuaries. All three of the snakes were well inside the swamp and likely using as dens the hollow logs upon which they were basking.

Banded Water Snake - Mark Musselman

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Beavers (Castor canadensis) have again become active near Goodson Lake. They have been gnawing on the same Sweet Gum where, years ago, gnawing announced their return to the swamp. Weather like this week could be dangerous for the beavers as the alligator in the nearby lake could decide that it need not wait for the warm days of March to digest a mammal meal.

Beaver Gnawing - Mark Musselman

Finally, the normally nocturnal Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) marched by the office window in the middle of the morning. It was obvious to us that the eyesight and hearing of the opossum are not two of its strongest senses. As we moved along the boardwalk to get ahead of the animal, the opossum was oblivious to our presence. However, as it approached our position, it lifted its head, carefully smelled the air and then moved in another direction. This occurred three times before we remained in place and let the opossum go under the boardwalk and wander off.

Opossum - Mark Musselman

Boardwalk - Mark Musselman

We hope you and all the swamp creatures enjoyed the mid-winter-summer, because the cold front is pushing through as we type and the temperature is dropping steadily.