NON PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE
PAID
336 Sanctuary Road
Harleyville, South Carolina 29448-3324 PERMIT NO. 11

HARLEYVILLE
SC
STATE NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2008

A Call to Action
Frank S. Holleman, III, ASC Board Chair

For some time, a group based in Union County has proposed damming the Tyger River,
thus flooding and destroying approximately 5,000 acres of National Forest and blocking one
of South Carolina’s few remaining free-flowing rivers. This proposal would destroy a great
and extensive riverine bottomland hardwood forest. Audubon South Carolina has
determined that, as a consequence, the proposed dam would destroy the habitat for tens of
thousands of nesting birds. In addition, the S.C. Native Plant Society has pointed out that
the proposal would destroy some 1 million trees, in addition to other plant communities
throughout the National Forest. Audubon South Carolina, in partnership with a number of
other conservation groups, has actively opposed this proposal.
April 18-20, 2008 On January 4, 2008, Audubon South Carolina joined the Sierra Club, Upstate Forever, the
Inside this issue: Native Plant Society, and the S.C. Wildlife Federation in a press release disclosing a U.S.
For details go to Army Corps of Engineers study that the proposed dam is not economically viable and would
be built on two earthquake faults. The Corps of Engineers has withheld the study from the
http://santee.fws.gov The Executive Nest 2 conservation groups and the public, but Dennis Chamberlain, an attorney for the
conservation groups and a long-time Sierra Club leader, reviewed a copy of the report and
Please contact bthomas@audubon.org with name or address corrections. revealed its conclusions. Audubon South Carolina and other groups have filed federal
Bird Conservation 3 Freedom of Information Act requests seeking release of the full text of the report, and we
hope it will be released to the public soon.
You Can Help!
Audubon Center at 4 The Corps study concludes that the project is not economically viable. It finds that the area
around the dam does not need the reservoir for water resources. Audubon South Carolina
Beidler Forest and other conservation groups have opposed the project because it would take a National
Everyday shopping can benefit Audubon South Carolina? Forest and turn it over to private interests, it would dam the Tyger River, it would destroy
Silver Bluff 5 thousands of acres of public forests, it would destroy habitat for wildlife and tens of
Really! Audubon Center
thousands of birds, and it would eliminate thousands of acres of public recreational and
hunting lands.

Norm Brunswig and Jeff Mollenhauer of Audubon South Carolina have worked closely with
Absolutely! Who hasn't uttered the words, "I wish there was something I could do to help!" 2007 ASC Nature 6
the conservation partners on this project. Please contact U.S. Representatives Bob Inglis
Now you can. Become a member at www.iGive.com/AudubonSC, and then start shopping!
You can buy the items you've always wanted, like that DVD boxed set, that expensive Photography Contest and John Spratt and U.S. Senators. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint and express your
concern about this proposal.
cologne, or the flat-panel TV you’ve had your eyes on - minus the guilt!
It Can’t Happen 7
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-4th Congress. Dist.) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
It’s FREE, no invisible costs or tricky obligations. Shop for everyday items at the over 650 Without You! 330 Cannon House Office Building 290 Russell Senate Office Building
stores at the Mall at iGive.com, like BARNES&NOBLE, , BEST BUY, Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 225-6030 (202) 224-5972
HORCHOW, STAPLES and even ebay! Up to 26% or more of each purchase is donated You Can Help! 8
to Audubon South Carolina. Rep. John Spratt (D-5th Congress. Dist.) Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
1401 Longworth Building 340 Russell Senate Office Building

Join now at www.iGive.com/AudubonSC

Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
(202) 225-5501 (202) 224-6121
Please Recycle

(Information is subject to change. Visit www.iGive.com for current details.) The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems,
iGive.com Holdings, LLC focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity.

Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org

THE EXECUTIVE NEST by Norman Brunswig, Executive Director 2007 AUDUBON SOUTH CAROLINA NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Our Birds, Their Birds, Everyone’s Birds
Every bird conservationist and bird watcher in the United Sates knows that many of our most
spectacular and beloved birds are neo tropical; they nest in the U.S. or Canada and winter south AUDUBON
of us. Most have wondered – or worried - about how “our birds” are doing when they become SOUTH CAROLINA
“their birds” in Mexico, Central America and South America. ADVISORY BOARD
At some level, most of us have acknowledged that no matter how well we do at protecting and Frank S. Holleman, III
maintaining important bird habitat here, bird populations will continue to decline if habitat is not Chair
protected on the southern wintering grounds. Greenville, SC
In collaboration with Audubon’s International Alliances Program, the nine Audubon State Richard Familia “Beautiful Landing”
Programs along the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida and including Audubon South Vice-Chair Forrest E. Roberts
Carolina, have elected to shift this worry into action by creating a partnership with the Belize Summerville, SC “Cypress”
Audubon Society (BAS). By joining forces with BAS we hope to improve the prospects of many Mark Hoyle
species of neo-tropicals that nest in our states and winter in Belize. Belize was selected for the Roy E. Belser
first East States International Partnership Project because it provides critical wintering habitat for Sumter, SC “Prothonotary Warbler and Chick”
Joe Kegley “Where Time Stands Still”
several important birds from each of our states and because BAS is excited about the
opportunity. South Carolina’s birds include the Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher John Cely Carla Klouda
and Summer Tanager, to name just three. Columbia, SC
In early February, I joined ten of my colleagues on a week-long trip to Belize, to meet and get to Howard Costa
know BAS and visit three Belizean National Parks and Sanctuaries. We shared our mutual Hilton Head, SC 2007
concerns and explored ways in which we might cooperate, and there are many. Audubon South Carolina
Victoria Dahl
The Atlantic Flyway States and BAS have agreed to focus first on the protection of Belize’s Charleston, SC Nature
16,000 acre Crooked Tree Sanctuary, an intact mini-Everglades imbedded with pine savannahs Photography Contest
and hardwood forests and surrounding a village of 700 people. In the village we saw birds in the Polly des Francs
trees and shrubs familiar to us from home. Crooked Tree Sanctuary and BAS are clearly Charleston, SC
confronted with every problem that besets bird and habitat conservationists in the US and some “Atamasco Lily” “Passion Flower with Gulf Fritillary”
unique to them. Like us, they struggle to succeed in challenging times and conditions. Drew Lanham, Ph.D.
Clemson, SC Nancy Baldwin Reggie Daves
We are still in the early stage of defining our partnership and it is not yet clear what form it will
take. What is clear is that we have a wonderful and capable partner in the people of BAS. We Carol Ann May
Naples, FL
2007 Audubon South Carolina Photography Contest Winners
share a common vision with them, and know together we can improve the lives and futures of
many of our, and their, most beloved birds. The 2007 Audubon South Carolina Photography Contest, co-sponsored by the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association,
Rebecca Sharitz, Ph.D.
Aiken, SC unveiled the winning photographs on January 17th.
I am thrilled to be engaging an international partner on behalf of Audubon South Carolina to
accomplish important bird conservation goals and I hope you are too. We will keep you informed The contest invited photographers to capture the beauty of the natural world at the Beidler Forest and Silver Bluff Audubon Centers.
as this new partnership matures and its objectives are developed. Dr. Tom Tiller Nearly 100 entries were submitted, with participants from as far away as California and Pennsylvania, as well as numerous entrants
Greenville, SC from North and South Carolina.
Daniel Tufford, Ph.D. First Place Overall: Joe Kegley’s “Prothonotary Warbler and Chick.”
Columbia, SC
Second Places: Joe Kegley “Fawn,” (Wildlife)
Chris Verenes Carla Klouda ~ “Where Time Stands Still” (Plant/Landscape)
Aiken, SC
Third Places : Forrest Roberts ~ “Beautiful Landing” (Wildlife)
Mary Jo Wannamaker, Ph.D. Mark Hoyle ~ “Cypress” (Plant/Landscape)
St. Matthews, SC
Honorable Mentions: Carla Klouda ~ “Female Spangled Skimmer” (Wildlife)
Dr. Donald Wuori Forrest Roberts ~ “This Side Up” (Wildlife)
Columbia, SC Reggie Daves ~“Passion Flower with Gulf Fritillary” (Plant/Landscape)
Nancy Baldwin~“Atamasco Lily” and “Hollow Tree with Maple Seedling” (Plant/Landscape)
The 2008 ASC Photography Contest will begin on March 15th.
The guidelines and application are available on our website: www.sc.audubon.org
Belize’s 16,000 acre Crooked Tree Sanctuary
Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC Page 6
Page 2 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org
IT CAN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU! BIRD CONSERVATION

Audubon South Carolina could never accomplish all it does without the financial support of people who understand and appreciate
our efforts to protect habitat for birds and other wildlife and to help our communities preserve the natural landscapes that have such
an impact on our quality of life. The following is a list of those who provided $1,000 or more for Audubon programs in South
Carolina during 2007. Space prevents us from listing every person who provided a gift last year, but know that we could never have
succeeded without the financial support generously given by each of you. Thank you!
FOUNDATIONS:
American Forest Foundation
Francis Beidler Foundation
Henry M. Blackmer Foundation, Inc.
The Bohemia Fund of The New York Community Trust
Dorothy Mustin Buttolph Foundation
Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust
The Ceres Foundation, Inc.
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Daniel Island Community Fund
Foundation for the Carolinas
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Joanna Foundation
Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation
Merck Family Fund
Mills Bee Lane Memorial Foundation
Pine Tree Conservation Society, Inc.
Post and Courier Foundation
Mary Seibert Charitable Trust
Summit Area Public Foundation
BUSINESSES:
Bridgestone-Firestone South Carolina
Charleston Natural History Society
Circle Environmental
First National Bank of South Carolina
Giant Cement Holding, Inc.
Homeland Security Solutions Inc
Lafarge North America Inc.
Martin Marietta Materials
MeadWestvaco Corporation
Olin Corporation
Robert Bosch Corporation
SCANA Corporation
Security Federal Bank
Waste Management, Inc.
INDIVIDUALS
Ms. Virginia C. Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford P. Bastuscheck
Mr. Roy Belser
The Estate of Elizabeth F. Biel
Mrs. Walter F. Brissenden
Mrs. Lore Brown
Mr. Ogden B. Carter, Jr.
The 2nd Annual ASC Swallow-tailed Kite Survey
Protecting the elegant Swallow-tailed Kite is a high priority for Audubon South
Carolina. To protect it, we must first know how many there are and where they
nest.
Mr. & Mrs. Peyton S. Cochran
Dr. H. Paul Cooler Volunteers will conduct our annual survey on the Edisto, Santee, Savannah,
Dr. and Mrs. Joel Cox
Black, and Waccamaw Rivers to answer these important questions. The survey
Ms. Victoria Dahl
is scheduled for April 11, 12, 13, & 14. You must have your own boat and
Dr. and Mrs. Reggie F. Daves
Mr. Richard A. Familia transportation to and from launch points. If you would like to volunteer to
Mr. & Mrs. James Hoffman
survey a section of one of these rivers, please contact Ann Shahid at 843-462-
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Holleman
Mr. Brian Johanek 2150 or ashahid@audubon.org.
Ms. Carol Ann May
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Montgomery, PhD.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Myers Bird Walks at Folly Beach County Park
Mr. Bruce E. Richbourg
Mr. and Mrs. Forrest E. Roberts, Jr.
We are pleased to announce that Audubon South Carolina will be partnering with Charleston County Parks and
Dr. Lawrence Roel
Mrs. William Schroeder Recreation Commission (CCPRC) to lead a monthly bird walk at Folly Beach County Park. The beach offers a fantastic
Ms. Rebecca R. Sharitz, PhD.
setting for beginner and intermediate bird-watchers to learn more about birds. Our winter and spring walks will offer
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Tiller, Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Norman S. Walsh opportunities to view gannets, sea ducks, loons, and many of South Carolina’s shorebirds, including the federally
Mr. Richard E. Watkins threatened Piping Plover. Participants on summer walks may see Painted Buntings, Wilson’s Plovers, Black Skimmers
Rinda West
Jerry & Marcella Withrow and several species of terns. The first walk will be held on Friday, March 14th, 10:00am – 12:00pm. Walks will be held
Donald & Joanne Wuori on the second Friday of every month thereafter. The program will be co-lead by Audubon’s Director of Bird
C. T. Wyche Conservation, Jeff Mollenhauer and CCPRC’s Interpretive Naturalist, Keith McCullough. There is no cost for the walk,
but there is a $7.00 parking fee to enter the county park. Advanced registration is required and space is limited. To
reserve your spot, visit www.ccprc.com or call 843-795-4FUN (4386). If you have any questions, please contact Jeff
Mollenhauer at jmollenhauer@audubon.org or 843-462-2150.

This newsletter describes a broad range of Audubon South Carolina bird and habitat
conservation activities, from the Christmas Bird Count to opposing an ill-conceived
destructive dam, to establishing a new international partnership. It presents but a tiny
snapshot of the work we do to protect habitat for birds and other wildlife, and for all people
whose lives are enriched by them.

There are many more Audubon projects and programs than can be described in a newsletter
and none of them can be accomplished without support from people just like you. We are
most grateful for each and every one. NO gift is too small - or too large! We also have a
simple way to donate stock, if that is a better method for you. Photo by Jeff Mollenhauer Photo by Jeff Mollenhauer Photo by Jeff Mollenhauer

A contribution to Audubon South Carolina supports our conservation programs throughout Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Royal Tern
the state. And truly, it cannot happen without you!

□ YES! I want to help protect birds and the places they call “home.”
History of the Christmas Bird Count

Please accept my tax-deductible donation of $ □Check □Credit Card The goal of a Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is to count the total number of individuals for each bird species within a 15-mile
diameter circle. The first CBCs were conducted in 1900, organized by ornithologist Frank Chapman. More than 100 years later
there are now more than 2,000 CBCs conducted throughout the U.S. and Canada with the help of more than 50,000 volunteers!
VISA, MC #: Exp. Date:
Many CBCs have been conducted for more than forty years and have generated extremely valuable data for scientists about bird
Name: Daytime Tel: population trends and distributions. Data from the CBC has been used to document population declines in many of our common
Address (inc. ZIP): birds, such as Northern Bobwhite, Little Blue Heron, and Rusty Blackbird. There are about twenty CBCs conducted every year in
South Carolina and often producing some of the highest species totals in the United States outside of Florida and California. In
Please make checks payable to “Audubon South Carolina” & mail to 336 Sanctuary Rd. - Harleyville, SC 29448 fact, South Carolina CBCs consistently turn up the highest numbers of American Oystercatcher, Semipalmated Plover, Little Blue
Heron, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Yellow-rumped “Myrtle” Warblers in the entire country! If you
Thank you for making a difference! missed out on the Christmas Bird Count this year, there are about twenty that occur throughout South Carolina from Dec. 15th to
Jan. 5th each year. For more information visit: www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.

Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org Page 7 Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org Page 3
AUDUBON CENTER AT BEIDLER FOREST
WINE & WARBLERS
April 26, 2008
Join Audubon and South Carolina’s best birdwatchers
for an evening of wine,
hors d’oeuvres and warblers.
Welcome spring to the swamp by joining
us for this enchanting evening.
Walks begin at 5 pm. And leave every twenty minutes.
$35.00 per person
Call (843) 462-2150 to register by April 13, 2008
“GET SWAMPED” Summer Day Camp
The Audubon Center at Beidler Forest offers a choice of three
week-long summer day-camps during June & July (Session I:
June 23-27; Session II: July 7-11; Session III: July 14-18).
With a Native American theme, campers will become amateur
naturalists by engaging in science, hands-on activities and
crafts, including wildlife track identification, dyeing with
natural materials, weaving, making pottery, making fire, and
understanding the swamp ecosystem.
The programs for the summer camp (9:00 am until 2:00 pm)
are geared for grades 2 through 6 at a cost of $85 for the 1st
child, $75 each additional child within the family.
Scholarships are also available. A copy of the enrollment form
and the camp schedule can be downloaded from our new
webpage at http://sc.audubon.org. Please call Beidler Forest at
843-462-2150 to secure a place for your child or send an e-
mail to mmusselman@audubon.org.
Piccolo Spoleto Presents
Sanctuary Serenade
Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres & wine while strolling along
the boardwalk amidst towering cypress trees, while
listening to the clear, lilting voice of Kathie Livingston,
the music of Jesse Cockcroft, and the poetic words of
Jack Smith. $30/person. 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 pm. Tickets
available only through www.ticketmaster.com
Page 4 Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org
Guided Canoe/Kayak Trips
Description: In the spring, you can paddle the still
blackwater under towering 1,000 year old cypress trees as
an Audubon naturalist leads you deep into the heart of the
Francis Beilder Forest in Four Holes Swamp. This
National Audubon Society wildlife sanctuary contains the
largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and tupelo
gum trees in the world. Our canoe/kayak trips provide a
very unique way of experiencing this special area, and
will be adventure you will never forget!
Four Hour (+/-) Trips: $25/
adult, $15/child ages 8-18.
Two Hour Trips: $15/adult,
$10/child ages 6-18.
For more details and
Reservations: Call (843) 462-
2150.
SILVER BLUFF AUDUBON CENTER
Citizens and Science
The Hollow Creek project follows protocol
established by the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Project,
which is designed as a “citizens science” effort to monitor
the health of streams and rivers throughout Georgia, as
well as those from other states that drain into Georgia
watersheds (e.g. Hollow Creek draining into the
Savannah River). Audubon South Carolina matched
funding from National Audubon to offer a grant program
to South Carolina chapters that would help fund various
conservation projects. The A-AAS proposal was funded
in the amount of $960, which was received in July
2006. Since that time, monthly chemical monitoring of
Hollow Creek has been conducted at 3 sampling points
by chapter volunteers and Silver Bluff staff. Biological
monitoring of macro invertebrates is conducted
Volunteers Doug and Alice Walker collecting macro invertebrate quarterly. The chemical monitoring is generally a 5-hour
samples in Hollow Creek. process which measures dissolved oxygen, temperature,
conductivity, pH, phosphates, ammonia, turbidity and
more. The biological monitoring requires the better part of two days and both sets of monitoring procedures require annual training
and certification of volunteers by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. This project has significance in that Hollow Creek is the water source
for the Wood Stork foraging ponds and Silver Bluff is a SC Important Bird Area.
Welcome Tara Jenkins
Audubon South Carolina is happy to introduce Tara Jenkins as the
new teacher/naturalist at Silver Bluff and Director of the Science &
Technology Enrichment Program (STEP). Tara is “stepping” in to
replace Anne Bohnet, who enthused and educated thousands of
children and adults for 5 years before taking a position last fall with
the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Tara exhibits the very same
enthusiasm and we look forward to a long association with her and to
the many lives in which she will help to instill a love for and
understanding of nature.
A native of New York, Tara moved south with her family
when she was 5 years old. She graduated from Georgia Southern
University and later earned a Master’s Degree in Foundations of
Education. She and her 10-year-old daughter Maya live in
Hephzibah, GA, a southern “suburb” of Augusta. Tara has a
background working with pre-K children, and most recently taught for
5 years at Sego Middle School in Augusta, where she also served as
Teacher in Residence of the Science Department. As Director of
STEP, Tara is employed by the Ruth Patrick Science Education
Center (a unit of the University of South Carolina) and splits her time
between Audubon, the Savannah River Site, and USC-Aiken.
We hope that you will visit Silver Bluff soon to meet Tara
and that you can spread the word about the wonderful educational and
Tara Jenkins
recreational opportunities that are available for the entire family at
Naturalist and Teacher at
Silver Bluff. You can email Tara at taraj@usca.edu, or call the Silver
Silver Bluff
Bluff Audubon Center at 803-471-0291.
Audubon South Carolina●336 Sanctuary Road●Harleyville, SC 29448●843.462.2150●http://sc.audubon.org Page 5