Spotlight Series

Hilton Head Audubon launched the ‘Spotlight’ Series in 2022 to showcase Conservation Champions in the Lowcountry and surrounding areas. Conservation Champions like the ones we’re talking to work to protect our air, water, and natural ecosystems, not just for our benefit but also for the health of our wildlife and birds.

Here, we share our interviews about these conservationist’s accomplishments, missions, and the work of their organizations. These stories inspire us and will help people know how to engage more in conservation movements, organizations, and actions. Promoting their work helps us carry out our vision to be:

“a leading voice for conservation in the Lowcountry working to preserve and protect wildlife and natural ecosystems and encourage responsible environmental stewardship.”

Read on to learn more, share these links with your friends and colleagues, visit their websites and follow them on social media. Let everyone know how these local Conservation Champions are working to make our wildlife safer and stronger.

I have always found solace in nature. That bond has deepened as I’ve followed my passion to create beautiful art photographing the incredible variety of birdlife in the Lowcountry. I am happiest when I am laying in pluff mud, wandering the marshes or forests seeking out birds. Each bird has a soul and personality that I try to capture through my photography.

Maria Whitehead is one of the most respected and effective advocates for conserving land in South Carolina and one of the leading conservationists in the country. During the last decade, Maria was instrumental in preserving over 50,000 acres of land across South Carolina and Georgia, first as a Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy and, since October 2016, as a Senior Project Manager for the Open Space Institute (OSI), a national conservation organization based in New York State.

In John Tynan’s interview, the Executive Director of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) discusses how CVSC fights for South Carolina’s air, land, and water through bipartisan, pragmatic political action. As the political voice of the Palmetto State’s conservation community, their mission makes conservation and environmental issues a top priority among SC’s elected leaders, political candidates, and voters. Tynan’s thoughtful responses offer support and direction for Hilton Head Audubon’s non-political conservation efforts to preserve and protect Lowcountry birds and their habitats.