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| July 26, 2010 ~ White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | |
| Kiawah residents installed a motion activated "Wildview" scout flash camera at night to see what new four legged neighbors were visiting their yard. One night (on a spot selected by their granddaughter after several nights without success), they captured this mysterious image. At first glance it appeared much like a heavily patterned black and white cow, but others suggested it was simply a fawn with its spots distorted by the flash, which didn't hold true to the size of the markings. Another person had heard of a few "calico deer" on Kiawah, and said he thought that's what the picture was clearly of. The residents sent the photo to the nature center for identification. It is indeed a white-spotted deer. There are a few different types of deer color mutations: piebald (white patches on tan), melanistic (all black), and albino (all white). All told, these mutations only occur in less than 1% of whitetail deer across the country, with piebald the most common of the three, followed by albino, and finally melanistic. A different gene controls each color pattern. While a white spotting mutation is relatively widespread in mammals, different species of animals have different types of genes. In horse genetics, for example, there are two different genes that will produce a piebald effect, one dominant (tobaino) and one recessive (overo). Some dramatically colored horses even posses both genes (sometime called tovero). So in a horse, you can have two spotted parents produce a solid foal or two solid horses produce a spotted foal! In deer, apparently, the gene that controls white spotting is recessive, similar to the recessive overo gene in horses. So the piebald gene could have been hidden in the genes of our regular deer for many generations. A solid brown deer that carries the gene has a 50% chance of passing it on to its young. If both solid brown parents carry the gene, the young has a 25% chance of being piebald, 50% chance of carrying the gene, and a 25% chance of not carrying the gene at all. If this deer mates with a brown deer, the offspring will probably be all brown unless the mate carries the gene, and even then only 50% of the offspring will be piebald. The amount of white is apparently random, with some deer showing mostly white and some showing mostly brown, but most about 50-50%. Opinions vary on whether the piebald gene is linked to any other malformations - perhaps some populations do have link to poor health and perhaps populations some don't - but ours appear to be pretty healthy. While the piebald gene would make any deer much more vulnerable to predators as a fawn, once a Kiawah deer makes it to adulthood it has as good of a chance to survive and mate as any other deer. |
| July 25, 2010 ~ Great Egret (Ardea alba) | |
| It's a classic Kiawah scene of natural beauty: an elegant Great Egret patiently stalking along the edge of a pond or marsh creek, its white reflection mirroring every move. Every now and again, however, an egret will choose a slightly more eccentric place for hunting. While on my way to set up for our Ocean Seining program, I came across this egret strolling amongst the cars in the guest parking lot at the Sanctuary hotel; later on in the day, I found it in the employee parking lot and managed to grab my camera in time to snap a few photos. With such a long neck, long legs, and spear-shaped bill, the lanky white bird may look like a very specialized species but in fact it is a versatile and widespread predator. The Great Egret can be found on every continent except Antartica and its list of prey includes pretty much any animal it can catch and fit down its (expandable) throat: fish, marine and freshwater invertebrates, large land invertebrates like grasshoppers, amphibians, reptiles from water snakes to baby alligators, mammals like rodents and rabbits, and even other birds. Perhaps this bird was hunting the skinks and cotton mice that occasionally dart across Kiawah parking lots. |
| July 24, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 90s, hazy with some clouds, little wind Locations: Marsh Island Park, Willet Pond, Ocean Course driving range/beach loop Notes: Bird of the day was a banded piping plover at the east end of the island, woohoo! I submitted a report so we could find out where the bird was banded - perhaps the Bahamas - but we may not get a response for several months. Other interesting sightings were large numbers of egrets and herons out at Willet Pond, and of course those still-singing painted buntings out at Marsh Island Park. There were quite a few terns as well and I'm a little rusty on late summer tern identification, so I won't list the ones I wasn't sure of. Species List: Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Osprey, Mississippi Kite, Common Moorhen, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Forster'sTern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-Tailed Grackle |
| July 23, 2010 - Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) | |
 How do you fly when your wingspan can beat the height of LeBron James? When you're a Brown Pelican, the answer is: efficiently. Hollow bones make all birds lighter than similarly sized mammals and reptiles, but at an average of 8 pounds, pelicans are heavyweights in the bird world. Effortless soaring is a pelican's preferred method of travel. Pelicans will often seek rising air that will help them gain altitude without requiring much flapping. Sometimes you will see pelicans gliding an inch or two of air above the ocean or Kiawah River; at other times, they will join vultures and eagles riding a hot air thermal from the land. The long, broad wings of a pelican give it a great lift to drag ratio. Add a distinct W shape to the wings, along with the fingertip-like projections of the primary feathers, and you give pelicans the maneuverability they need to dive with pinpoint accuracy for the fish they eat.Written by Naturalist, Sarah Ernst. |
| July 23, 2010 ~ Ocean Encounters Trip Log | |
| Guide: Sarah Ernst Tide: Mid-Low Beachcombing: Both beachcombing and the unique clam die-off odor continued to be strong this week. We found far too many things to list but highlights included lettered olive shells, baby's ear shells, live moon jellies, lots of sand dollars, sea urchin tests, large amounts of worms including tube worms, decorator worms, and soda straw worms. Finding eggs in the deceased body of a large female horseshoe crab was also a highlight. Ocean Fish: A little skimpy this week but after a few passes we managed to pick up a couple of baby whiting and a single baby croaker. The whiting, with its eerie vertical eye, compressed body, and goofy barbel, is one of my favorite seining catches. I have to confess that in my first summer here, I thought they were baby sharks. Tidal Pool Fish: All killifish today, and all under 1" long. Birds: Sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers, least terns, and laughing gulls. |
| July 22, 2010 ~ Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | |
| Town biologists are reporting....piping plovers are back!!! Three piping plovers were seen this week on Kiawah's beach. 2 birds were found on the western end of the beach and 1 on the eastern end. All 3 birds were banded as well. These are the first piping plovers seen on Kiawah since May and are likely early migrating birds on the way south. |
| July 22, 2010 ~ Mantis Shrimp | |
 On a recent kayaking tour, I was aided by my two teenage guests to spot a beautiful creature not commonly seen in the marsh. The Mantis shrimp (or sometimes called a Stomatopod) is named for its resemblance to both the praying mantis and the shrimp, while it is neither. It is a marine crustacean found in the phylum Arthropoda. The mantis shrimp we saw was crawling around on the bank of the Kiawah River, and was vibrantly colored with neon blues, greens and purples. We spent a while observing the shrimp and its behaviors. Mantis shrimp are not often found out in the open, but instead tend to hide down in burrows and holes in the mud where they breathe through gills. These creatures are found in warm tropical and subtropical marine habitats, and can grow to be 1 foot in length! Mantis shrimp are agressive predators, and use their powerful claws to unfold and swing at prey in either a stabbing or spearing motion depending on the type of claw. The power and force that comes from the claws is enormous (not unlike that of the pistol shrimp) and can cause stunning and dismemberment of the prey. They are capable of causing painful injuries to humans if handeled improperly, and larger mantis shrimp are known to even break aquarium glass. These beautifully colored crustaceans are better observed from a distance if seen on one of our kayaking trips! Reported by Naturalist, Laura Willhoft. |
| July 21, 2010 ~Portuguese Man o' War (Physalia physalis) | |
 "It looks like a piece of plastic," I say to myself. I'm busy scanning the dunes for plovers and oystercatchers, but my Back Island Birding tour guest looks interested in the mysterious plastic-like item on the beach. Now I must find out what it is, too. This clear, purplish-pink plastic "bag" turns out not be trash at all but rather a Portuguese Man-of-War!Without an trained eye or curious mind, it's easy to overlook these floating, marine animals on our beach as garbage. Blown by winds and pulled by currents, Man-of-Wars drift on the surface of open oceans (aided by a gas-filled float) where they feed on small fish, crustaceans, and plankton using their stinging and feeding tentacles. Not a true jelly, the Portuguese Man-of-War is actually a colony of numerous organisms called polyps (or zooids) that are so specialized they cannot live without each other. Check the beach after storms or windy weather for these fascinating cnidarians. Written by Naturalist, Will Oakley. |
| July 20, 2010 ~ Ocean Encounters Trip Log | |
 Naturalist: Marcie PalmTide: Super Low Beachcombing Highlights: Wow!!!! What an extraordinary day for Beachcombing. We probably had the best day I’ve ever seen as a Naturalist for Beachcombing. We found live Sea Stars, Sea Anemones, Moon Snails, Knobbed Whelks, Sea Cucumbers, and Hermit Crabs galore. We found Sea Pansies and Sea Pork which were hard to distinguish if they were alive or not, but when I returned the Sea Pansies to the Saltwater Tank in the Nature Center they stuck out their little polyps. We also found plenty of the shells of previously alive animals such as Sea Urchins, many species of Clams and snails, as well as several beautifully colored carapaces of crabs. There was also a very interesting Horseshoe Crab who was alive with many living Acorn Barnacles and Slipper Shells attached to it. It was stranded pretty far from the water so we returned it to the water and was able to watch the Barnacles use their thin feathery feet to feed on plankton and detritus as the tide rushed over top of them. Ocean Seining: We weren’t as lucky with seining in the ocean. The current and wind were very strong which made it difficult to pull the net. We caught a few fish such as Striped Tidal Pools: Mostly minnows. There was also an interesting band of tiny clams. It was about 20 yards long and a yard or two wide in places and concentrated around the tidal pools and the surf. They were so small I thought at first they were just broken down pieces of shells but it turned out to be the whole clam…it was causing quite a low tide smell on the beach. Birds: We were so enamored with our beachcombing that we forgot to look out for the birds but I did glimpse our usual Laughing Gulls & Brown Pelicans. |
| July 20, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Upper 80s, sunny Locations: Marsh Island Park, Willet Pond, Ocean Course driving range Notes: Another great painted bunting singing for us in just the right light at Marsh Island Park. We then spent the rest of the time at Willet Pond and along the Ocean Course driving range. While the marsh birds were a little skimpy in Willet Pond, the dune birds really put on a show, with a handsome trio of common ground doves and a cooperative pair of loggerhead shrikes. I was able to pick out a trio of dowitchers among a flock of shorebirds off in the distance, which I will assume were short-billed due to habitat, but ran out of time to check on the others. Species List: Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Wilson's Plover, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Common Ground Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch |
| July 20, 2010 ~ Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | |
 Every time I've gone out to the Ocean Course's halfway house to meet guests for the Ocean Encounters trip, I've watched the resident Northern Mockingbird pair (nesting in the nearby bushes) chase off some passing American Crows. Some bird species will defend their nests more aggressively than others, and both mockingbirds and crows are in the top tier of fearless predator-harassers, even to species much bigger in size. According to Discover magazine, researchers at the University of Florida recently demonstrated that mockingbirds can pick a human out of a crowd that had a past history of disturbing their nest (visit www.discovermagazine.com/2010/jan-feb/087 for more information); I think that's a pretty impressive accomplishment, considering the difficulty we humans would have if we had to pick a mockingbird out of a flock! Written by Naturalist, Sarah Ernst. |
| July 19, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | |
 It’s mid-summer and the sea turtle nests have started to hatch! The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) is one of the most sought out marine creatures for residents and guests alike along our barrier islands. The relatively large head of a loggerhead contributed to their distinctive name. In addition to feeding on a variety of jellyfish species, powerful jaws allow them to feed on horseshoe crabs and hard-shelled prey such as whelks and conchs. Their carapace (upper shell) length of adults is approximately 3 feet long. The average weight for an adult is 250 lbs.Female loggerheads in the southeast will typically lay three to five nests, and sometimes more, between mid-May and mid-August. After two months of incubating, the young will hatch sometime between July and October. Artificial lighting along the beachfront has been blamed for confusing turtle hatchlings and causing them to veer away from their destination, the Atlantic Ocean. By shielding, redirecting, or turning off any lights illuminating the beach or water, residents play a role in the preservation of this species. Interested in learning more about our loggerhead sea turtles this summer? Join expert Naturalist, Meg Hoyle, on Kiawah for a complimentary Turtle Talk at the Heron Park Pavilion every Tuesday from 7 pm to 8 pm. If you’re looking for a new learning adventure this year, check out the Learning Through Loggerheads motorboat excursion to Botany Island on Thursdays from 9 am – 12 pm. Meg has worked with loggerhead & hawksbill sea turtles in the Caribbean and participated in the longest running loggerhead sea turtle tagging project in the US. She is also the director of Learning through Loggerheads, a non-profit organization that provides hands on science learning for students through a turtle nest protection project. Only trained turtle patrol members are permitted to handle sea turtle hatchling. Written by Naturalist, Jennifer Barbour |
| July 16, 2010 ~ Herp. Log | |
 Jr. Naturalist Herpetology ReportSr. Naturalist: Marcie Palm Jr. Naturalists: Zach, Zoe, Josie, Jack, Drew, Noah, Riley and Aggie Locations: Sanctuary grounds and Turtle Point ponds Weather: Hot, sunny and very humid Species list: 4 Green Tree Frogs (Turtle Point vegetation) 1 Southeastern 5 Lined Skink (drift fence) 1 juvenile Broad Headed Skink (coverboard) 1 Green Anole (boardwalk near Sanctuary) 24 Golden Silk Spiders 1 Yellow Bellied Slider Turtle (Turtle Point) 2 Alligators (Turtle Point) |
| July 16, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 80s, partly cloudy, windy but not extremely so Locations: Mingo Point, Marsh Island Park, Willet Pond, the Ocean Course beach loop Notes: After chasing half a dozen male painted buntings at Mingo and Marsh Island Park, never with a satisfactory view, we finally found one singing with in full light. Lots of females/young around as well. We had a really great moment at Willet Pond in which there was a Wood Stork, Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, and Tricolored Heron all in the same spotting scope view. The light was perfect and we could really admire the rich colors of the Glossy. Sanderlings, a spotted sandpiper, and a pair of whimbrels were all a bit of a surprise out on the Ocean Course beach. A gull-billed tern was also a nice find - last year I was able to find them fairly regularly, but this was Back Island Birding's first 2010 sighting. Species List: Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Common Moorhen, Wilson's Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Royal Tern, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch. |
| July 14, 2010 ~ Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | |
 If there is one bird on Kiawah that seems to most sympathize with the acne-ridden stage of our teenage years, it is the Northern Cardinal. When this bird molts it seems to do so in large chunks, making it appear as if its undergoing some terrible disease. This female cardinal has molted her entire crest off in one piece as well as most of the feathers around her beak and eye. By looking at the bright orange bill, however, we can determine that this is a sexually mature female and not a young cardinal (which share the subtle brown-red-green-yellow plumage of a female, but have a dark bill rather than orange). The bill of a cardinal is one of the most elegantly designed crushing machines in the avifauna of North America (barring the extinct Carolina Parakeet), and many a bird bander can tell you horror stories about getting chunks taken out of them while trying to extract a very cranky cardinal from a mist net.Photo taken on Nature Photography by Jamie Rood. |
| July 13, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle | |
| Turtle hatching season has begun. |
| July 13, 2010 ~ Ocean Encounters Trip Log | |
 Guide: Sarah ErnstTide: Low Beachcombing Highlights: Whelk egg cases with unhatched babies inside; cockle and ark shells that had been eaten by a moon snail; rubbery bryzoans; yellow sea whips; sand dollars; live hermit crab; lots of dead horseshoe crabs - in various stinky stages of being dead! - and a pair of live whelks. Ocean Fish: We caught a pair of Florida pompano with the cast net, but with the seine net we got something completely different: a small pipefish, two baby whiting, and a mysterious small chubby dark fish that looked like maybe a baby grouper? Lots of baby calico crabs in the seine net - for every fish, there were at least a dozen baby crabs. Tidal Pool Fish: Mostly bay anchovy with some killifish Birds: Willets, American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Red-tailed Hawk, and a mockingbird pair diving at and chasing a pair of crows. |
| July 12, 2010 ~ Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) | |
 During a recent Nature Photography tour, this cute, fuzzy mammal found itself the subject of much shutter frenzy. This member of the rodent family is found throughout the southeast and normally inhabits tall-grass areas where such grasses as bluestem, cordgrass (Spartina), or sedges offer both freedom of movement under a protective canopy and an adequate food supply. Cotton Rats are usually 8.8–14.4” in length and weigh 3.5–8.0 oz. Their pelage (fur) is commonly mixed with blackish or dark brownish hairs while its underparts are pale to dark grayish with a dark tail. They are almost exclusively herbivores, but there is some evidence that they feed also on the eggs of ground-nesting birds and that it selects food items and combines them into a nutritious diet, however, it does not hoard food. Cotton rats are prolific and produce several litters of two to 15 young, a year. These interesting, yet often hard to identify, mammals are both diurnal and nocturnal and can actually swim. Sign up for one of our Nature Photography tours and have the opportunity to capture one of these interesting little rodents on film.
Photo by Jamie Rood, Staff Photographer. |
| July 11, 2010 ~ American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | |
| Tour: Alligator Adventure Guide: William Oakley Locations: Ocean Course, Osprey Point, The Preserve, Turtle Point Golf Course. Weather: low 80’s and slightly overcast with a gentle breeze. Highlight: While walking from the van to the pond bridge at Osprey Point, we were greeted by an adult alligator measuring close to 7 ½ to 8 feet and laying comfortably in the shade of myrtle trees along the bank of the pond by Osprey Point’s clubhouse. As we approached for a closer look of his/her tail length, the ‘gator shot quickly back into the water. A quick inspection of ponds in The Preserve yielded no sight of the local, giant male alligator known as “Bubba”, who, at an estimated 12 feet long, is probably one of Kiawah’s two biggest known alligators. The small pond on the southwest side of the Ocean Course clubhouse provided excellent viewing of juvenile and smaller adult alligators. Our group counted at least seven ‘gators in that one popular pond.As always, the long pond next to the Osprey Point clubhouse gave us excellent shots of adult and young alligators laying out on the bank and swimming under the bridge. Big and small, the gators love Osprey Point. |
| July 10, 2010 ~ Woodstork (Mycteria americana) | |
 If you’re lucky, and you’re looking up, you might just spot America’s only breeding stork while kayaking on the Kiawah River. The Wood Stork (Mycteria Americana) is a large, white, bald-headed wading bird of the southeastern swamps and marshes. Its extensive black flight feathers are a diagnostic characteristic while soaring overhead, and its head and neck are extended outward while flying unlike our egrets and herons. Small fish provide the primary diet of these large, endangered birds that use a technique called grope-feeding or tacto-location to snatch up prey with their partly open bill. If you fancy a chance at seeing a wood stork in action, check out our Kayaking Tours and Back Island Birding Tour.
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| July 8, 2010 ~ Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) | |
 I regularly hear people say that it never gets old seeing dolphins. Today in the water at Mingo Point, it was no different. From a distance of nearly 200 yards away, we spotted three large adult dolphins charging our way, swimming fast with the falling tide. My guests and I were on paddleboards. As they neared our small group, the three dolphins went under and out of sight almost 5 minutes before surfacing downstream only a few yards away. While they were under water, we followed air bubbles made as they zig-zagged all around us, obviously checking out the foreign objects we stood on. Paddleboarding through the salt marsh is an amazing experience! The boards were more stable and maneuverable than my guests expected. They were all standing up their first tries and we were off on our journey through the marsh at high tide. We couldn't have had a better day. Seeing the dolphins so close and witnessing their curious behavior definitely topped off the experience.Written by Naturalist and Paddleboard Instructor, Jennifer Barbour |
| July 7, 2010 ~ Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) | |
 The appearance of the gulf fritillary always signifies the beginning of high summer on Kiawah Island. I have seen a few variegated fritillaries around since spring but spotted my very first gulf fritillary of the season today. This butterfly is one of the first I learned to identify, easily recognized by its vibrant orange wings spangled with silver on the underside. It was freshly emerged from its chrysalis near a wild stand of its host plant, purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - which also happened to be magnificently in bloom. The gaudy combination seemed to have come straight from the rain forests of Costa Rica, but here it was in South Carolina. The gulf fritillary will soon become one of our most abundant and noticeable butterflies on Kiawah. It is a particular favorite on Butterfly Walks because its relatively slow flight and sheer abundance makes it easy to photograph and catch.Also present on my butterfly exploration were the red-spotted purple and the spicebush swallowtail - both mimics of the poisonous pipevine swallowtail. Two red admirals were very wary of my presence and flew off quickly. A gray hairstreak was more tolerant but kept to the shade, as did a satyr. My walk concluded with a tiger swallowtail, flying through the woods quite regally and directly, as if it some great event to get to in a hurry. Tiger Swallowtails had a very poor year last year but thankfully more have popped up this year. |
| July 6, 2010 ~ Ocean Encounters Trip Log | |
| Guide: Sarah Ernst Tide: Low Beachcombing Highlights: Whelk egg cases with unhatched babies inside, horseshoe crab exoskeleton, live hermit crabs, ark and cockle shells, decorator worms, shed shrimp shell, both live and dead whelks, lots of sand dollars... Fish: Large schools of Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and smaller schools of vertically-striped killifish in the tidal pools. Florida Pompano was the only fish we caught in the surf. Birds: Willet, Least Terns, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans |
| July 5, 2010 ~ Megalodon Tooth | |
 12 year old Meme Marshall from Birmingham Alabama found this amazing tooth on the beach near the Ocean Course. Thanks for sharing Meme! |
| July 3, 2010 ~ Flutter Report | |
 While just two butterflies put in an appearance during our Butterflies Walk today - both Duskywings - Nature more than made up for it with a huge number of dragonflies. There were dozens of bright orange skimmers, either Golden-Winged or Needham's Skimmers. Both of these dragonflies have richly colored red-orange males and more demure yellow females/immature males, and both can be found on Kiawah. The only way to tell the difference between the species is to catch one and examine the color change along the humeral suture of the thorax. This is a bit advanced for a butterflies walk, especially one in which the guide has left her dragonfly guidebook at home, so although we did catch three of these handsome dragonflies, we had to leave it at "That Bright Red-Orange One". There were also a few Eastern Amberwings, Four-spotted Pennants, Blue Dashers, Eastern Pondhawks, and several unidentified fly-bys. The Blue Dasher, a young male that had mostly completed the color change from immature brown to the bright blue of adulthood, was a big hit as he was brightly colored yet small enough to be not so intimidating, so all the younger guests (from 3 to 7) were eager to hold him.Report by Naturalist Sarah Ernst |
| July 2, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Very nice considering our recent heat wave! Mid 70s to low 80s, and windy Locations: Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, Willet Pond Notes: A male painted bunting really showed off for us today at Marsh Island Park. Usually a male will sing for a while and then flit off (usually just after I get the spotting scope set up on him!). But today the male actually remained in place for us to get nice long looks and appreciate his song. Other birds of note were a pair of pileated woodpeckers in the Osprey Point parking lot. While sometimes you have to do a lot of trekking to find a bird you're looking for, it's nice to be surprised by an awesome bird before you even start walking! We finished up the morning by watching an immature wood stork quite close to us at Willet Pond. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Killdeer, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Fish Crow, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle |
| July 1, 2010 ~ Waterspout | |
| While not technically wildlife, a waterspout is wild enough for me! We saw one today while heading back from our Learning through Loggerheads expedition. While out there we saw lots of dolphins, a pair of mating horseshoe crabs, and an undiscovered crawl that our certified turtle patrol member dug up for us so we could see the eggs! As we walked back to the boat, the rain began. A cold front moving in brought lots of rain and dynamic atmospheric conditions. Thanks to those cooperative dolphins and the cheery younger guests who were having a great time getting soaked in the bow of the boat, we managed to enjoy ourselves anyway. I was delighted when the boat's captain, Mike, pointed out the waterspout forming off in the distance behind us. A waterspout is basically a tornado over the water, though most of the waterspouts in South Carolina are far slower moving and far less destructive. Unless you're in tropical storm or hurricane conditions, most waterspouts are pretty innocuous and fascinating to watch. Ours lasted only a few minutes before disappearing amidst the general rain and clouds. |
| June 30, 2010 ~ Sand Wasp (Stictia carolina) | |
 On a recent Learning through Loggerheads trip to Botany Island, we got a chance to see a sand wasp burrowing into the hot beach sand right at our feet. Although we were just a couple of feet away (18 people total) , this little girl didn't seem to mind that we were right there and was simply intent on finishing the task. These little creatures are solitary hunting wasps that nest in colonies in loose sand in the sunny position. Sand wasps are not aggressive and will not attempt to sting if approached. Although the adults feed on nectar, they will hunt for flies and other insects to feed their offspring. Once prey is captured, the adult will then take the paralyzed insect and place it in the burrow with their unhatched larvae and cover the hole. As soon as the larvae hatch, dinner is fresh and ready to go. Although we were on this beautiful island to learn more about loggerhead sea turtles and take in the incredible scenery, this seemingly unremarkable event captured all of our imaginations. |
| June 28, 2010 ~ Leafcutting Bee | |
| On one of my Butterfly Walks, a young guest noticed a strange site: a bee carrying a perfectly round leaf. The two of us had seen leafcutter ants on TV, but we were both stumped about why a bee would want to carry a leaf around when they are stricktly nectar and pollen eaters. Later on I looked it up: our bee was in the family Megachilidae, the Leafcutting Bees. They cut neat little circles out of leaves and use the leaf piece to make their nest. Unlike honeybees, leafcutting bees are mostly solitary. They will construct several nests and feed the larva pollen; the young will metamorphize into an adult in fall but remain in the nest until spring. While bees tend to prompt fear due to their powerful stings, the leafcutting bee does not defend its nest and will only sting when handled. We got fairly close while observing it and the bee completely ignored us. While gardeners may be annoyed by the large round chunks they take out the leaves of decorative plants, even a large number of leafcutter bees could not do serious damage to a plant. Their benefit definitely outweighs what little damage they do: leafcutter bees are among the most highly-ranked pollinators for a variety of plants, including garden flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Because they are both adaptable and common, there's little you need to do to attract them to your garden other than curb your use of insecticides. Reported by Naturalist Sarah Ernst. |
| June 27, 2010 ~ Dragonflies | |
 It's too bad dragonflies don't have much brainpower, because it must be an amazing experience to go from being a zippy little creature of the water to one of the most masterful creatures of the air. When we go to Turtle Pond on our Gator Walks or Jr Naturalist Herpetology tours, we often observe female dragonflies dipping their the tip of their abdomens in the water. With each dip, she squirts an egg into the water with her ovipositor (literally, "egg-placer" in Latin). Though they face many predators from green herons to baby alligators, the nymphs that hatch are common in most healthy freshwater ecosystems. You can imagine a wide variety of science fiction monsters inspired by dragonfly nymphs: these chunky, big-eyed critters get around by jet propulsion and catch their prey - insects as well as small vertebrates like minnows - with their hinged, spikey lower lip. Though the adult dragonfly is far more noticeable to us than the nymphs lurking in pond waters, this group of insects spends the vast majority of its life as a nymph. But the adult form is required for reproduction, so the nymph finds a dry spot out of the water, like the bridge at Turtle Pond, to metamorphize into an adult. After about a week of dramatic changes, the adult climbs out of a hole in back of the exoskeleton, leaving the shell behind. They again face a large assortment of predators from Eastern Kingbirds to bigger dragonflies, but a successful dragonfly may live all season long. The most commonly encountered dragonflies on Kiawah around this time of year are the Eastern Pondhawk, Blue Dasher, Four-spotted Pennant, Needham's Skimmer, Carolina Saddlebags, and Eastern Amberwing, but a variety of other dragonfly species may be seen by the curious dragonfly hunter. |
| June 25, 2010 ~ Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) | |
 Photo by Jamie Rood. |
| June 24, 2010 ~ Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) | |
 Newly hatched chicks of the Common Moorhen have spurs on their wings that help them climb into the nest or grab emergent vegetation. (Source: Cornell Ornithology). Photo taken at the Enclave at Turtle Point by staff photographer, Jamie Rood. |
| June 23, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | |
 These sea turtle ribs were found over several years on the beach. While some people think that a turtle can shed its shell like a crab, a keen-eyed observer might notice that one doesn't see a whole lot of shell-less turtles running around! Despite what you might see in cartoons and films such as Over the Hedge, a turtle cannot come out of its shell any more than you can come out of your ribcage. The upper shell (carapace) of a sea turtle is formed by ribs that have formed plates and fused together; when a turtle dies, the pieces eventually fall apart and some land on Kiawah's shores. While a sea turtle rib is a special find, unfortunately they are a federally threatened species and it is illegal to possess any part of a sea turtle without a permit, even a piece of bone that has naturally washed up on the beach. Keeping one could result in a hefty fine. So if you do find one, make sure to take plenty of photographs so you can stump your know-it-all friends, but better leave it behind on the beach or donate it to an education program that holds the proper permits. To learn more about sea turtles, and meet some of pond turtles in person, join us for an All About Turtles program - with record heat we have been experiencing this week, it's nice to know that it is held in the air conditioned comfort of our nature classroom. Written by Naturalist, Sarah Ernst |
| June 21, 2010 ~ Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) | |
 A patron just recently discovered a bat on one of the paths here in Kiawah. Naturalists have identified the bat as the Little Brown Bat based on its size and rounded tragus. The bat was observed for 12 hours to determine if it could survive, and then released near a freshwater source in the West Beach area. There are fourteen documented species of bats in the state of South Carolina with twelve of those being found in the Lower Coastal Plains. Six of the fourteen species are found statewide while the remaining eight are restricted to regions. The Coastal Plain contains much swamp and bottomland areas with large trees that probably provide abundant and diverse roosts such as Spanish moss.Bats, worldwide, make up 20% of all species of mammals. Most species inhabit the tropical and subtropical areas of the world but bats are found on all continents except Antarctica where, to date, no bat fossils have been found. Bats are the only mammal that can truly 'fly'. Bats are not blind; they actually have quite good eyesight but rely on their system of echolocation to get around. Bats make noises at frequencies too high for human hearing and, by listening to the echoes, can create a sound picture of their environment. Bats in North America are virtually all insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flying insects. Bats benefit humans because many of the insects are harmful or annoying to humans, as we are well aware of here in the lowcountry. Currently, bat populations are facing the greatest threat to bats ever seen which is the white nose syndrome. White nose syndrome (WNS) is a poorly understood malady associated with the deaths of more than a million bats. The condition, named for a distinctive ring of fungal growth around the muzzles and on the wings of many affected animals, was first identified in a cave in New York in 2006. The mortality rate in some of the caves has exceeded 90 percent. Bats with this malady have been found in caves throughout 9 New England states as well as Canada. The long-term impact of this reduction in bat populations may be an increase in insects, possibly even leading to crop damage or other economic impact. Bats ability to fly, their secretiveness, and their nocturnal habits have contributed to bat folklore, superstition, and fear. You can dispel any of these fears you may have by coming in to the nature center to discuss Bat Biology with one of the Naturalists or go on a nocturnal adventure such as the Night Beach Walk or the Night Exploration. Written by Naturalist, Marcie Palm |
| June 20, 2010 ~ Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi) | |
 The Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi) is part of the spiny puffer family, named for the short fixed spines that cover its entire box shaped body. In addition to their large heads and bulging eyes, these strange (but cute!) looking fish have the ability to inflate themselves with water (or air) when threatened by larger predators. Burrfish have strong beak-like jaws to eat small fish, barnacles, clams and snails. They can live in shallow saltwater creeks, lagoons and coastal reefs ranging from Maine to Florida, but are found in greatest number in the Carolinas and southward. This Burrfish was caught using a cast net on one of our Pluff Mud Paddle trips! Sign up today to see what other neat fish live in our salt marsh!Written by Naturalist, Laura Willhoff |
| June 18, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Hot and sunny Locations: Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, Willet Pond Notes: At Marsh Island Park we stumbled into a family of painted buntings - one male and several green female/juvenile birds. I am used to hearing the pretty song of the male but it was a treat to hear the gentle trill note they made to stay in contact with one another. Osprey Point was hopping with green herons, both adult and young, and we also saw an orchard oriole dive-bombing a pair of red-tailed hawks perched next to one another in a pine tree. There were two osprey chicks in the cell phone tower nest with one parent shading them from the sun and looking quite fierce and protective. Willet Pond was slow at first, with lots of grackles and red-winged blackbirds but little else. Quite a few baby and adult moorhens were hopping around, though, and just as I was giving up on more exciting birds, a black-necked stilt came from the middle of the pond, buzzed around our heads giving its kee-kee-kee call, and then returned to the same spot in the marsh. I hope that means there's a nest back there! Finally, a pair of killdeer demonstrated their broken-wing display, attempting to lure us away from their nest in hopes of snagging a meal. Works for bobcats, not so well for us bird addicts, but even though we peered in the sand for the eggs or babies, their camouflage hid them from view. Other neat birds - an adult and an immature night heron, a nighthawk, purple martins, and a family of crows - we could differentiate the hatchlings from the adults by the colorful corners of their bills. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Laughing Gull, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Orchard Oriole Orchard Oriole photo by Staff Photographer, Jamie Rood. |
| June 18, 2010 ~ Eastern Screech-owl (Megascops asio) | |
 The Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, was first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. Though asio is Latin for “Horned Owl,” and at first it may be confused as a juvenile of the sort, it is truly a unique species with a long American natural history. Fossil evidence, found in Kansas, places the modern form of this species well into the Late Pliocene, some 3 million years ago! Screech Owls are monogamous, and often live in old woodpecker cavities or hollowed trees. In flight, they have quick rapid wing strokes, ideal for darting through the forest. Unlike their bigger cousins, they don’t “hoot.” As their name suggest, they emit a high pitched screeching noise, which may be heard at times of increased activity at night.Historically, much of South Carolina’s coastal plain frequently burned with wildfires and Native American activity. These forest fires created vast grasslands across much of the area, ideal habitat for Screech Owls and many other long forgotten species. Screech Owls, like many other predatory animals, hovered and perched on the edge of these grasslands waiting for suitable prey to meander across. Though much of these grasslands have been left to become forest, man has unknowingly created some very similar environmental substitutes. Things like power line cuts and grazing land provide the forest edges these birds are so fond of. Roads, cut through forest, also mimic these birds’ historical preferred hunting grounds. It’s not uncommon to spot a Screech Owl when driving through rural, less traveled roads at night. Collisions with these birds are common and in all likelihood their biggest obstacle in the wild. Recently, we here at the nature center were lucky enough to be able to save one of these majestic creatures. A thoughtful patron came upon a Screech Owl suffering from injuries, from what appeared to be a collision. The lucky owl is now recovering at The Avian Conservation Center (The Center for Birds of Prey) in Awendaw, SC just north of Mt. Pleasant. |
| June 17, 2010 ~ Gastropods | |
 Recently, during our ocean-related tours, Naturalists have been finding many marine gastropods, which is basically a fancy name for snails. Gastropods live in every conceivable habitat on Earth. Gastropods are part of the larger group of animals known as Mollusca which is one of the most diverse on the planet. They are extremely varied in habits, size, body and shell shape, and occupy the widest range of ecological niches of all molluscs, being the only group to have invaded the The most interesting thing, I think, about a gastropod is their vast range of feeding behaviors. Most species make use of a radula, which is a rasping tongue-like organ in some aspect of their feeding behavior. They include grazers, browsers, suspension feeders, scavengers, and carnivores. Some actually engage in hunting their prey. Some gastropod carnivores even drill holes in their shelled prey, which is why some of you may find shells on the beach with tiny holes drilled in them. Some exciting gastropods which you may find with or without the animal still alive in them include: Knobbed Whelk, Lightning Whelk, Channeled Whelk, Moon Snail, Banded Tulip, Oyster Drill, Marsh Periwinkles, Baby’s Ear, and Lettered Olives. Keep your eyes open because even if the actual animal is no longer living in the shell it may be inhabited by our friend the Hermit Crab. If you are interested in finding out more about these animals then sign up for one of our related classes such as Ocean Seining, Ocean Encounters, Pluff Mud Paddle or Jr. Naturalist Marsh Ecology. Written by Naturalist, Marcie Palm |
| June 16, 2010 ~ Triggerfish | |
 Baby triggerfish the size of a thumbnail have recently been appearing in the seine nets of our Pluff Mud Paddle trips. When older, this funny-looking species can be found out hanging out around the artificial reefs and wrecks off the South Carolina coast. The lips, looking as if they were puckered up for a good kiss, hide strong teeth than can crush barnacles and other hard-shelled marine invertebrates. Of course, the juvenile fish in our nets aren't up for anything more than a gentle nibble upon small invertebrates and zooplankton. Seeing a baby triggerfish here in the marsh is an excellent reminder of the saltmarsh's role as nursery for all sorts of juvenile reef and offshore fish species. The saltmarsh is a nutrient-rich, protected area that eventually gives professional fishermen a livelihood and recreational anglers a great day among the tidal creeks, in the surf, out at the reefs, or far offshore. |
| June 15, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | |
 There are now 84 Sea Turtle nests on Kiawah's Beach...reported by "Welcome to Kiawah" |
| June 14, 2010 ~ Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | |
| One of our Night Heron Park Bluebird Boxes contains at least 4 Eastern Bluebird nestlings that are on the brink of fledging. Fledging is a term commonly used to describe the time at which nestlings that are reared in the nest leave the nest, even though their flight skills may not be well developed. After leaving the nest, these young bluebirds will still rely on momma and papa to feed them for up to five weeks, and then they're on their own. |
| June 13, 2010 ~ American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | |
 Many of you have heard from a Naturalist or maybe you just know that alligators are usually found in fresh or brackish water and in slow-moving rivers or ponds. They are also found in swamps, marshes, and lakes. They can tolerate salt water for only brief periods because they do not have working salt glands as opposed to their close relative the crocodile. So, why, you might be wondering would an alligator venture to the beach or swim in the ocean? (1) Alligators could be searching for that special someone for their mating dance. (2) Females may be looking for a safe place to nest and lay her eggs. (3) They could be looking for some type of food or nutrient that has been missing in their diet. (4) They are just a little disoriented and got confused…hey, it happens to everyone! (5) Some biologists speculate that they are heading to the beaches in search of sea turtle eggs. If you have any other idea as to why an alligator would head to the beach then come over to the Nature Center to discuss this with one of our Naturalists or if you just want some more info on our friend the gator then sign up for one of our Alligator themed classes. Written by Naturalist, Marcie Palm |
| June 11, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Hot but luckily not too humid yet! Locations: Turtle Pond, Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, Willet Pond Notes: The heat kept bird activity down but that was a boon for us, as several birds were quiet enough to let us get close looks. We got nice painted bunting looks, and saw lots of baby moorhens. The baby red-bellied woodpecker at Turtle Pond looks almost ready to fly. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Killdeer, Laughing Gull, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch |
| June 8, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: William Oakley Locations: Night Heron Park, Ocean Course, Willet Pond, Osprey Point, The Preserve, Marsh Island Park, Bass Pond marsh side. Weather: Mostly sunny, in the low to mid-80’s; little to no wind. Time: 8:30am-11:10am Notes: Two Clapper Rails foraged on the marsh edge in plain view across the street from Willet Pond. Rarely do we see these secretive marsh birds whose clattering voice is easily heard broadcasting over marshes throughout the early morning and day. The Osprey nest by Willet Pond also appeared to be active this morning, with mom and dad coming and going quite frequently. Willet Pond lacked the intense feeding activity and bird numbers we’ve seen over the past few days. We heard two different Painted Buntings at Marsh Island and also in the Preserve. Overall, I heard five buntings today. The Least Terns are still lingering around the Ocean Course nesting site, and fortunately it looks like some of them are nesting there. So remember: No dogs on the beach past the Ocean Course Clubhouse. Species: Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Parula, (possible)Orchard Oriole, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Least Tern, Laughing Gull, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Black-necked Stilt, Common Moorhen, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Clapper Rail, Least Bittern, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, American Crow, Blue Jay. |
| June 7, 2010 ~ West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) | |
| Naturalist Tim Pifer just texted from the Kiawah River…”Manatee at the inlet headed in, 15 feet from our group” Check it out...http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jun/11/poking-around/ |
| June 7, 2010 ~ Fish Kill | |
 Willet Pond, located on the eastern end of the island, has recently experienced a fish kill. Kiawah's Lakes Management Director, Norm Shea, says the kill is a result of a dissolved oxygen depletion. Some ponds have aeration devices installed to keep this from happening, however, weather conditions cannot be ignored in contributing to the problem. The good news is that thousands of birds are taking advantage of an easy meal. It just may be the perfect time to call the Nature Center and ask about the birding tours offered! |
| June 6, 2010 ~ Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) | |
 A Banded Water Snake mother and newborn have been spotted in the pond behind the Heron Park Nature Center. Banded Water Snakes are one of five non-venomous semi-aquatic species of water snakes that live in South Carolina. Water Snakes are found in the southern states from North Carolina to Texas. Banded water snakes are commonly seen in the vicinity of aquatic habitats and are active both day and night. They may be seen basking on logs or branches overhanging the water or foraging in shallow water for fish and amphibians, their principal prey. Banded Water Snakes are mid-sized - 24 to 48 inches and have a fairly heavy body. Coloration is variable, with snakes ranging from light brown or reddish to black with darker crossbands. Crossbands are larger on the middle of the back and narrower on the sides. Crossbands may be obscured as the snake darkens with age, and some individuals appear uniformly dark. In addition to crossbands, there are squarish spots at the sides of the belly and a dark stripe from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Banded Water Snakes are often mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) as they look quite similar but you may be able to tell the difference based on several characteristics; Basking behavior, Swimming Behavior, Head positioning, Tail Vibration, Pupils and Scale Pattern. The best way to distinguish the two would be to look at their pupils. A Cottonmouth would have an elliptical shape of the pupil while any Water Snake will be round. Contact one of the Naturalists at the Nature Center to discuss the other differences in depth if you come across one of these snakes. Written by Kiawah Naturalist Marcie Palm. |
| June 5, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | |
| As of today, Kiawah has 55 Loggerhead Sea Turtle nests. On June 5th 2009, we had 30. |
| June 2, 2010 ~ Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) | |
 Juvenile Black Vultures have been spotted over in the Rhett’s Bluff area of Kiawah Island. Also known as Charleston Eagles, Black Vultures share the skies (and carrion) with Turkey Vultures here on Kiawah Island and in much of the southeastern United States. Rather than construct a nest, Black Vultures will sometimes lay eggs on the ground under a bush. Nesting sites include thickets, hollow logs or trees, and even abandoned buildings. The female will lay 2 eggs (rarely 3), and both sexes will share in incubating the eggs for 37-41 days. After hatching, the fledglings will be ready to leave the nest in 14 weeks.Written by Naturalist William Oakley. Photo of the proud parents by Jamie Rood. Stay tuned for more WAWSI write-ups on these fascinating birds. |
| May 31, 2010 ~ Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) | |
 Mating dolphin observed on Captain John Ward's Dolphin Encounters. |
| May 30, 2010 ~ Black Skimmer | |
 Our Town Biologists report several black skimmers have been observed on the east end of Kiawah's beach in the bird nesting area. Skimmers typically begin nesting in June, so we are hoping to have some nesting black skimmers soon. We will keep you updated. |
| May 29, 2010 ~ Sea Pork (Amaroucium stellatum) | |
 Contrary to what you might think when you find sea pork washed ashore, it’s not a brain or internal organ of a marine animal. It’s actually a tunicate. The cartilage like exoskeleton (tunic) is composed primarily of cellulose and houses a colony of individual animals called zooids. The zooid colony derives food from seawater pumped through its system by two external openings. When alive, reddish colored zooids are embedded in its pink (sometimes orange) tunic. After death, with zooids absent, the tunic bleaches to a grayish color, resembling salt pork or fatback, hence the common name. Sea pork is part of a class of species called Adscidiacea (“a leather bottle”). All species of ascidians concentrate heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, iron, etc.) in specialized blood cells. Studies have led scientists to believe these heavy metals may function as antibiotics for the tunicate. Sea pork is a subtidal species preyed upon by bottom-dwelling fish, skates, and sharks. Rachel Carson in her book, “Edge of the Sea”, also commented that sea pork has a luminescent glow in the dark. Who knew those pink and gray blobs washed ashore could be so interesting? |
| May 28, 2010 ~ Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | |
 If you've been on a nature walk anywhere in North America, chances are you've encountered a woodpecker somewhere in your travels or around your neighborhood. Some species like this red-bellied woodpecker have adapted very well to suburbia and even urban areas, as long as there are a few dead trees around for nesting. While we enjoy having woodpeckers at our feeders, and laugh at Woody Woodpecker, and get annoyed when they peck on our houses, few people realize that the humble woodpecker is adapted to some of the nature's most extreme conditions. When a woodpecker bangs its head a tough tree trunk, the G-force generated is about 10 G of acceleration and deceleration. In comparison, astronauts taking off in a space shuttle experience 3 G and most people will black out around 4-6 G. With about a dozen strikes per second, hundreds of times a day, it's pretty miraculous that a bird that maxes out at 3 ounces can survive such tremendous forces! The padding, shape, size, and location of the bird's brain all help cushion it from impact. Once a woodpecker penetrates through some wood to reach the tunnel of a grub, it will bring out another weapon: its long barbed tongue. The tongue of a red-bellied woodpecker extends 2 inches past the end of its beak; that's about three times the length of its bill. When the tongue goes back inside the head, it is so long that it must curve up through the throat, around the base of the jaw, behind and above the skull, and back through the birds' nostril or eye socket. Once the tongue worms its way through the tunnel of a grub, it will skewer the insect with its hard-tipped tongue. Backwards-pointing barbs hold it in place as the woodpecker pulls it out into the open and swallows it whole. The next time you watch a woodpecker in your yard efficiently de-grubbing a dead tree or rattling away on a resonant surface, consider yourself lucky to have a creature with awesome superpowers as your guest! |
| May 27, 2010 ~ American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | |
 Courting alligators at the Opsrey Point Golf Course.Photo by Staff Photographer Jamie Rood |
| May 26, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Started out gray but got sunnier and sunnier as we went; mild for May Locations: Killdeer Pond, Willet Pond, The Ocean Course driving range/beach/clubhouse Notes: Great summer birding today with a wide variety of species, and some excellent long looks at shorebirds! I found several new birds for our guests' life lists, which is always fun. We also found a mud turtle at the Ocean Course, a bobcat crossing the road near Willet Pond, and some dolphins feeding and jumping in the Kiawah River. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Wood Stork, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Clapper Rail, Common Moorhen, Wilson's Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Mourning Dove, Common Ground Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Pine Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Orchard Oriole, House Finch |
| May 25, 2010 ~ Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) | |
 Here’s a common find for the Kiawah beachcomber with a somewhat misleading name. Horseshoe crabs belong to an ancient group of arthropods (chelicerates) that are more closely related to spiders and ticks than they are to crabs. Former scientific names like Limulus cyclops refer to the belief that they had a single eye when in fact they have nine eyes (2 compound eyes and 5 simple eyes on the outer shell, and 2 simple eyes on the underside in front of the mouth). Light-sensing organs also run the length of the spiny tail. Spending the winter months on the continental shelf, horseshoe crabs have emerged along our shoreline to spawn. Males will hold on to the larger females, ready to fertilize up to 80,000 deposited by females in the intertidal region of the beach. Fish, seashore mammals, and many bird species (red knots especially) feast upon these eggs. Many of the specimens you find on the beach are molted shells. Their hard armor that keeps them relatively safe from predators must be shed in order for them to grow. Before reaching maturity around 9 years old, a horseshoe crab may molt 17 times! Unless a loggerhead sea turtle makes lunch out of them, it’s estimated that their lifespan is 20-40 years. There is so much more to know about this ancient creature. Join a Naturalist leading an ocean-related tour and ask about their unique blood and how it’s used in the medical field today. |
| May 23, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Will Oakley Locations: Ocean Course, Osprey Point Golf Course, The Preserve Weather: Sunny, little to no wind. Low to mid 80’s. Highlight(s): The most remarkable find today was a nest of four fuzzy Green Heron nestlings in a pond-side cedar tree by the Osprey Point Clubhouse. This was definitely something we don’t see on every trip. The nestlings’ parents were flying around as if to distract our attention and lead us away from the nest. Only twice did all four nestlings pop up to survey the area, but it was enough for us. What a treat! Earlier at the Ocean Course, a Glossy Ibis flew overhead while we searched for a singing Painted Bunting. Species List: Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Glossy Ibis, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, Fish Crow, American Crow, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Northern Cardinal, Laughing Gull, Semipalmated Plover, Willet, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Eastern Kingbird, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House Finch, Mourning Dove, European Starling. |
| May 22, 2010 ~ Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) | |
 Naturalist Field Report: While on a Marsh Kayaking trip, one of the guests spotted a small slithery creature in the soft sand at Captain Sam's Spit. Definitely a surpise, because two minutes earlier I was explaining how snakes hardly ever visit our saltmarsh ecosystem! I jumped out of my kayak to investigate and discovered a very disgruntled Eastern Glass Lizard, our local legless lizard species. The poor thing was so soaked that water oozed out of its ears when I picked it up! My guess is it had fallen out of the eroded high dunes and had not been able to get back up again. When the tide reached its peak, the lizard's refuge was flooded. The lizard was clearly exhausted and didn't put up much of a fight when I caught it, which was quite a relief - the glass lizard gets its name from its tendancy to break the tail off when handled, even with gentleness. After pointing out the features that seperates this legless lizard from snakes - eyelids, ear holes, and a less flexible body - I returned it to the dunes where it slowly slithered off, hopefully to recover from its traumatic aquatic experience and eventually make more glass lizards for us to discover!This is a photograph of our Nature Center glass lizard. |
| May 21, 2010 ~ Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) | |
 Whether they are in their elegant winter plumage or dapper summer plumage, laughing gulls are the snappiest dressers of the beach. The two gulls pictured here are both in summer plumage; in fall, the black hood will be reduced to a gray smudge behind the eye and the red bill will darken to jet black. That combination of a gray back and white belly is a classic example of countershading, a color pattern that helps camouflage the animal. In a forest, a squirrel's brown-gray coat disguises it well among tree trunks. But in an ocean environment, there is not much to hide behind, so many species use the ocean itself. For a laughing gull predator hunting from above, the gray back blends in with the water. For a predator hunting from below, the white belly helps it blend in with the sky. Animals as diverse as deer, caterpillars, sharks, and penguins all share this strategy.Of course, nothing in nature is ever as simple as we'd like it to be, and laughing gulls take three years to reach that crisp grey, black, and white plumage of adulthood. In the meantime, they can be seen in various combinations of gray and brown. The variety of immature plumages is mind-numbing, and laughing gulls are considered one of the easier immature gulls to identify! Tackling a crowd of immature gulls on the beach or, even better, at a landfill, is one of the pinnacle of birding challenges. For a gallery of laughing gull plumages, visit:10000birds.com/laughing-gulls-in-winter.htm. |
| May 20, 2010 ~ Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | |
 This wonderful sighting of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was provided by Kiawah residents, Dave and Sally Elliot. A rare sighting for Kiawah, possibly a late migrant. |
| May 19, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Sunny, calm, upper 70s - low 80s Locations: Killdeer Pond, Willet Pond, The Ocean Course driving range/beach/clubhouse Notes: Highlights of today included all four nesting species in the Ocean Course nesting area (plovers, least terns, oystercatchers, and skimmers), as well as two dunlin in breeding plumage. Definitely caught me off gaurd, I'm used to seeing them in winter plumage and I had to remember my own lesson of paying more attention to bill shape than color pattern when identifying birds! Painted buntings were singing all over the place today. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Common Ground Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Northern Parula, Pine Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Orchard Oriole, House Finch |
| May 19, 2010 ~ Comb Jelly (Ctenophora) | |
 Chances are if you’ve been Ocean Seining with a Naturalist, you’ve caught several of these comb jellies in your net. Usually, their appearance is more kin to a clear snotty blob. However, when captured by hand and held gently just beneath the water’s surface, you’re able to see the true shape and colorful beauty of this marine jelly. Its name comes from the tiny cilia used for swimming that line the body and has the appearance of a comb. On a good day, these predators of the ocean will eat up to ten times their body weight! With only a nerve net and no brain, comb jellies rely on water flow throughout their body cavity for digestion and respiration. |
| May 18, 2010 ~ Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) | |
| There’s nothing like waking up and catching a venomous snake to start your week. On Monday morning, Naturalist William Oakley retrieved a Cottonmouth Snake from a property owner’s yard here on Kiawah Island. Upon arrival, William noticed the snake could care less about all the attention he (or she) was receiving, and it did not attempt to bite or slither away while being handled. In his 26 years of visiting and living on Kiawah Island, William is excited to say this was his first venomous snake encounter here. Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorous), also known as Water Moccasins, are semi-aquatic, venomous snakes with a reputation for being aggressive, but research has shown that its supposed belligerent nature couldn’t be farther from the truth, and many attacks/bites are provoked. The Cottonmouth caught on Monday has been relocated on the island close to a pond but far from any homes. If you wish to learn more about snakes, or see a live, captive cottonmouth in person, check out our Nature Center in Night Heron Park. |
| May 17, 2010 ~ Yellow Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata) | |
 Ahh… I remember the days when I would cringe just looking at this photo! Why do snakes strike so much fear in people? They are incredible animals to have in our environment! They are known as farmer’s friends since their primary diet consists of rodents – rodents who would otherwise enjoy snacking on an entire field of corn and multiply at an alarming rate were it not for the presence of snakes. This Yellow Rat Snake is the most common large snake seen on Kiawah. It is not venomous and feeds on mice, rats, squirrels, birds, and bird eggs. Rat snakes are constrictors, and adept climbers that can scale brick walls and tree trunks with ease. When frightened, they often assume a ‘kinked’ posture and remain motionless. To learn more about snakes of the southeast, visit the Heron Park Nature Center. View the snakes we have in the center, or join one of our reptile classes to have your questions answered by a Naturalist. Also ask about the next snake feeding and watch how they consume their food! |
| May 16, 2010 ~ Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinuss) | |
| Say the words "gray hairstreak", and a small fluttery insect may not be the first image that comes to mind. But gray hairstreaks, a common butterfly most years, have been particularly abundant this spring. These small creatures are easy to overlook but quite beautiful when seen up close, with shimmering silvery scales and vibrant orange spots. Their antennae are delicately striped with black and white, and their large black eyes set against a white face give them a cute appearance. Trailing filaments on the hind wings give an illusion of antennae to predators. A passing Eastern Kingbird may grab the wrong end, allowing the butterfly to fly off with its remaining wings. If you start to become an experienced hairstreak admirer, keep your eyes open for the less common species found on Kiawah: Juniper, Banded, Oak, and White-M Hairstreaks. An excellent butterfly identification book to bring in the field is Butterflies through Binoculars by Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg. He has authored several different guides to the east coast, west coast, and Florida. Check out our May 16th facebook post (Kiawah Island Nature Program) to see what a gray hairstreak looks like. |
| May 15, 2010 ~ Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) | |
 Naturalists with the Nature Program have been working alongside Dr. Mike Dorcas and his team of researchers while they’re here for a week of terrapin sampling. Today, golfers playing Cassique at a low tide may have spotted a team of hard-working, mud-covered, seine-pulling folks. We caught 24 turtles along Fiddler Creek, running alongside this golf course. This was a huge success! The longest on-going study of this beautiful creature has been done in our very own Kiawah River for nearly 30 years. With the increase in recreational and commercial crabbing, as well as a decrease in nesting habitat, research is showing an alarming decrease in the number of terrapins since the study first started. Come to the Nature Center to view our diamondback terrapins or join a Naturalist on any one of our paddling tours to learn more about this amazing species that calls Kiawah home. |
| May 15, 2010 ~ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | |
| Turtle season has begun on Kiawah! The first sea turtle nest was laid this morning! |
| May 13, 2010 ~ Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | |
 The Northern Cardinal has adapted well to human impact and is commonly found in suburban settings across much of the mid and eastern United States. In addition to being seen in towns and neighborhoods, they prefer brushy habitat at the edges of woods. Year-round, they are seen in pairs or small groups. A pair will mate for life, both tending to the construction of a nest and the care of their young. Their adaptable bill allows them to feed on seeds, fruit, and insect larvae. Jamie captured this photo of a female cardinal on her eggs just in time. The following day, no eggs were seen in the nest. A possible culprit could be the adept tree-climbing yellow rat snake.Photo by Jamie Rood. |
| May 12, 2010 ~ Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) | |
 If you spend enough time on the Kiawah marsh or beach, you're bound to see a least tern, a species that is threatened in the state of South Carolina. Terns are related to gulls and are in the same family (Laridae), but unlike the opportunistic, scavenging laughing gulls common on our beaches in summer, most terns are strictly fish-eaters. The least tern is the smallest tern species in the world! Least terns are beach-nesters, a habitat it shares with Wilson's plovers, American oystercatchers, and black skimmers. All four can be found nesting in the protected shorebird area next to the Ocean Course Clubhhouse. We humans also like using the same habitat for recreation, so the majority of beach-nesting birds are in decline. Kiawah is home to one of only three remaining least tern beach nesting sites in the entire state. While we encourage observation of this special area with binoculars, please keep out of the nesting area to avoid distressing birds or accidentally stepping on their well-camouflaged eggs and chicks. The leash-free dog area is adjacent to the nesting site, so if you bring your dog, please make sure to restrain it around shorebirds. Photo by Kiawah resident Paula Feldman. |
| May 11, 2010 ~ Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) | |
 The loud, repetitive call you might hear outside your house or villa at night is the Chuck-Wills-Widow. They are a summer resident here on Kiawah and tend to call more frequently on moonlit nights, less frequently on darker nights around the new moon. We sometimes see the chuck-wills-widow on our Kiawah Night Exploration tour. They are squat brown birds that occasionally sit on fenceposts, along roadsides, or in trees. Their eyes will glow red in the reflection of the car's headlights. Our other breeding nightjar is the nighthawk, which I hear at sunset at the eastern and western ends of the island; their PEEENT! call is pretty easy to recognize once you've heard it a few times. Whip-poor-wills migrate through Kiawah in spring and fall but don't sing at all so they are one of the most challenging birds to add to your Kiawah list. |
| May 8, 2010 ~ White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | |
 On-lookers on a Dolphin Encounters tour with Captain Mike had the unique opportunity to witness a deer crossing the Kiawah River. It appeared to be an adult doe making her way from Kiawah Island out to one of the hammocks on the western end of the island. This time of year, females may choose to make such a trek to have their fawns on the isolated islands. Fewer predators and no human traffic give their offspring a higher potential for survival. It is estimated that nearly 50% of the fawns born each year are taken down by bobcats. Photo by Captain Mike Waller |
| May 7, 2010 ~ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | |
 The Kiawah Island Community Association's Lakes Deaprtment has surveyed the osprey nests of Kiawah and it has been a record-breaking year for osprey, at least since we started keeping records. In 2009 there were 10 nests in use but only 9 used for raising young. This year there have been 18 nest sites recorded, with seven new nest locations. The biologists of the Lakes Department aren't sure whether these are completely new nest sites, or whether they had simply gone undiscovered last year.Click here to see the nest sites of 2010 (Download.pdf). If you find any nests not on this map, give the nature center a call so we can update the map! |
| May 6, 2010 ~ Broad-headed Skink (Eumeces laticeps) | |
 Scincidae is a family of lizards with smooth shiny scales. They are alert and active lizards that are difficult to catch and hold. This male pictured is called a Broadhead Skink. Notice the wide head and powerful jaw muscles. During the spring months, the head of a male turns a bright orange-red color to attract females. Spectacular fights over territory occur with males grabbing hold of one another with their strong jaws, flinging each other short distances. Like all lizards, if they loose their tail, or a part of it, they are able to regenerate it. Look for them along the leaf litter on the ground or scurrying up the palmetto trees. |
| May 4, 2010 ~ Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) | |
| Out of the 5 Eastern Bluebird eggs that were laid in Night Heron Park's Nest Box #6, a total of 5 have successfully fledged. Great news for momma and poppa bluebird and for all of us concerned with the Bluebird populations. |
| May 3, 2010 ~ Reptile Hatchlings | |
| Silver-dollar sized turtle hatchlings and pint-sized baby snakes are popping out all over Kiawah. The baby yellow-bellied sliders that we see near ponds these days have actually hatched last fall, but remained in the warm security of their nest until spring. The baby snakes also hatched in fall, but they came straight out of the nest to do a bit of growing before a period of winter dormancy. Neither reptile requires parental care, so if you see a baby turtle on its own, their is no need to think of it as an "orphan" and bring it to the nature center. It is born with excellent instincts, capable of feeding itself and escaping predators. And if you don't care for hosting snakes of any age in your yard, we have some good news! There is no need to kill or remove a baby snake. Snakes are roamers and if you leave it alone, it will depart on its own. |
| May 1, 2010 ~ Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) | |
 During the summer of 2009, “Mingo” (above) a Green Sea Turtle was found by our Naturalists in the Kiawah River off Mingo Point. Very weak and malnourished, he was taken to the South Carolina Sea Turtle Hospital for medical attention. A wonderful success story, this photo shows Mingo’s recent return to his home in the ocean. Each year Kiawah Island gets a handful of Green Turtles, like Mingo that lay nests on our beach. Kiawah’s predominant sea turtle is the Loggerhead. Each year from mid-May through mid-August female Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) come ashore and lay their eggs on our beaches. Adult and hatchling turtles make their way back to the ocean by using reflecting light from the moon or white water in the waves to guide them. Flashlights can spook the mother back into the water before she lays her eggs and house lights can attract the hatchlings up into the dunes where survival is unlikely. Please help protect these amazing animals by: 1) not shining flashlights on the beach during nesting season, 2) remember to keep your exterior lights off after 9pm, and 3) do not take flash photos of sea turtles. To learn more, join us on a Night Beach Walk, Turtle Talks or come by the Nature Center located at Night Heron Park. |
| April 30, 2010 ~ Souther Spider Crab (Libinia dubia) | |
 Imagine for a moment you’re walking on the beach here at Kiawah: the sun is sinking out of sight beyond Captain Sam’s Inlet and gentle waves fall listlessly against the smooth, cool sand. You, who are so captivated by the serenity and natural beauty of the island’s beachfront, stumble over a monstrous crab with legs spanning thirteen feet and attached to a 15 inch long body. Now, this scenario sounds a little far-fetched. And it mostly is. Although the Japanese Spider Crab I’m describing (which lives in deep waters around Japan) probably won’t interrupt your beach walk, you can find one of its smaller cousins, the Southern Spider Crab (Libinia dubia), living on the bottom of the Kiawah River or washed up on the beach. For a closer look at this peculiar animal come visit the Nature Center, or sign up for an Ocean Seining or Beach Walk trip to gain hands-on learning with the Southern Spider Crab and other marine animals living in the waters surrounding Kiawah Island.
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| April 29, 2010 ~ Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) | |
 Here birdy, birdy. Too bad it's not that easy to call these beautiful birds in to you; they’re common feeder birds but can be distinctly difficult for biologists to get their hands on during research projects. That's why Sarah Latshaw, Master of Environmental Studies Graduate Student and Kiawah Island Naturalists, is hanging feeders at the Nature Center and around the Kiawah Island. These feeders, filled with white millet seed, attract the buntings and allow Sarah and assisting biologists to catch them for research purposes. Once caught, measurements are taken on the health of the bird, and radio-transmitters are placed on their backs. These radio-transmitters allow Sarah to relocate the birds on a regular basis and, so she can identify the habitats characteristics they seem to prefer. Through the collection of this data, Sarah hopes to create management guidelines for those residents of Kiawah (and maybe the Southeast) who would like to revegetate their home sites to attract these declining beauties. |
| April 28, 2010 ~ Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) | |
 Common Buckeye...one of the first butterflies to appear in spring and the last to disappear in December...the shiny black patch tells you this is an older butterfly, maybe 1-3 weeks old...Photo by Jamie Rood. |
| April 27, 2010 ~ Sea Turtles | |
 Last summer Kiawah Island Naturalists rescued a green sea turtle in the Kiawah River. After many months at the Sea Turtle Hospital, “Mingo” is ready to go home. This Saturday, “Mingo” and 6 other sea turtles will be released back into the ocean. This will be the largest release in the program's history and will take us to over 50 sea turtles that have been rehabilitated and released by the South Carolina Aquarium. The release will take place on the first official day of nesting season in South Carolina, Saturday, May 1st and begin at 3:30pm at the Isle of Palms County Park. The IOP County Park opens at 10am. Space for parking is limited and parking fees apply. Carpooling is strongly advised and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get through heavy traffic.Photo of Tim Pifer, Kiawah Island Naturalist, rescuing “Mingo” from the Kiawah River, June 2009. |
| April 26, 2010 ~ Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | |
 Photo by Jamie Rood. |
| April 25, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
 Kiawah’s juvenile Bald Eagle observations by Kiawah Resident, Paula Feldman.…we kayaked out into the marsh with some guests in search of our fledgling. We did not hold out much hope of a sighting, because Sophia had seen the fledgling earlier in the day flying near the Kiawah River bridge. Indeed, we found the nest and the nest tree, as well as nearby trees, empty. But after we paddled under the bridge between Andell and Snake Islands, Sophia spotted our fledgling perched in a tree on the little island just beyond Snake Island. We were able to paddle out and get very close. The attached photo was taken from that vantage point. After about 10 minutes, our fledgling flew off, first circling the island, then heading over to Andell Island, soaring above it, high in the sky. It flew with astonishing ease and grace, as if it had been flying for a very long time. I have to admit that as soon as the fledgling took to the air, I was so filled with awe and delight that I put my camera down. Then our fledgling circled above the nest several times, as if working out the best way to make a smooth landing on a big branch to the side of the nest. It remained there for several hours, although we paddled on after about 5 minutes. |
| April 24, 2010 ~ Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | |
| A flock of about 50 bobolinks was spotted near Turtle Pond. The male bobolink is usually heard before he is seen - he sings a bubbly, energetic song that gains in both speed and complexity until you wonder how such a crazy sound can come from such a small bird. It's definitely not a song a human could ever hope to mimic! A sparrow-shaped member of the blackbird family, this species briefly passes through Kiawah during migration and it is rare to see them here. In South Carolina they were historically known (and hated!) as the "ricebird". On their journey from the plains of South America to the fields of the northern United States and southern Canada, they would stop in coastal rice fields to fatten up on the grains - much to the frustration of plantation managers. Bobolinks actually increased in number before the Industrial Revolution as forests were cleared and hay fields planted across the northern US to feed horses and cattle. Sadly, as abandoned meadows have either reverted to forest or converted into housing and commercial developments, bobolinks and other Eastern grassland species have been declining dramatically. Even in hay fields that have remained open, the hay is usually harvested while the bobolinks are nesting and the eggs and babies are destroyed. With such a long distance to fly between wintering and breeding locations, bobolink conservation is a challenge for those who would like to continue hearing this amazing bird. But there is some hope! One example is a grassland bird conservation program offered by the state of Vermont. This program pays farmers to delay their harvest until the bobolink fledglings are old enough fly away from the machinery. |
| April 23, 2010 ~ White-Marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma) | |
 This little caterpillar (less than a half of an inch) was recently spotted feeding on a freshly emerged Live oak leaf during a nature walk through the forest. The Live oak is one of the many host plants that it relies on for nourishment at this early stage in its life. This species possesses "nettling" hairs, and contact with these will cause a skin reaction in most people. Very pretty to look at, but do not touch! |
| April 21, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Cougar Point Golf Course: Cougar Birdwatching Open Notes: We had wonderful weather for birdwatching and some cooperative birds, though we left a little too late in the morning for the real birding action. Great crested flycatchers and bluebirds were all over the place. Other birds of note were hunting and nest-building green herons; lots of osprey; a very close-up pileated woodpecker; my first eastern kingbird of the spring; all three common swallow species; some ruby-crowned kinglets and white-throated sparrows still hanging out and singing before their journey north; plenty of parulas, pine warblers, and yellow-throated warblers; several singing orchard orioles and painted buntings. Species List: Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Clapper Rail, Laughing Gull, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, House Finch. |
| April 21, 2010 ~ Sponge | |
 More sponges have been found washed ashore recently. This colony species is normally found along the bottom of the ocean floor, or attached to hard substrate such as dock pilings, oyster beds, or rock jetties. To see them on the beach means there was something to disturb and detach them from their anchored habitat. Small crabs and brittle starfish can be found among the various sponges, attesting to their importance for other species seeking refuge in its structure.Photo by Jennifer Barbour, Kiawah Naturalist |
| April 20, 2010 ~ Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) | |
 Photo by Jamie Rood |
| April 19, 2010 ~ Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) | |
 This baby snake was found trying to cross the road in front of the nature center parking lot, but it was being foiled by the high curb! Luckily a naturalist saw it and rescued it from death by car tire. The three yellow stripes and black lip lines mark this as a young Eastern Garter Snake. A common snake across much of the Eastern United States, garter snakes are often called garden snakes, possibly because they are a day-active species that is frequently encountered near human habitation. They prefer moist habitats, though, and the list of their favorite prey animals reflects that: worms, slugs, frogs, toads, salamanders, fish, and tadpoles. Unlike most reptiles, garter snakes give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. This snake was probably born last summer. The Eastern Garter Snake will happily stuff itself with slugs so it should be a welcome sight to gardener. It is not venomous and poses no threat to humans, though like any wild animal from the smallest mouse to the largest polar bear, they usually will attempt to bite in self defense when caught and handled. The best way to avoid being bitten by any snake is simply to leave it alone. Photo by Jamie Rood. |
| April 18, 2010 ~ Cannonball Jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) | |
 In recent weeks, jellyfish have been left along our beach with the ebbing tide. Our most common jellyfish, the Cannonball Jelly (as seen in the photo), has no stinging tentacles and is therefore not harmful to humans. We can look forward to seeing an increase in sea turtle numbers as they follow this food source to their local nesting grounds.Photo by Jennifer Barbour, Kiawah Naturalist. |
| April 17, 2010 ~ Sea Turtles | |
 We’ve just received an update from South Carolina’s DNR Sea Turtle Coordinator and are happy to announce our sea turtles are here! About 2 miles offshore of Dewees Island (north of Kiawah), a leatherback sea turtle was sighted. There was also a report of mating loggerheads 5 miles inland, up the Colleton River. Today, the SC Aquarium also released a 2-year rehab turtle, Mama Prichard, on Isle of Palms.Photo of Mama Prichard by the Post and Courier. |
| April 16, 2010 ~ Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) | |
 What looks like a duck, and acts like a duck, but is not a duck at all? The Common Moorhen, a commonly encountered resident of our marshy ponds. While it is admittedly duck-shaped, the moorhen's long, slender toes and brightly colored chicken-like beak separate it from the web-footed, broad-billed ducks. Moorhens are in the rail family, and its eerie laughing call is reminiscent of its fellow rails like the Clapper Rail and American Coot.When nesting season arrives in spring, moorhens build a bowl-shaped nest out of nearby grasses in the marsh. The young are born precocial - fully feathered, able to see and walk around after they emerge from the egg. Both parents help to raise the young, and are even occasionally joined by their juvenile offspring from a previous clutch. Unlike ducks, which simply lead their ducklings to food, the adults will pass food directly to the young. Young moorhens are a favorite snack for predators like alligators and bobcats, so parents will often raise more than one clutch each season. But once a young moorhen reaches its full size of around 13 inches, they are surprisingly good swimmers for such skinny-toed birds! Photo by Carrie Manson from KICA Lakes Department. |
| April 15, 2010 ~ Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima) | |
 Guests to the island came in to the Nature Center this past Saturday morning wanting an identification of a ‘big fish’ they had seen washed ashore our eastern end. It happened to be a Dwarf Sperm Whale, the smallest of the whales, growing to a mere 9 feet, making it smaller than the larger migratory bottlenose dolphins. Feeding on squid, fish, and crab, they are very similar to pigmy sperm whales, and will even expel a dark ink-like substance when frightened or attacked. |
| April 14, 2010 ~ Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) | |
 The painted buntings are returning! We have just received our first report of the season. Please post your painted bunting sightings on our facebook page (Kiawah Island Nature Program) |
| April 13, 2010 ~ Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | |
 Photo by Jamie Rood |
| April 12, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
 Our eagle flies…observations by Paula Feldman. Yes he flew, not just a wing assisted hop, but real flight. He stood on the edge of his nest, flapped his wings, rose several inches and flew to his branch. Henry has almost earned his fledgling wings! |
| April 12, 2010 ~ Red Knots (Calidris canutus) | |
| Kiawah Town Biologists observed a large group of red knots (1000+) along the western end of Kiawah's beach. They were able to read numbered flags from 26 individuals. This information will be useful in tracking migration patterns and survival of this declining species. |
| April 10, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
| Eaglet update by Kiawah residents, Paula Feldman and Peter Mugglestone….Okay. He was only briefly in the air. And it was more like a wing-assisted, long hop to the far side of the nest. Henry did, indeed, if ever so briefly, take to the air today. Peter and I watched as he walked out on a branch outside the nest and sat for a while, 90 feet up with the strong wind blowing his feathers. He looked fearless, as if he had been there before. He exercised his wings a bit, showing off his new flight feathers, and then hopped up and over to the other side of his nest, using his wings for lift. He enjoyed this so much that he did it several more times, going back and forth across the nest, before finally settling down inside. While this was all going on, one of his parents flew into the nearby trees without visiting the nest. At one point, they called back and forth to one another. Visit our Kiawah Island Nature Program Facebook page to see their photos. |
| April 8, 2010 ~ Herp. Report | |
 Tour: Jr. Naturalist Herpetology Guide: Sarah Ernst Location: Sanctuary grounds Species list: 1 American Toad (drift fence) 1 Spadefoot Toad (drift fence) 1 young Black Racer (coverboard) 1 Cotton Rat (coverboard) 2 Ground Skinks (drift fence) 1 beautiful red centipede (drift fence) |
| April 6, 2010 ~ Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | |
 The first bobcat den of the season found the today near Flyway Drive. Town Biologists, Jim Jordan and Aaron Given, located the den of bobcat (#220) which had 3 kittens, 2 males and 1 female. |
| April 6, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 60s-70s, clear Locations: Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, Willet Pond/Ocean Course Beach Notes: For the first time since early fall: no yellow-rumped warblers today! The most surprising sight today was large amounts of adult Northern Gannets in the distance, probably migrating up north. Some teal and scaup were still hanging out at Willet Pond, but a little too far off to admire properly. Today is the first appearance of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Least Terns on our bird trips; I also noticed some recent arrivals this morning on my drive in: Summer Tanager, Cattle Egret, and Barn Swallow. We got nice looks at the stilts today, they were very active. The fledgling owls at Osprey have presumably learned to fly, as they were nowhere to be seen. Species List: Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron, Green Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Peep sp., Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Forster's Tern, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Northern Parula, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch. |
| April 5, 2010 ~ Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | |
| As part of Kiawah’s 2010 bobcat research, Town Biologists, Jim Jordan and Aaron Given have collared 6 bobcats with GPS tracking devices. By monitoring bobcats via GPS, our biologists can determine their habitat range, preferred habitat type, and denning sites: all very valuable information in our efforts to protect our island bobcats. As they study this week’s GPS points, they now know that 2 of our collared females are currently denning. Jim and Aaron will now physically try to locate the dens, collecting valuable information on the reproductive success and denning requirements of our bobcats. |
| April 5, 2010 ~ Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) | |
 Sighting and photo by Resort Naturalist, Sarah Ernst.When I first started seeing thumb-sized, khaki-colored, empty cocoons on the forest floor this spring, I knew it was time to start looking for the Polyphemus Moth. As it is one of the largest moths in North America, with a wingspan up to five and a half inches, an encounter with a Polyphemus Moth is not one you're likely to forget. This individual is actually on the smaller side! A larger individual that visited my porch a little later was a more camera shy. Both were male, doing their only adulthood job: finding a female to mate with. Like most members of the giant silkmoth family (Saturniidae), the Polyphemus has no functional mouthparts; once it pupates, it will never eat again. |
| April 4, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
 Photo and observations by Kiawah residents, Paula Feldman and Marilyn Blizard….As you can see, the eagle chick is nearly as big as its parents and getting more and more adventurous. Did you know…Eagle chicks are full grown when they leave the nest at 12 weeks and frequently weigh more than adults. |
| April 2, 2010 ~ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | |
 A new osprey nest for the 2010 season is located at Bass Pond. One osprey was on the top limb eating a fish while the other was sitting in the nest presumably incubating their eggs. The dock at bass pond provides a great view of the nest, which is located directly to the left on the top of a tall pine tree. |
| April 1, 2010 ~ Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) | |
 Our Town biologist report: Three least terns were seen on the eastern end of Kiawah's beach today. This is the first least tern sighting of the year. These birds will be going through courtship rituals and initiating nests in the coming weeks. |
| April 1, 2010 ~ Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | |
 Rescue of Great Horned Owlet at Osprey Point Golf Course |
| March 31, 2010 ~ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | |
 Osprey are probably the easiest raptor to find on Kiawah - it's a rare day we don't see at least one on our Back Island Birding trips - and lucky for us, they are both beautiful animals and fascinating to watch. Exclusively fish-eating birds, osprey dive headfirst to the water to build up speed and pull up at the last moment to use their strong, maneuvrable talons to snag their slippery prey.Over the last few weeks we've seen osprey flying around Kiawah with sticks in their talons, "refurnishing" their nests from last year or building new ones. Now they have settled down to the serious business of raising the next generation of osprey. About a dozen osprey nests are scattered throughout Kiawah and it is the perfect time of year to see them sitting on the nest. Soon, with the help of a good pair of binoculars, we should be able to see the chicks as well! |
| March 30, 2010 ~ Baby Animal Season | |
 It's baby animal season on Kiawah and as the young start exploring the area around their nest, they come into increased contact with people who might be concerned that the animal is an orphan. In most cases, when you find a baby animal such as a squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, fawn, or bird, it has not been abandoned by its parents. Instead, it is learning how to climb, run, hop, and/or fly! Mammals and birds are excellent parents and still still continue to care for the baby if it ends up out of the nest. Before you pick up a baby animal and bring it to the nature center, please give their natural parents a chance to reclaim their young. Leave the animal as it is or if necessary, move it to a nearby safe spot like under a shrub. Give the parents enough privacy and time to find their baby: we recommend at least 6 hours. If you can see the nest that the animal came from, it's ok to put the baby back in the nest - an experienced, healthy mother will not reject her young, no matter how much they smell of humans! It is also ok to put the baby on a hot water bottle or heating pad to keep it warm. If the baby still remains in the same spot after at least 6 hours, give the Nature Center a call and we will give advice and take further steps if necessary to provide care. If the animal has been obviously injured (open wounds), please call us, though remember that baby birds in particular are awkward little things that can't fly yet! To us they appear injured and alone, but it is a normal part of a bird's life and the parents will continue to feed them even though they are no longer in the nest. We very much appreciate your concern for Kiawah's wildlife. In the last year we been able to rescue everything from a property owner's lost cat to pelicans with 7-feet wingspans, and even an endangered green sea turtle! |
| March 30, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 60s-70s, clear Locations: Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, Willet Pond/Ocean Course Beach Notes: Today was a bird trip of hidden secrets: when we first approached a place, it would appear quiet until we kept quiet ourselves and then some neat birds would start to pop up. Songbird highlights included a really good look at my first prairie warbler of the year and much briefer looks at a blue-headed vireo and a field sparrow. The teal and mergansers are gone, but a lone scaup represented the duck family, probably one of our last ducks of the season. Pied-billed grebes have started to move into their breeding plumage. Other highlights included a total of 8 stilts in Willet Pond and a nice adult bald eagle flyover. Species List: Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Peep sp., Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Europena Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle |
| March 28, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Guide: William Oakley Tour: Back Island Birding Locations: The Preserve, Osprey Point, Willet and Ibis Ponds, The Ocean Course Weather: mid to high 60’s, cloudy early then sunny for remainder of trip; pleasant breeze in open areas. Notes: The no-see-ums (aka biting midges) did not prevent us from enjoying some decent birding out on the Preserve pond view tower. The Solitary Sandpiper was a big hit, as were the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers and the Tri-colored Heron who stood uncomfortably close to a large ‘gator in Blue Heron Pond. Two feathered owlets greeted us at Osprey Point where the small raptors sat patiently in their nest alert to any would-be-predators. Mom (or dad) served as sentry, perched several feet above the nest keeping a watchful eye on the ospreys that also fly around the area. Besides the Great-Horned Owls, the biggest hit had to be the male American Kestrel perched on a fence next to the Ocean Course driving range. As the most brightly-colored falcon in the world, it’s easy to lose focus on other birds in the area and just marvel at this magnificent raptor species. But we moved on and caught glimpses of oystercatchers, a killdeer, an unidentified “peep”, willet, and bluebirds. My favorite birding trip so far. Species: Osprey, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, House Finch, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Mourning Dove, Brown Pelican, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Trasher, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Willet, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, American Coot, Lesser Scaup, Solitary Sandpiper, Double-Crested Cormorant, Anhinga |
| March 27, 2010 ~ Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata) | |
| Every now and again you'll come across an old-school birder who still refers to yellow-rumped warblers as myrtle warblers. Now they've suddenly become new-school again: The Yellow-rumped Warbler has been re-split into the west-coast "Audubon's Warbler" and east-coast "Myrtle Warbler". |
| March 26, 2010 ~ Stingray | |
 When a dead stingray washes up on the beach, it lets curious naturalists get a rare peak at the underside of this bottom-feeding fish. The mouth is located towards the front of the animal and functions similar to a vaccuum cleaner, sucking up marine invertebrates like clams and worms from the bottom of the ocean floor. Strong plate-like teeth can easily crush hard-shelled mollusks. The two holes on either side of the mouth are her nostrils; relying heavily upon their senses of smell and touch, stingrays rarely use their eyes (located on the topside) to find food. While we can't see them without a microscope, stringrays and their shark cousins posess another sense: electical sensors, with the impressive name of "Ampullae of Lorenzini", that are used to sense the weak electrical pulses produced by animal movement in the mud and sand.After the mouth, you can see the five pairs of gill slits on the ray's belly. Just like humans and other air-breathers, fish require oxygen to survive and must get it from the water. Other fish, including sharks, pull in water through their mouth and push it through their gills to filter their oxygen from the water. But you might imagine the problems this would cause in a stingray - they'd be pulling in endless amounts of mud, and very little water! So stingrays have solved this problem by using spiracles, small holes located behind the fish's eyes. The water is then pushed out through the gills located on the underside of the ray. Looking at this ray, we can even tell that it is a female. Like all other cartilignous fish (sharks, rays, and skates), male stingrays posess a pair of claspers near their rear fins. Lacking a pair of hands for a tender embrace, these are used help position the female for mating. He also grows sharper teeth in the breeding season to hold onto her front end. Photo by Pam Cohen. |
| March 25, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
 From Kiawah resident, Marilyn Blizard.....This is the 8th year for our Kiawah Island eagles to have an active nest. So as you might recall, I’ve been naming the chicks alphabetically & ‘H’ is the 8th letter of the order of things with a male name due. My friend Diana Peterson came up with the perfect choice – Henry VIII. Previous years had a fledgling by the end of February - so this chick is a late-comer. Photo by Kiawah resident Paula Feldman. |
| March 24, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Beautiful birding weather: sunny, clear, calm, ranging from the low to upper 60s Locations: Turtle Pond, Osprey Point, Ibis Pond, Willet Pond, Ocean Course clubhouse + beach Notes: Nice variety of birds today! Today was my first sighting of the year of one of my favorite bird species, black-necked stilts, and the first singing marsh wren I've encountered this spring. At Turtle Pond we watched a male red-bellied woodpecker excavate a hole he had made in a dead palmetto tree. He kept popping his head out with a beakful of wood shavings and dropping them to drift down to the forest floor. A very neat (and cute) behavior to watch, and a reminder of how important it is to leave dead trees up for cavity-nesting birds! The osprey at Osprey Point looks to be incubating her eggs, and the osprey pair at Willet Pond have rebuilt their nest, though it's not quite as big as the one that fell. Species List: Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, unidentified peep (western or semipalmated sandpipers), Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch |
| March 23, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 60s, clear, windy Locations: The tower at Blue Heron Pond, Osprey Point, Willet Pond, Ocean Course Clubhouse Notes: Highlight today is the first merlin I've ever seen on a Back Island Birding trip! We first saw it disappearing through the bushes while looking at a handsome male kestrel. Then we saw it perched on the Ocean Course clubhouse and followed in the van for a while. The blue-winged teal were still at Willet Pond. The only hooded mergansers we could find today were female; looks like the males have already left for their summer breeding territory. We saw one great-horned owlet in the nest along with an adult; it has feathered out a lot but is still pretty young and should give us a few more weeks of baby owl watching! Species List: Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, unidentified egret (possible cattle?), Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, American Kestrel, Merlin, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Fish Crow, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal |
| March 17, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: 50s, cloudy, some wind on the beach Locations: Osprey Point, Willet Pond, Ocean Course driving range/beach Notes: Lots of exciting bird action today with a record-breaking total of 71 species! Highlights include a flock of blue-winged teal at Willet Pond and a few also flying along the ocean; a flock of 8 red-breasted mergansers in the lagoon behind the Ocean Course driving range; a horned grebe in the ocean; the female turkey that has been hanging out at the ocean course; 3 different immature eagles and lots of osprey at the beach; the most Wilson's plovers I have seen since summer; more oystercatchers in one place than I have seen in a while; a large flock of red knots; 3 snipe in Willet Pond; and a field sparrow in the ocean course dunes. Yeesh! How much fun! We met biologists from US Fish and Wildlife Service on the beach as they conducted a piping plover survey. Another bird that stands out today for me was a ruby-crowned kinglet that was hopping around in the sand with the song sparrows; usually they are more of a forest species, and I've never seen one foraging like that before. Species List: Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Clapper Rail, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch |
| March 15, 2010 ~ Flutter Report | |
| Now that it is finally warming up, the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are putting in their first springtime appearances. This Sunday I spotted around 6 Monarchs at Mingo Point - probably individuals that overwintered as adults on hummock islands. Yesterday a Cloudless Sulphur did a surprise flyby in my yard on Johns Island, probably also an overwintering adult. I set up my moth light last night and got a couple new species: a Red-winged Sallow, lots of Woolly Grays, a Curve-Toothed Geometer, and an Alternate Woodling (I think - this species is very tricky). Keep your eyes open for other overwintering, early spring butterfly species: Question Marks and Eastern Commas, Sleepy Oranges and American Snouts. A random Cabbage White might also make an appearance. Some spring butterflies don't go to flowers because there are not as many available in early spring - sap, carrion, and animal waste are other food sources - so look along wooded edges as well. One species that overwinters as a pupa and only can be seen a few weeks in March/April is the Falcate Orangetip. This species is not on our butterfly list but I've seen plenty on Johns Island and I'm sure they're here too, so if you see one let me know so I can add it to the list! Males are white with yellow-orange wingtips, females are white. Both have a single black spot on each forewing and the underside of the hindwing is mottled with black. Males are easy to see because they are constantly on the wing, patrolling their territory. |
| March 11, 2010 ~ Giant Water Bug (Belostomatidae) | |
 The giant water bug is certainly one of the largest and most interesting insects found on Kiawah Island. It is in an order of insects known as "true bugs" and can reach lengths of up to two inches. The defining feature of a "true bug" is their possession of modified mouthparts that enable them to pierce and suck. This bug will usually grab hold of a plant near the water surface, and stick their short breathing tube out of the water to allow them to breathe while waiting for prey. With their powerful front legs they are able to grab bugs and other prey such as small fish, frogs and salamanders. They pierce their prey with their sharp beak and secrete enzymes that dissolve the body tissues, thus allowing them to suck up the resulting liquid. Indeed, their bite is considered one of the most painful that can be inflicted by any insect; the longer the giant water bug is allowed to inject its saliva, the worse the resulting bite, and as the saliva liquefies muscle tissue, it can in rare instances do permanent damage. Another distinguishing characteristic is the fact that the wings overlap at the hind end of the abdomen. It forms an X like pattern. Other than that, the sheer size of the insect and the unusual shape of the front legs help identify it which sets it apart from all of the rest in the insect world.Photo by Pam Cohen. |
| March 11, 2010 ~ American Alligator | |
 If any of you follow "Wildlife: As We See It" regularly, you're familiar with the thrill our staff experienced last fall when hatchling alligators made a daily showing at the Night Heron Park bridge. Well, that excitement was renewed yesterday when three of the original eight young tiny gators made their first appearance after a long winter in their den with the mother alligator. We will keep you posted... |
| March 10, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Low to upper 60s, cloudy with occasional sunshine, slightly humid, almost no wind. Locations: Marsh Island Park, Osprey Point, a quick drive-by of Ibis and Willet Ponds Notes: We went to Marsh Island just in case any painted buntings had arrived early, but it was pretty quiet over there, with no new spring/summer bird species yet. A bald eagle was perched across the river but was so far away that we could only make it out with the spotting scope. We had much better luck at Osprey Point: two owlets made their debut appearance at the nest! They are still young and do not have much down around their face, so right now they look like one of the weirder creations of Jim Henson. A pair of osprey were on their cell phone tower nest as well. It's nesting season for some of the smaller birds as well: the cardinals and carolina wrens were singing like crazy today, and yesterday I watched chickadees bring several batches of moss - one of their favorite nesting materials - to a bluebird house. Species List: Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Accipiter sp. (probably a Cooper's), American Coot, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch |
| March 6, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
| West end eagle update from Kiawah resident, Paula Feldman. Peter and I kayaked out to the eagle's nest this afternoon and saw one chick in the nest. It stretched its wings and moved about but did not look ready to fledge. The parent bird sat on a nearby branch. |
| March 5, 2010 ~ Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | |
 When you think of a bobcat, you may picture a wild cat stalking through the forest, or disappearing in an overgrown field. But here on Kiawah, you are just as likely to see a bobcat strolling along the beach. Bobcat tracks are easy to tell apart from dog and fox tracks because, just like domestic cats, bobcats can retract their claws while they walk to keep them sharp for climbing and killing prey. Unless the track is in deep mud, you are unlikely to see claw marks left by bobcats. Bobcats, domestic cats, and cougars all have a very similar track, but domestic cats are much smaller in size and cougars are far larger. On Kiawah, we have few pet cats left outside, and the nearest cougar - a species of cat that has been eradicated from the state - is at in the zoo at Charlestowne Landing.The wild thickets and undisturbed solitude of Captain Sam's Spit provides perfect habitat for bobcats, where they prey upon rodents, birds, and other small animals. But thickets are hard to navigate, so bobcats will often use the beach as a shortcut as they make their nightly territorial rounds. In the morning, if a high tide hasn't wiped them out, we often see bobcat tracks on our Captain Sam's Tidal Trip right alongside cockle shells and weathered prickly pears. We also often see bobcat scat, sometimes on its own in a highly visible place to mark territory, or in a latrine site used habitually by an individual. The fur and small bones easily visible in a bobcat scat tells you it is from no Friskies-eating housecat! |
| March 4, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Windy, cold (in the mid to upper 40s); we spent most of the time peering for birds from the well-heated van! This turned out to be positive because it allowed us to cover more ground than usual and observe large numbers of hawks. Locations: Turtle Pond, Osprey Point, Falcon Point, Bass Pond Notes: Our human silhouettes safely hidden in the van, an Eastern Phoebe let us get very close and watch it hunt bugs and drink from a puddle. Admittedly the phoebe possesses one of our most drab bird plumages, but they are so bold and have so much character that they are a delight to watch. Despite the wind there were lots of red-tailed hawks out today - my guess was about 6 individuals, with some duplicate sightings. Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and will defend their nesting territory year-round, but it is the beginning of their nesting season, so they could have been exhibiting more territorial behavior than usual. Species List: Hooded Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Caspian Tern, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Grackle sp. |
| March 3, 2010 ~ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | |
 Eagle Update from Island resident Paula Feldman: "When Peter and I were kayaking in the marsh yesterday, we saw a bald eagle, carrying a fish, fly into the nest on Andell Island (just to the left of the bridge that you can see from the Inlet Cove dock). We watched while she ate the fish and then fed it to at least one chick in the nest. We couldn’t tell how many there were because the chick or chicks that she was bending down to feed were deep in the nest. I thought that you would like to know!"The naturalists at the Nature Center have also spotted pair-bonding behavior between the two adult eagles, multiple adult eagles near the nesting site, and several juveniles working the eastern end of the island, perhaps chicks from previous years or new arrivals. |
| March 2, 2010 ~ White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | |
 After sampling choice tidbits of her landscaping, this whitetail deer was photographed by Kiawah resident Kathy Heikes. This young buck still has some growing to do before he can compete with the larger 6 and 8 pointers found on Kiawah. Large antlers are a boon for attracting females and winning fights with other males, but their weight and bulk make them a liability out of the breeding season. So once the breeding season ends, male deer cast off their antlers. The winter and early spring months are a great time of year to search for shed antlers. Some people even train dogs to find antlers for their collection. But you have to act quickly to find a perfect specimen: antlers are a rich source of calcium for squirrels, mice, and other rodents. Their ever-growing incisors leave long, chiseled tooth marks on stray bones and antlers. |
| March 1, 2010 ~ Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | |
 Kiawah has two resident vulture species: black and turkey. On Back Island Birding Back Island Birding excursions, the two species can be tricky to tell apart when they appear to be no more than black dots riding a thermal thousands of feet away. When they bank along a curve, however, two clues help a birder distinguish black vultures from turkey vultures. Turkey vultures are named for their long tail that projects far beyond their body and wings; in comparison, the black vulture has a much shorter tail that is more difficult to discern from the rest of the bird's body. The underside of a turkey vulture's wings has a broad white stripe of feathers all along the hind edge of the wing; black vultures have white patches just at the wingtips. There are also behavioural differences between the two vulture species. Turkey vultures are one of only a few species of native birds in the United States that have a well developed sense of smell; they specialize in soaring low over forests, scenting for animal carcasses half-eaten by predators. These mild-mannered creatures are scavengers upon dead animals and cannot kill live animals; their beaks are so weak that they can't tear through skin, and their claws are so weak that they can't even carry a mouse. Despite their ungainly manner on land, they are seldom threatened by predators due to an unpleasant habit of vomiting their most recent meal of carrion upon the intruder. Cars and power lines pose a greater threat to this gentle bird species. Black vultures, on the other hand, have no sense of smell, so they have to rely upon eyesight to find a carcass. Sometimes they will spot a predator like a bald eagle eating a fish, then arrive to finish off the fish after the bald eagle has had its fill. Other times they will follow a turkey vulture to a carcass, then chase it away once it has landed. While turkey vultures are larger than black vultures, black vultures are more social and aggressive, and this has allowed them to prey upon the occasional sickly or newborn animal. Before we castigate the black vulture for being cruel and evil, however, remember that the bald eagle also eats carrion and has been known to attack weak, newborn animals, or even small pet dogs and cats let unattended in yards. So maybe we can learn to imbue the humble black vulture with the same noblilty that we assign to the magnificant bald eagle! |
| February 28, 2010 ~ Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) | |
 Fishing Report from Captain Mike Waller"With the water temperature rising from the bitterly cold winter, the fishing has been better this week than last week after the snow fall. We are catching sheepshead around docks using fiddler crabs. I have an underwater camera to see where the fish are. I took this picture of the camera lens with my digital camera to show how many fish are there." To learn more about our fishing charters, click here. |
| February 27, 2010 ~ Orange-Crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) | |
 Our cold weather has kept down the numbers of insects and other small land invertebrates this winter. Fewer ticks in the fields and bushes is great news for naturalists who enjoy tramping through wild areas in search of new discoveries, but a disappointment for hungry tick-eating birds. As berries and insect supplies get depleted, more and more songbirds are depending on backyard birdfeeders. Even the normally reclusive orange-crowned warbler has been photographed by Kiawah resident Kathy Heikes on her bird feeding set-up. Kathy's yard is a wildlife hot spot because she uses different types of food to attract a wide variety of birds. In addition to seeds - here at the Nature Center we create a mix of black oil sunflower seeds, millet seed, peanut chips, and cracked corn - you can also use suet to attract bluebirds and other insect-eating birds, oranges and grape jelly to attract colorful orioles, and plain un-dyed sugar water to attract the increasing number of overwintering ruby-throated hummingbirds and even rufous hummingbirds. Different types of feeders attract different types of birds - use a low, flat feeder with millet and cracked corn for your ground-feeding sparrows and doves. Perhaps the most important thing you can provide for birds in colder climates than ours is fresh water, with a heater to prevent it from freezing. To put the finishing touches on your bird-magnet yard, provide a variety of native shrubs and small trees for cover. Bonus points if they produce fruit or seeds that birds can eat! |
| February 23, 2010 ~ Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) | |
 Both the human and animal residents of Kiawah have welcomed the last few warm days after a cold, wet winter. While looking for alligators sunning themselves on a Gator Walk, Naturalists have recently spotted their smaller relatives also taking advantage of the warm sunny days. This green anole (Anolis carolinensis) was found on a boardwalk; her brown color and lethargic behavior are evidence of the previous chilly night. Their adhesive footpads make this very common lizard an excellent climber. Meanwhile, in the leaf litter their terrestrial counterpart, the ground skink (Scincella lateralis), has also been seen, albeit in far more brief glimpses. This small, nervous lizard has shiny brown scales and is extremely skilled at slipping away as a Naturalist attempts to catch it! |
| February 22, 2010 ~ Eastern Screech Owl | |
 This injured Eastern Screech Owl was found by the side of the road and brought to the nature center. Naturalist Tim Pifer brought it to the Center for Birds of Prey, where it was diagnosed with neurological damage, probably after being hit by a car as it flew across the road. The owl is currently being held to determine whether the neurological damage is temporary or permanent. Eastern screech owls prey upon a wide variety of insects and small vertebrates like mice, birds, and lizards. When they dive across a road after food, they usually don't notice any oncoming cars, so it's important to stay alert and keep to the speed limit while driving along Kiawah's dark, wooded roads! Eastern Screech owls are monogamous and mate for life. Listening for their eerie calls to one another - sometimes described as a cross between a ghost and a horse - is the best way to track them down. Here on Kiawah, we have seen both color phases on our Kiawah Night Exploration: gray and the less common red. Because they look like miniature great horned owls, some people mistake screech owls for baby owls. But this charming owl species is fully grown at just around 6-10 inches long. Though their fluffy feathers give them an impression of weightiness, they weigh in at just half a pound. Special thanks to local resident Mr. Alexandre for collecting the owl and transporting it to the Nature Center. |
| February 21, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
| Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Sunny, mild (mid-50s to low 60s), just a bit of wind, absolutely beautiful! Locations: The Preserve, Ibis Pond, the loop along the Ocean Course beach and driving range Notes: Another wonderful action-packed birding morning today with a total of 58 species! A high tide and quiet surf made for some excellent ocean bird watching. Gannets, both species of loon, red-breasted mergansers, and many cormorants were in the ocean along with some dolphins. Much to our delight, a pair of marbled godwits joined a mixed flock of dunlin, western sandpipers, and Foster's terns. American oystercatchers, bald eagles, and golden-crowned kinglets were other good birds for today. We skipped the owl nest at Osprey Point due to running well over in time, but we still managed to hear one hooting out in the Preserve! Species List: Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Foster's Tern, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch |
| February 18, 2010 ~ Eastern Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) | |
 This past Valentine’s Day, Naturalist William Oakley rescued an injured Brown Pelican from the front porch of a property owner’s home. The pelican, which William named Eros after the Greek primordial god of love and beauty, was captured and transported back to the Nature Center. The total damage to the bird included two fishing hooks embedded in its left wing and chest and fishing line and weight wrapped around the bird’s left wing. With the assistance of Nature Center employee Rachel Crosby, Will was able to remove the hook from the wing along with the line and weight, but the second hook proved more difficult. Eros the pelican is now receiving medical attention at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, SC.Fishing hooks and line left floating in rivers, ponds, and the ocean, are a leading cause of injuries to Brown Pelicans. So when fishing on or around the island, let’s do our best to protect the pelicans (and other animals) by retrieving and properly disposing of any tangled or broken fishing lines and hooks. Monofilament recycle stations can be found throughout the island including inside our Nature Center at Night Heron Park. Special thanks to the Weiner Family for their efforts to save this pelican’s life. We hope to have an update from the Center for Birds of Prey soon. |
| February 17, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Sarah Ernst Weather: Sunny and clear but a little brisk - in the 40s Locations: Osprey Pt Golf Course, Ibis Pond, Willet Pond, Turtle Pond Notes: We had very enjoyable birding today. While I am used to seeing hooded mergansers because they are our most common pond duck, I was overwhelmed today by very large flocks of mergansers everywhere we went. The redhead flock was back on Ibis Pond, and the great horned owl on her nest. An Eastern towhee was another nice find today, though in a typical towhee fashion it skulked around the bush and didn't come out to give us a good view. One mystery sandpiper gave me a good identification challenge at Willet Pond, I've temprarily settled on Lesser Yellowlegs but it was so far away that I couldn't confirm it. Species List: Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed hawk, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs?, Caspian Tern, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird |
| February 15, 2010 ~ Great Backyard Bird Count 2010 (Part 2) | |
 In about 4 hours of beautiful weather before the rain began, we got an excellent count of 61 species and lots of shorebirds! No rarities today, but good birds for today included a flock of red-breasted mergansers at the end of the Ocean Course driving range pond, 2 piping plovers, a nice big group of about 150 western sandpipers, and the great horned owl at Osprey Pt Golf Course. Two of the pelicans we saw were banded! Report by: Sarah Ernst, Resort Naturalist Number of Participants: 6 Number of Species: 61 Species: Bufflehead – 15, Hooded Merganser - 66 Confirmed, Red-breasted Merganser – 8, Ruddy Duck - 2, Pied-billed Grebe – 7, Brown Pelican – 24, Double-crested Cormorant – 35, Anhinga - 3, Great Blue Heron – 4, Great Egret – 17, Snowy Egret – 6, Little Blue Heron - 3, Tricolored Heron - 3, Black-crowned Night-Heron – 5, White Ibis – 11, Black Vulture – 1, Turkey Vulture – 8, Osprey - 3, Bald Eagle – 1, Common Moorhen – 8, American Coot - 2, Black-bellied Plover - 3, Semipalmated Plover – 6, Piping Plover - 2, Killdeer - 2, American Oystercatcher - 2, Greater Yellowlegs - 2, Willet – 1, Ruddy Turnstone - 3, Sanderling - 44 Confirmed, Western Sandpiper - 150 Confirmed, Dunlin - 124 Confirmed, Ring-billed Gull – 38, Herring Gull – 19, Caspian Tern - 2,0 Confirmed, Forster's Tern – 30, Great Horned Owl – 1, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2, Northern Flicker – 1, Blue Jay – 4, American Crow – 7, Fish Crow – 8, Carolina Chickadee – 8, Tufted Titmouse - 2, Carolina Wren – 4, Eastern Bluebird – 1, American Robin - 2, Gray Catbird – 1, Northern Mockingbird - 3, Brown Thrasher – 1, European Starling – 21, Cedar Waxwing – 55, Yellow-rumped Warbler – 140, Palm Warbler – 4, Savannah Sparrow - 3, Song Sparrow – 1, White-throated Sparrow - 3, Northern Cardinal – 4, Red-winged Blackbird – 25, Common Grackle - 40. Photo by Jamie Rood |
| February 13, 2010 ~ Great Backyard Bird Count 2010 (Part 1) | |
 The highlights of this walk included 10 piping plovers, 5 red-breasted mergansers, a red-throated loon (I'll swoon for a red-throated loon!), a female kestrel, 2 red knot, and a great black-backed gull.Report by: Sarah Ernst, Resort Naturalist Participants: 10 Number of Species: 42 Species: Bufflehead – 14, Hooded Merganser - 1, Red-breasted Merganser – 5, Red-throated Loon - 1, Brown Pelican – 4, Double-crested Cormorant – 48, Great Blue Heron - 1, Great Egret - 1, Snowy Egret – 2, Black Vulture – 3, Turkey Vulture – 4, Osprey - 1, Bald Eagle – 2, American Kestrel - 1, Black-bellied Plover – 3, Piping Plover – 10, American Oystercatcher – 2, Greater Yellowlegs - 1, Willet – 4,Ruddy Turnstone – 5, Red Knot – 2, Sanderling – 12, Dunlin - 120 Confirmed, Laughing Gull – 8, Ring-billed Gull – 100, Herring Gull – 60, Great Black-backed Gull - 1, gull sp. – 20, Forster's Tern – 3, Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1, American Crow – 8, Carolina Chickadee – 4, Tufted Titmouse – 7, Carolina Wren - 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1, American Robin – 6, Northern Mockingbird - 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler – 5, Palm Warbler - 1, Savannah Sparrow – 2, Northern Cardinal - 1, Red-winged Blackbird – 6. Nesting Osprey Photo by Jamie Rood |
| February 12, 2010 ~ Beachcombing | |
 Winter is the perfect time to go beachcombing on Kiawah: the winter waves and storms churn up rare treasures from many miles offshore, and the smaller number of people on the beach increases your chances of discovering that choice shell. But even with the good beachcombing conditions, Kiawah visitors Maeve and Ella from Chicago were exceptionally sharp-eyed beachcombers and had excellent luck this week. Here they show some of their best finds, a rare Giant Tun shell and a dolphin vertebrae. They also found a pelican leg bone, a large fish skull, and what looked to be a piece of a sea turtle's shell!Maeve and Ella also know the importance of leaving behind most of the many shells that they found on the beach. We do encourage visitors to take home a few of their most special beach discoveries - and we Naturalists have been known to slip a unusual shell or bone in the pockets of our life vests during a Pluff Mud Paddle - but we also encourage visitors to refrain from taking home multiple bags of shells, sea stars, sand dollars, and other artifacts found on the beach. Not only does this give other people a chance to do some beachcombing, it also leaves food and nutrients in the beach ecosystem. Dead sea stars get recycled into laughing gull, eroding cockle shells provide calcium for building new shells, and the housing market is still hot among hermit crabs for empty whelk shells. And in our opinion, a single colorful moon snail shell showcased on a bedroom shelf, rather than forgotten in a drawer with hundreds of other shells, will do a much better job of reminding you of Kiawah's splendid beaches. |
| February 11, 2010 ~ American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | |
| With springtime just around the corner, many of Kiawah Island's plants and animals will emerge from their winter dormancy and begin showcasing their respective courting displays. And the American Alligator is no exception. If you've every spent time on the island during the spring, then you're probably familiar with the thundering roars emanating from the ponds. These loud roaring calls come from the alligators and are referred to as a bellow. Alligators are known to be one of the most vocal crocodilian species, and they will spontaneously bellow after dawn throughout the year but are most active during the spring courtship season and less active in winter. Both males and females bellow and often together in choruses. Males, though, tend to have an infrasound component, referred to as sub-audible vibrations (SAV), just prior to the audible bellow. Bellowing is thought to serve as an attractant to alligators of opposite sex and to space out animals of same sex. If you're in the right place at the right time, watch the alligators bellow and you'll see these calls are performed from an unique posture called the "head oblique tail arched" (HOTA) posture, where only the head and tail are visible above the water surface. Catching an alligator in mid-bellow can be a matter of luck. If you haven't yet had a chance to hear an alligator bellow on Kiawah, stop by our Nature Center in Night Heron Park and visit our new interactive touch screen program to explore a variety of mysterious night sounds heard on Kiawah, including the primordial bellow of an alligator! |
| February 10, 2010 ~ Back Island Birding | |
 Tour: Back Island BirdingGuide: Tim Pifer- First birding tour of the year Weather: sunny, very windy, very cold (lower 40's) Locations: Bridge at Killdeer Pond, Marshview Tower in the Preserve, Osprey Point, Willet Pond, Ibis Pond Notes: The wind and cold limited the number of species we could find and kept us off the beach. Highlight: flock of ~30 redheads really close to us in Ibis Pond. Very awesome! The Great Horned Owl looked really cold sitting in the nest during this cold windy morning. Got some great woodpecker views in the preserve with the spotting scope. Species List: Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Pied-billed grebe, Double Crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Caspian Tern, Forsters Tern, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Turkey Vultures, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red Winged Blackbird, Common Grackle and Boat-tailed Grackle |
| February 9, 2010 ~ Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | |
| For a 2nd year in a row the Great Horned Owls are nesting on the Osprey Point Golf Course. Join our weekly Back Island Birding tour to get a closer look at these incredible birds. |
| February 5, 2010 ~ Bubble Gum Lichen | |
 The live oak trees is a keystone forest species that plays host to a great number of other organisms, including Spanish Moss, Resurrection Fern, and this bizarre hot pink substance. Sometimes known as bubblegum lichen, it often draws concern because it looks like a strange plant disease. But never fear, lichens are a harmless partnership between two different kingdoms of life: fungus and algae. Through photosynthesis the algae provides energy in the form of sugars to the fungus; in turn, the fungus provides a stable environment for the algae and a more advanced reproductive system. Neither partner can survive on their own. Most lichens you encounter are shades of gray and green; it is the reproductive bodies that gives bubblegum lichen its unusual pink color. Like most lichens it is very sensitive to air pollution and is a good environmental indicator of air quality; in the large, car-congested cities of Florida, most lichen species have disappeared. Because bubblegum lichen thrives on Kiawah, we know that the air quality is healthy for humans as well. |
| February 2, 2010 ~ American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | |
 Many people across the country look for the first robin of spring. But here on Kiawah, we look for the first robin of winter. The month of January has finally brought large flocks of hungry American Robins to our maritime forest. This member of the thrush family - similar in color but unrelated to the friendly Robin of Europe and Britain - will return north to breed and nest. The only thrush that remains on Kiawah throughout the summer is the Eastern Bluebird. Despite their reputation as a spring bird, American Robins are found year-round across almost all of the lower 48 states, but a change in behavior makes them less noticeable. While robins are famous for walking across lawns, pulling up worms and other bugs, in winter they form larger flocks and mainly feed upon berries. They will often flock together with fellow fruit-eatering species like the Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Red-winged Blackbird. Berry trees often have large amounts of berries but can be difficult to locate. A large flock increases the chances fruit will be found. In the summer, their diet switches to insects and it is a better strategy to hunt alone or in small groups. So in summer, you are likely to see many robins but in small numbers. In winter, you are less likely to see robins but when you do, it is in large numbers. One side effect of large flocks of fruit-eating birds is the byproduct of their fast digestion system. Birds that eat berries pass the seeds frequently, which is a benefit for berry-producing trees and bushes: their seeds are spread far and wide courtesy of the birds. From our perspective down on the ground, winter visitors to Kiawah quickly learn that it's best not to park your car under a berry-producing tree! |
| January 31, 2010 ~ Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) | |
| The Heron Park Nature Center recently received several different calls about an injured woodstork by a pond edge. Every time a naturalist rushed out to check on the bird - a federally endangered species - it was no where to be seen. Finally our Recreation Director Liz caught it in the act of flying away, apparently completely healthy. When comfortable and relaxed in the sun, wood storks will often sit in a way few other birds will. Next time you see a heron or egret, look at its legs - rather than forming bending out like the knee of a person (rather like this symbol: <), a bird's "knee" bends inwards (like this symbol: >). What looks like a bird's knee is actually its heel; the patella joint, its true knee, is concealed by the feathers. When a bird stands, it is standing on its toes. When a wood stork sits, it is actually resting on its heels. It is always startling to see such a large bird in such a strange position, with legs bent at what, to us human observers, seems like a very painful angle. That position combined with the unkempt, featherless, homely face of an immature wood stork was what probably prompted observers to report an injured bird. But as far as we could tell, this bird has been simply enjoying the sunlight on a cold January morning. For a picture and explanation of this phenomenon, visit the blog entry of Birdwatcher's Digest Editor Bill Thomson III at: http://billofthebirds.blogspot.com/2008/01/wood-stork-ankles.html |
| January 27, 2010 ~ Bella Moth (Utetheisa bella) | |
 After many weeks spent as a pupa, our first Bella moth has emerged from its chyrsalis. In the photograph it is using its straw-like tounge to enjoy its first drink - sugar water from a Naturalists' fingers. Bella moths definitely stand out from the hundreds of nocturnal brown or grey moth species that inhabit South Carolina: they fly during the day and are brightly colored (with hot pink/black-bordered underwings, not seen in this picture). It has the temerity to do so because as a caterpillar they eat the seeds of the poisonous rattlebox plant. The noxious chemicals carry over into adulthood, and the female even receives a packet of extra chemicals every time she mates with a male to give her eggs extra protection from predators. Like the colors of the more well-known Monarch, the bright colors of the adult Bella moth warn predators of of its bad taste. |
| January 25, 2010 ~ Common Loon (Gavia immer) | |
 The strong winds of a storm last night blew this common loon on a Kiawah front yard. The leg placement of a loon, located far to the back of the body, results in some powerful propulsion underwater but also the inability to walk on land. In fact, loons cannot even fly without large bodies of water for a lengthy takeoff. Luckily for this particular loon, a concerned nature lover passing by spotted the bird and remained with it until a Naturalist could pick it up. Thanks to her prompt action the loon was still in excellent shape. A team of Naturalists, excited by the chance to get a close look at such a shy bird, released it on the Kiawah River, where it can dive, fish, and have enough water for takeoff if needed. Although no one knows what emotions birds are capable of feeling, to all those watching the bird appeared to be thrilled to be back on the water. It flapped its wings, preened its feathers, and even let out a few signature wild, eerie calls. |
| January 20 2010 ~ Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) | |
 Recently, this little Eastern Gray Squirrel was found in the yard of a Kiawah Island resident. He was found covered in fleas and dehydrated, a sign that the mother was either missing or no longer caring for her young, so he was brought to the Nature Center for care. Based on his size, the amount of fur and his weight, we estimated his age to be around 4 weeks old. His eyes were just beginning to open. He was fed and cared for nearly a week, but unfortunately died of of an infection. If you find a squirrel in your yard, it is always best to give the mother an opportunity to pick up her young and return them to the nest. Contrary to popular opinion, most mammal mothers will take back their young even after a human has touched them. The maternal instinct usually is stronger than their distrust of people! The best way to give a mother squirrel the opportunity to pick up her young is to wrap a hot water bottle in an old towel or sweater, than place the baby squirrel on top and leave it alone for a few hours. This keeps the baby warm while it waits for its mother to return. Eastern Gray Squirrels are by far the most frequently seen mammal on Kiawah Island as well as the rest of the East Coast. They are in the Order of Rodentia, and can grow up to 20 inches long. They can live just about anywhere where there are large deciduous trees. Squirrels either live in large holes in trees or in large, messy nests built out of leaves - often mistaken for bird nests. Squirrels typically have two litters a year, one in spring and one in summer, but here in Kiawah's subtropical environment they breed and nest year-round as long as there is enough food to support a litter. A large acorn crop this fall provided ample food to squirrel families. Their diet is flexible depending on what food is avaliable. While nuts and acorns are their favorite, they will also eat tree buds, berries, blossoms, seeds, and insects. Squirrels can live to 5 years in the wild but as a prey animal, many young squirrels on Kiawah are taken by bobcats, snakes, and birds of prey. Although some people view the squirrel as a pest, this species is very helpful in controlling plant populations by feeding on the seeds. They play an important role in tree proprogation by burying acorns and other nuts for the lean months of winter and early spring. They will remember to dig up as much as 85% of these, but some they will forget. Oak trees rely upon this method to help spread their seeds to new locations. Squirrels are also essential in controlling insect populations since they dine on a high number of many different insect species. |
| January 19 2010 ~ Sea Stars | |
The recent onslaught of heavy waves turned Kiawah Island's beach into a veritable graveyard of marine invertebrates. In addition to the usual variety of bivalves and crabs that wash up with strong surf, an extreme number of Grey Sea Stars (Luidia clathrata) and Common Sea Star (Asterias forbesi) were strewn about the beach with wreckless abandon by the tides. It was as if Neptune himself was giving us his best impression of a Jackson Pollock painting.
Grey sea stars, also commonly referred to as star fish, are not actually fish, but echinoderms (Greek, echino=spiny; derma=skin). These close cousins to sand dollars and sea urchins dwell on sandy bottoms in shallow offshore areas from North Carolina to the tropics. Sea stars do regularly wash up after heavy storms, but an exact answer to why such excessive numbers of them have recently turned up dead or dying on Kiawah's beach eludes those of us here in the Nature Program. And searches into field guides and even the primary literature have yielded little or no help. In the meantime, we will continue to comb the beach and present information for less common species like the Giant Tun Shell (Tonna galea), and the Pear Whelk (Busycon spiratum), all of which have also been appearing in larger than usual numbers. |
| January 17, 2010 ~ Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | |
From Kiawah property owner Paula Feldman: "I like this photo because it shows the way the piping plover uses protective coloration to blend into its surroundings. It’s hard to get a photo that does that and still shows the bird as distinct from the sand!"
There are fewer than 2000 pairs of piping plovers left in the wild. As coastal areas become more developed, the plovers face increasing disturbance from human foot and vehicle traffic, off-leash dogs, and feral cats. Kiawah's quieter, more natural beaches are becoming an important wintering site for this special bird. While they can be seen anywhere along the beach, your best chance of finding one is during low to mid tide at the protected shorebird areas along the eastern and western tips of the island. Use the pale back coloration - it mimics light dry sand - to differentiate the piping plover from its wet-sand-colored cousin, the semipalmated plover. |
| January 11, 2010 ~ Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea) | |
A walk today from West Beach to Captain Sam’s Inlet proved to be an excellent time for beach combing. Hundreds of sea stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, pen shells, and dozens of other various aquatic species littered the wrack line in great abundance. The most interesting animal we discovered was the sea cucumber. Sea cucumbers are related to sea stars, sea urchins and sand dollars. When sea cucumbers are threatened, they can shoot out water and their internal organs toward a predator. After this occurs, they can grow back any extruded body parts. Their diet consists of dead and decaying matter, algae and microscopic plankton. Although this little guy is only a few inches in length, some species can grow up to 16 inches. This specimen appeared to be slightly injured, but it was still moving in the sand where we found it. After a quick photo, we immediately released it in the water. If you are up for a little time on the water, join us on a kayak trip to Captain Sam’s Inlet, where you can get out and take a walk on the beach where there is always something interesting to find. Who knows, maybe you will be able to catch and release your very own sea cucumber. |
| January 10, 2010 ~ Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) | |
 Nature photographers on Kiawah might suppose that we bribe our local anhingas with their favorite food, fish, to pose specially for them. They are often seen extending their wings and tilting their head, as if they are proud of their handsome exotic looks. But anhingas have another motive in mind, a motive also shared by both alligators and human beach visitors: basking in the sun. Anhingas are professional swimmers; the unique structure of their body feathers causes them to be water-logged in short order. This allows them to dive and swim with ease. However, a bird flying with wet feathers is somewhat like a human trying to swim with clothing on; it's possible, but difficult. Anhingas must bask in the sun to dry off their feathers before flying again. Ducks solve this problem by waterproofing their feathers with oil from a skin gland; this means they can fly from the water easily, but they must work harder to swim underwater because the oil and air trapped in their feathers makes them more buoyant.
Like wet clothing, wet feathers cause an anhinga to chill easily, so their range is limited to the warm southeastern states. They are most commonly found in swamps and other tree-surrounded wetlands. The nickname of "Snakebird" describes their eerie swimming style; only their long curvy neck shows, giving them the appearance of a snake in the water. The cormorant, their more widespread relative, has a hooked bill and shorter neck and tail. Unlike herons and egrets, it's easy to tell apart the gender of an anhinga: females, like this one, have a brown head and neck while males have metallic green-black plumage accented by light-colored plumes on the back and wings. Photograph by Jamie Rood, staff photographer |
| January 8, 2010 ~ American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | |
 The recent cold snap experienced by much of the East Coast has put a thin sheet of ice on some of the smaller ponds throughout the island. This means that our alligators, like many other animals, are hunkering down for the winter. Out of all living crocodilians, American Alligators are the only species able to tolerate such cold temperatures. Similar to bears, gators go through a period of dormancy during the cold winter months. But unlike bears, the alligators don't undergo hibernation - that is, they don't enter a deep sleep. Instead, a process called brumation allows an alligator's metabolism to hit rock bottom during the winter, and it will often go for months without eating. Studies have shown that captive alligators lose their appetite around 80 deg F, and will generally stop eating when the thermometer drops below 73 deg F. As long as the alligator has stocked up on food during the summer and fall, their energy reserves should easily sustain them through winter.
Meanwhile, alligators will spend hours at a time in dugout burrows along the pond's edge, insulated from freezing temperatures by a solid layer of earth. If the sky clears and allows sunning, alligators will occasionally emerge to soak up a few rays along a pond's edge. But for the most part, gators will spend much of the winter in their den. Their lower winter metabolism requires them to surface for air only a few times a day. Gators also posess a unique behavior for surviving especially cold temperatures when ponds and lakes freeze over. By submerging their body and projecting their nostrils out of the water, gators are able to breathe while the surface water freezes around them. This is called the “icing response.” However this behavior will on occasion leave an alligator trapped under the ice. If this does occur, the gator must rely on its extraordinary ability to hold its breath, perhaps up to 8 hours. |
| January 7, 2010 ~ Sanderlings (Calidris alba) and Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | |
 If you look carefully at this photo taken by island guest Roseanne Jordon, you'll notice two distinct types of birds. What may strike you first is the difference in color - some of these birds have a light sand-colored back, while others have a darker mud-colored back. Next, compare the difference in bills. The lighter birds all have shorter, relatively straight bills. The darker birds all have longer, drooping bills. There are two species present in this photo, Sanderling (lighter) and Dunlin (darker). When not feeding, they often will flock together in large groups for protection from shorebird predators like the Peregrine Falcon.
The different appeances of the two species gives you clues about their feeding style. Sanderlings are lighter to blend in with light beach sand - these are are the birds you see running along the edges of oncoming waves. Their bill is shorter because sanderlings rely more upon their vision to find bits of food washed up by the waves. The Dunlin have a more methodical feeding style, probing for invertebrates under the sand or mud with their longer and more sensitive bill. Their darker color helps them blend in with their favorite habitat - mudflats.
In a cold winter like the one we have been experiencing, it is particularly urgent to give shorebird flocks some privacy and respect. These tiny little bundles of feathers and soft peeps need all their energy to stay warm in the harsh January wind. When they are chased and/or disturbed by dogs, bikers, joggers, and even careless walkers, they spend that energy flying away rather than staying warm. If this happens throughout the day, the birds may not have enough energy to survive the winter. Please let others know how important rest is to the survival of these adorable birds. Always keep a dog on a leash around shorebirds and give resting flocks of shorebirds the courtesy of a nice wide berth while biking or jogging on the beach. |
| January 6, 2010 ~ Feather Report | |
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Tour: Back Island Birding Guide: Sarah Ernst
Weather: Partly cloudy, very windy, low to upper 40s
Locations: Bridge at Killdeer Pond, Marshview Tower in the Preserve, Osprey Point, Willet Pond, Ocean Course Beach
Notes: All the wind kept the birds hunkered down and our numbers fairly low today, but we finally had some great success at the beach, with gannets diving very close by in the surf and a piping plover hanging out close to the path. Unfortunately, we also saw an otherwise well-meaning family let their golden retreiver chase the piping plover (an endangered species) and other nearby shorebirds (click here to learn more about pet etiquette on Kiawah). The redheads are still here and it looked like at least one of the juvenile ibis is switching over from the juvenile brown plumage to the adult white plumage.
Species List: Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Nothern Gannet, Double-Crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Willet, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Caspian Tern, Foster's Tern, Red-bellied Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird |