Volume 5 Issue 1 Spring 2020

GREENWOODA publication from the

Dataw Island Conservancy

Article re: Osprey Nest Platforms . . . george cartledge

The Conservancy strives to find ways to protect and improve the natural habitat of Dataw so that the flora and fauna can thrive. Over the last several years, the Conservancy has installed five osprey nesting platforms around Dataw. Many of us on Dataw have enjoyed observing the adult ospreys as they build their nests and fledge the next generation.As stated by OspreyWatch Center for Conservation Biology:

The celebrated annual return of nesting osprey to breeding sites ranges from January through May with southern populations returning early. Upon arrival, pairs begin to repair old nests or build new nests. Osprey nests are large stick structures often built in trees or man-made structures near or over water. Ambitious pairs have been known to build nests as large as 10 feet deep and several feet wide. As nest building nears its conclusion courtship and mating intensify resulting in the laying of 2–4 eggs. Eggs vary considerably in coloration but typically have a cream-colored base with blotches of some secondary color. Both adults alternate incubating eggs for approximately 35 days before hatching. Males are responsible for most of the hunting in the early part of chick rearing while females brood and feed the chicks. Young grow rapidly and begin to fly around eight weeks of age. Young birds remain on the winter grounds until they reach 2–3 years old when they may return to breeding grounds to prospect for nesting territories. They typically breed for the first time when they are 3–4 years old or older. Adults have high mate fidelity and many pairs mate for life.

On a cold day in January 2020, Conservancy Board members Herb Stackhouse and George Cartledge boarded Herb’s boat and inspected the platforms, took coordinate readings and placed numbers on the poles to aid in identification. The following table lists the location of the Conservancy-installed nesting platforms. Note that the coordinates are formatted as required by Google Earth and all platforms are over water.

Platform # Coordinates remarks 1 32 24’ 46”N 80 35’ 26”W West of causeway and security gate 2 32 26’ 53”N 80 35’ 09”W North of Sparrow Nest crab dock 3 32 27’ 06”N 80 34’ 32”W North of Morgan River #13 4 32 25’ 49”N 80 34’ 49”W Behind Clubhouse and Cotton Dike 9 green 5 32 25’ 43”N 80 35’ 01”W Between Cotton Dike #8 green and Cotton Dike #9 tee

If you venture to the OspreyWatch website (www.osprey-watch.org), you will discover that there are many osprey nests listed around Dataw. I noted that one of the nests that was in a pine tree on Gleasons Landing Court is gone due to the top of the tree falling down. Also, some of the coordinates may need to be updated/corrected on the website. Something else to work on while maintaining self-distancing.

observing the return of the ospreys to their nests is a cherished dataw tradition. the sound of the babies crying for their food is guaranteed to make you stop and watch.

InsIde thIs IssueThe President’s Corner (2)Nurturing Nature in Your Dataw Garden (2)Ecology Guide Available in Digital or Print form (2)Dataw Weather Primer (3)Habitat Management Plan in Mapping Phase (3)14th Annual Dataw Conservancy GBBC ( 4)Monitoring Bluebird Nestboxes (5)Nature Talk by the TNC (5)Donor & Volunteer Form (6)

the dataw island eCology guide has

been printed and is ready to be handed out! for more

information, see page 2.

george Cartledge

GREEN WOOD Spring 20202

After producing eight printed issues of this

newsletter, I am pleased to announce our first digital-only issue. This issue includes articles about bluebird nest box monitoring, Great Backyard Bird Count and progress on the Habitat Management Plan. It also re-caps the Nature Talk and osprey platform survey. I think you will find the feature stories, about the weather on Dataw and “planting to nourish nature”, both informative and interesting. The Dataw Island Conservancy Board is very excited about the acquisition of Oak Island, as I am sure many of you are as well. It offers great opportunities for communing with nature and appreciating the splendor of the marsh and maritime forest environments. The Board is developing a conceptual plan for managing Oak Island so that the wildlife will thrive and we can experience nature in an even deeper way. Stay tuned!

The President’sCorner. . . guy apicella

Ecology Guide Available in Print and/or Digital FormatsThe 60-page booklet provides descriptions and pictures of the animals and plants that comprise the natural beauty of Dataw Island. As part of our annual Supporters Drive, we are offering a printed copy of the Ecology Guide to our Donors.

To get a digital version of the Ecology Guide, click here: www.dataw.com/files/Dataw%20Island%20Ecology%20Guide.pdf.If you are a DI Conservancy Donor and would like a pRINTED copy, e-mail Guy Apicella at guy_apicella@yahoo.com.Not yet a 2020 Conservancy Donor? See page 5 for the Donor form. Donor forms are also available on the counter near the bulletin board in the Community Center and in the Cannery. Or email George Cartledge at george.cartledge@gmail.com and he will put a form in your message box. If you would like a digital copy of the Donor form, let George know.

Nurturing Nature in Your Dataw Garden . . . larry haskell

William Bartram (born April 9, 1739, in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania — died July 22, 1823, in Kingsessing), was an American naturalist, botanist, and artist. The son of naturalist John Bartram, he described the abundant river swamps of the southeastern United States in their primeval condition in his Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida (1791). The unabridged edition Travels of William Bartram – Edited by Mark Van Doren is a wonderful read. Bartram beautifully describes the natural beauty of our area during his many visits through South Carolina and provides a peek into this once verdant landscape. His diary chronicling his visits through the Southeast is an insightful read and provides a glimpse into the landscape and people of the region. Plants collected by Bartram were sold via subscription to plant collectors in Britain. Today, if you visit the Chelsea Physic Gardens and the Kew Gardens in London, you will see specimen plants originally collected by Bartram and thriving in the United Kingdom. Rhododendron, all but an invasive plant in most of the UK, was originally introduced by Bartram.Many of the plants identified during Bartram’s visits would become garden staples throughout the world. For example, the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia Grand flora) iconic of the American Southeast would become a garden essential. The well manicured and primarily non-native gardens that we enjoy today provide little in the way of benefit to the native bird, butterfly and reptile species. To assist those species, I am providing below a list of just a few South Carolina native plants that would benefit native birds, butterflies and reptiles. So, if you have space in your garden that you are willing to become a “little wild” these plants would make ideal habitat and provide for a healthy and more vibrant gardening experience. For a complete list of South Carolina natives go to www.scwf.org/native-plant-list/.

ZFlorida Azalea (Rhododendron Austrinum): flower visited by Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs, hummingbirds, bees, and song birds

ZSpanish Bayonet (Yucca Aloifolia): moths, larva plant for giant Skipper Butterflies

ZNorthern Spicebush (Lindera Benzoin): larval plant for spicebush swallowtail

ZButterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa): flowers nectar source for Tiger, Spicebush, Eastern Black, Pipevine, Swallowtail Butterflies, Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly. Larval plant for Monarchs.

ZPassionflower (Passiflora Incarnata): flowers visited by Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, larval plant for others

ZChristmas Fern (Polystichum Acrosticoides): grouse, cover for frogs

ZIndian Grass (Sorgastrum Nutans): South Carolina State Grass. Flowers visited by bees,seeds eaten by birds; foliage for grazing.

Butterfly Weed

florida azaleaspanishBayonet

northern spicebush

Passionflower

Christmas fern

indian grass

GREEN WOOD Spring 20203Habitat Management Plan in Mapping Phase . . . guy apicella

The Dataw Island Conservancy retained Folk Land Management, Inc. (FLM), a woodlands and wildlife consulting firm in Green Pond, South Carolina, for professional services to support the Habitat Management Plan. FLM’s first task was to develop a digitized land use map of Dataw Island using Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. The map shows areas of the island in terms of these major land use categories (and sub-categories): n Residential Parcel (developed, unoccupied, DIOA)n Common Groundn Club House Complexn Golf Coursen Recreational Facilitiesn Landscaping/Sales Facilitiesn Historical Featuresn Freshwater Pondsn Natural Areas

The land use map visually depicts the limited areas that serve as wildlife habitat. By differentiating the unoccupied privately-owned and DIOA-owned properties from the developed private properties, one can see the advanced state of residential development on the island. In addition, the future “build-out” condition will result in a loss of 44.9 acres of unoccupied private parcels and 2.4 acres of DIOA parcels that are presently undeveloped. The land use map is being distributed to DIOA, DIC and other interested organizations for their review and comment.The next task will be to show the wildlife habitat areas on the GIS map, including important bird nesting rookeries, significant trees (e.g., green ash), bird houses for bluebirds and purple martins, as well as osprey platforms. FLM will return to Dataw Island to survey these and other natural sites, and catalog their habitat features. Ultimately, the Dataw Island Conservancy will collaborate with our consultants to produce a written Habitat Management Plan.

Dataw Weather Primer . . . dave dolan

While I am not a trained meteorologist, I thought some might be interested in observations that I have made over the 20 plus years I have lived on this island. We are blessed to live in an area that enjoys mild winters and beautiful springs and falls; we rarely get deep frosts and it rarely snows. While we are constantly warned of global warming, it is noteworthy that Beaufort was once known for its citrus crops. Generally, most of our normal good weather (and even some of our stormy weather) comes from the south/southwest which is largely due to the jet stream which flows from west to east. In warmer months, this is countered by an afternoon on-shore breeze off the Atlantic. When we had roughly five years of drought in the late 90’s we often saw afternoon thunderstorms come from the west but never made it to Dataw; Beaufort proper and the MC air station got much more rainfall than we did. It also seems to give us more thunderstorms from the east later in the day or at night. It is also why the Dataw golfers complain that they are always “hitting into the wind”, as the front nines are largely on the west side of the island and the back nines are predominantly on the east side. Of course, we can get “tropical” lows that come off the ocean and are more common in warmer months and come from the south and southeast. These have a characteristic counter-clockwise wind rotation which can push tidal water inland giving some flooding in low lying areas. We also can get “nor-easters” which come from the northeast of us and also have the same rotation and are especially prone to cause damaging erosion to our beaches in addition to stormy weather here on Dataw; these nor-easters are more common in the cooler months. The primary weather worry of Dataw residents is the threat of hurricanes in warmer months. These storms, which generally develop over warm tropical water, come from the east coast of Africa or from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They also have a counterclockwise rotation and their paths are very difficult to predict. Dry air, high pressure systems, strong winds or the jet stream can influence where they will go. The concave shape of our coast line seems to encourage Atlantic storms to not come ashore directly but divert further north. It is worth remembering that we have had only three major hurricanes here since the 1890’s. The really big one was in 1898 and it completely flooded Beaufort and the surrounding islands. Paris Island was almost totally inundated. You can still see markers that show the height of the waters that came into downtown Beaufort. There was also a major storm in 1958 which clobbered the economy of this area and took out several bridges (including the original bridge that connected Dataw to Polowanna which was a major reason that the Rowland brothers sold the island to Alcoa). Of course, Matthew was the latest of these big storms to hit us and we still remember the amount of debris and the damage done, especially to our trees, our marina and our docks. In a hurricane, most of the strongest winds and damage occur on the northwest edge of these storms, but the outlying bands that extend out from the eye can be very damaging, as they contain tornadic winds. Flooding is also a big part of the hurricane damage, as these storms push tidal water inland as they come ashore in addition to very heavy rainfall. It is less appreciated how much of the damage is caused when the water egresses. How much flooding damage caused is largely determined by the level of the tide when the storm hits.Long term Dataw residents can testify that it is not safe to stay on the island if we experience another big hurricane. It is necessary to evacuate early, as there are not that many roads leading out of Beaufort County, causing terrible traffic congestion for those who wait too long. Enjoy our semitropical weather. I hope this gives you some insight into what the weather patterns are in this area we call home.

GREEN WOODSPrInG 2020

Green Wood is a publication of thedataw Island Conservancy, dataw Island, sC

datawconservancy@islc.net

dataW Island ConservanCy BoardPresident:

vice President: treasurer:secretary: at–large: at–large:

Guy apicellaherbert stackhouseGeorge Cartledgedave dolan larry haskelCharles holbrook

editor and designer: Cindy schafer

GREEN WOOD Spring 20204

The 2020 Dataw Island Conservancy Great Backyard Bird Count was our 14th dating back to 2007. Nearly 30 residents contributed to this year’s count which took place from February 14 –17. The species total was 79 and the total number of birds tallied was 2127. Compared to previous years, the 2020 GBBC species total was the 6th highest and the bird total was the 3rd highest. In addition to these figures, the Dataw Island Conservancy GBBC resulted in some important and exciting observations.Probably the most extraordinary outcome of the GBBC was the enumeration of over 450 Herons and Egrets roosting in the early morning in the rookery across from the Community Center. Larry Haskell along with Gene and Kathy Kelenski independently validated these impressive numbers. With the increased construction on Dataw in recent years, this rookery has exploded as some previous roosting locations on Dataw have been disrupted. There were always large numbers of Herons and Egrets at this location but this year’s total was off the charts. While it is exciting to see such huge numbers of Herons and Egrets, it indicates an overall reduction in roosting sites on Dataw in recent years.Another important outcome of the GBBC was the appearance of Eaglets at the nest on Longfield Drive. Therese Korey and Susan Dickson made this report which is the third consecutive year that Eaglets have been produced at this nest. Each year this nest seems to get larger and it is the only Eagle nest on Dataw.A third noteworthy result of the GBBC was the report by Joan and Ralph Hoover of 5 Baltimore Orioles at their feeder. The Hoovers had these Orioles under observation for weeks before the count and their work paid off. Overall, Dataw tallied 13 Baltimore Orioles which is the highest number since the count began in 2007. The Baltimore Oriole is not a year round resident on Dataw and these Orioles were in migration. February is an important month for migration on Dataw. Dataw provides a mild climate and there is food available which are attractions for the Orioles.

Dave Dolan reported sighting a Wild Turkey on the Cotton Dike golf course near hole 11. Although Wild Turkeys are common on St. Helena Island, they are rarely seen on Dataw. This can be attested to by the fact that Joe Roney saw a Wild Turkey on Polowanna Road which we noted on the tally list but did not include in our overall bird total.Last but certainly not least was Ginny Hall-Apicella’s sighting of a male Painted Bunting at her feeder. She backed this up with a picture. Ginny’s report is one of the earliest of the Painted Bunting on Dataw in many years.Other items of interest to recount from the GBBC include the fact that no Turkey Vultures were seen even though they are very common. On the other hand, 76 Cedar Waxwings were tallied but none were counted in last year’s GBBC or our Christmas Count in December. This demonstrates how bird sightings can vary widely from year to year and count to count. One year you have 2 Robins and the next year over 700 appear because of migration. In conclusion, Dataw’s bird population is stable despite the increase in construction on the island. However, it is important to monitor bird populations on Dataw over time to see if any dramatic impacts are taking place. Increased construction has had an adverse effect on Chuck-will’s-widow. This bird was widely distributed over Dataw and its distinctive call could often be heard during the spring in the early evening. It is still heard but not as frequently as in past years. On a positive note, the recent addition of Oak Island offers Dataw a unique opportunity to preserve wildlife habitat and open space for future generations.

14th Annual Dataw Conservancy Great Backyard Bird Count Produces Significant Results . . . charlie holbrook

dataw Conservancy gBBC results year number of total number species reported of birds 2020 79 2127 2019 75 1998 2018 73 2606 2017 76 1922 2016 81 1479 2015 74 1733 2014 86 2613 2013 69 2013 2012 86 1694 2011 82 966 2010 66 1260 2009 68 1048 2008 72 953 2007 92 1302

in these photos by dataw resident mark Pritchard, the eaglets (below) are patiently watching for their mother (above) to come back with food.

Keep up with the dataw island ConservanCy!our website is located on the dataw website, under the “CluBs & organizations” tab (located under sPorts & reC).

You will find past newsletters and information about the Tallow Tree removal Project, a key area being worked on by the Conservancy.

GREEN WOOD Spring 20205Monitoring Bluebird Nestboxes . . . herb stackhouse

This spring volunteers on Dataw Island have stepped up and begun the weekly monitoring of bluebird houses. This monitoring will continue until the fall when the results will be collected. Monitoring is important for determining success of bluebirds using the houses as well as bird population trends and/or problems.Brian Hollingsworth, Dataw’s Director of Golf Course Management, has been diligent in making sure that both of the golf courses retain their Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification. Part of this certification includes maintaining wildlife and habitat management with the bluebird trail. There are 16 bluebird houses on the two golf courses. The Cotton Dike houses are monitored by Joanie Jordan while the Morgan River boxes are checked by Martha Keet and Marion Phillips.The Dataw Island Conservancy has placed 17 bluebird houses in various locations on the island. Volunteers are monitoring all of these boxes. There are other houses in individual yards. Of these, seven owners have agreed to use the monitoring form.So far results at these sites have varied from no nest activity to fledglings. Some houses have had non-bluebird residents, such as chickadees. The photos by volunteer Alvin Thurman show the activity in his three boxes.If you are interested in participating in the monitoring program, forms may be obtained from Herb Stackhouse (ortaherb@aol.com) or Larry Haskell (lshaskell@comcast.net).

Nature Talk by the TNC . . . guy apicella

On January 20, Dr. David Bishop of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) gave a presentation about land conservation in coastal South Carolina. This Nature Talk, sponsored by the Dataw Island Conservancy, drew approximately 120 residents to the Carolina Room.Dr. Bishop stated that 380,000 acres in the state have been conserved by TNC since 1969. Their primary strategy is to protect core blocks of land to serve as areas for wildlife to live and migrate along corridors. The ACE Basin, comprised of the watersheds of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers, is one of their major success stories as a wildlife refuge and recreational parkland. Dr. Bishop said that forests are valuable sources for yielding clean water supplies. TNC recently obtained a conservation easement on 14,000 acres along a corridor in the Savannah River watershed from the Groton Land Company at a cost of $250 per acre. Closer to Dataw, the Port Royal Sound Watershed is important to protect from excess development because its salt marsh mitigates hurricane damages. The Question and Answer period following his presentation elicited many comments concerning Oak Island, which was owned by TNC at that time. David was forthright in saying that he thought Oak Island should be owned and enjoyed by Dataw Island residents. The rest, as they say, is just history.

Photos by dataw resident and Bluebird volunteer alvin thurman. from eggs to newborn Bluebirds. above (photo on right) the mother bird watches as her photo is taken.

please support the di Conservancy and our efforts to make our beautiful island even more beautiful!our mission is to assist in the preservation of dataw Island’s environmental character by attempting to permanently conserve, maintain and manage the natural areas

and habitats of the Island and its surrounds; and encourage an appreciation of, and interest in, the Island’s natural resources by the residents of dataw Island.If you already are a 2020 supporter, we thank you! your support allows our band of volunteers to expand programs to enhance this special place we call home.

not a supporter? Why don’t you join us and become a supporter?___yes, i want to become a supporter! Enclosed is a check for $50 (made out to the dataW Island ConservanCy). All donations are tax-deductible.

Want to help us more? Check here! ____YES, I am interested in joining you. Call me and we can talk about possible ways i can help.

naMe: ______________________________________ Phone:______________________ address__________________________ e-MaIl______________________________________

drop Membership form off to George Cartledge’s message box at 1048 Curisha point south.