May 2023 |
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Inside this issue:
- What's New
- Upcoming Events
- New & Noteworthy
- Audubon Newhall Preserve
- Feathers Through Our Lenses
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A Letter from HHA President Kay Grinnell Today I’m thankful. I know it’s not the holidays, but it’s the end of our Audubon fiscal year, and I’d like to offer a sincere thank-you to our many members who donated extra funds to our coffers. Believe it or not, it costs quite a bit just to keep our Audubon Newhall Preserve going, between taxes, utilities, insurance, native plants and other mundane expenses. We squeeze our nickels hard and are so appreciative of all you give to allow us to also push forward on conservation, advocacy, and stewardship (education, field trips, outreach). Thanks also to our board and volunteers, who contribute many hours of their talented time, and are integral in helping to accomplish these activities.
Speaking of our board, you, as members, voted to approve two new and one continuing board member: Rosemary Staples, Hilton Klein and Karen Penale. I’m thankful for the ongoing support of our board and welcome the new ideas and talent of our latest additions.
For a small group of volunteers, we’ve got a lot going on! Recently we’ve been focusing on outreach to other groups and individuals, hoping to include a broader set of people to share the joy of nature and our interest in conservation, and to explore the potential for joint activities.
Here’s a shout out to some of the things going on lately at Hilton Head Audubon:
A big thanks to those Hilton Head Audubon members who participated on Earth Day as we teamed up with the local Tri Delt alumni to do a beach sweep at Fish Haul. We collected about 70 lbs of trash, which included everything from boards with rusty nails to cans and bottles to bits of blue debris from a “gender reveal” party (apparently it was a boy). Of course, it’s The Outside Foundation who facilitates clean-ups all over the island, and we thank them for their work. It was also good to see many of you who attended our Earth Day afternoon celebration at The Lucky Rooster.
We’ve been working with the Friends of the Coastal Refuges to offer Birdability tours this spring at Pinckney Island. These are birding field trips on an extended golf cart for those who are mobility impaired, with our Audubon member Terry Cerisoles serving as a bird guide. The tours are a hit, and the free trips look like they’re going to be “sold out” this spring.
We’re wrapping up work with a class at USCB who is researching the role of history and nature in the early days of Mitchelville. We’ll use this material as part of our Audubon participation in the Juneteenth celebration at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park (HMFP), where we’ll have 2 tables and, in addition to info about the research, we’ll have bird walks, bird bingo and bird origami. Plan to come out to the Juneteenth celebration on June 17th at HMFP– there’ll be music, food, and, of course, birds. This is the beginning of our relationship with HMFP; stay tuned for info on future activities.
As your President, I continue to communicate, as appropriate, with local Town Councils, Planning Commissions and reporters on a variety of topics, whether it be the proposed marina expansion at Palmetto Bluff, the proposed golf course community at Pine Island (near Beaufort), the rules for dogs on the beach in Hilton Head (especially Fish Haul), planned removal of an osprey nesting tree on HHI, unpermitted marsh dredging activity in HHP….well, you get the idea! Our working relationship with the Coastal Conservation League and your alerts to me as members help us stay on top of these issues. Thanks!
We’re also doing our best to continue to find ways to offer constructive advice to the Town of HHI. Special thanks to our new board member Rosemary Staples, who is now serving on the Town’s Greater Island Council.
Of course our loyal Audubon Newhall volunteers toil away at keeping the Preserve looking good with constant maintenance and upgrades. As you probably know, we also offer well-attended regular Tuesday tours (thank you Lynn Hodgson and Jack Coleman) throughout the year.
A thank you to many of our Audubon volunteers who agreed to be either featured or pose for photoshoots in the recent “Bird” issue of Local Life magazine. If you haven’t seen this great issue and our volunteers in all their splendor, check it out!
We hired a social media intern, Carson Patterson, made possible by our ATAX grant. Read more about her in this issue.
Coming soon: We’re pleased that a few board members have been invited to Daufuskie Island to discuss common interests and potential joint activities with the Daufuskie Conservancy.
There’s so much we want to do, and we can only do it with your support. While we feel like we’re accomplishing many good things, we would love even more of your help! There are “little” bits and “big” bits of volunteering or giving you can do. Talk to any board member to find out more.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our Member Picnic at Jarvis Creek on Tuesday, May 9, from 4:30– 8:00 pm. Have a great summer, wherever you’ll be, and Thanks for All You Do!
Kay
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Volunteers Needed for Juneteenth CelebrationHilton Head Audubon is delighted to participate in the Juneteenth Celebration at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Saturday, June 17th. HHA received a grant from National Audubon to research the importance of birds and nature in the Gullah community at the time of the founding of Mitchelville and to communicate our findings at the Juneteenth Celebration. Juneteenth is a holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. Historical Mitchelville Freedom Park expects thousand of people to come to their Celebration. There will be music, food and vendors. HHA will have a significant presence at the Celebration. We’ll have an information booth in the non-profit section where we’ll pass out information about our research on birds and nature in the Gullah community as well as providing materials about HHA, birding, and conservation. Additionally, we’ll have a craft area towards the back of the area, where we’ll be engaging children and spirited adults by creating pine-cone feeders and other sustainable, recyclable bird feeders. Finally, we’ll be leading bird walks from the craft center through the woods and down to the beach. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! Click here to sign up.Volunteers are needed to: Set-UpFriday set-up – 2:00PM to 4:00PM Saturday set-up/organization 8:30AM to 11:00AM Information Booth - Saturday10:00AM to 1:00PM 12:30PM to 3:00PM Birding and Craft Center - Saturday10:00AM to 1:00PM 12:30PM to 3:00PM Lead Bird Walks - Saturday 10:00AM to 1:00PM 12:30PM to 3:00PM Tear Down - Saturday3:00PM TO 4:30PM
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Joining HHIAS or renewing your membership is easy, click here to complete the online forms. Please consider a contribution beyond the basic annual membership level to support our mission. A reminder that Gift memberships are available for purchase, click here.
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DonationsHilton Head Audubon accepts donations online, using Venmo, or by mailing a check. Donations can also be made in honor or memory of someone by following the instruction on the form. Donate online. Donate by mail.Donate by Venmo. If you have Venmo, scan the Venmo QR code or go onto the Venmo app and find us by typing “HHI Audubon Society” or “@HHIAudubon”. We use our donations to support: advocacy regarding conservation/birding in our region, providing birding education programs to area schools, maintaining and interpreting through signage and tours of the Audubon Newhall Preserve, managing the annual Christmas Bird Count, actively participating in regional Citizen Science programs, and increasing awareness about local conservation projects or concerns.
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Events |
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Our monthly meetings will pause until September, and resume that month at 2:30 on the second Tuesday of each Month at The Coastal Discovery Museum's Sea Island Room. Newhall work days take place on the second Saturday of the month.
To view all upcoming events in a calendar format, click here.
Newhall Work Day Saturday May 13 , 2023 To learn more, click here.
May Meeting - Picnic and Birding at Jarvis Creek Park Come and join us Tuesday May 9th for our end of the season get together. This year we are planning afternoon bird walks - for beginning birders, led by Kay Grinnell, and for experienced birders led by expert birder Sarah Gustafson. Since it will still be early May, the chances of seeing some of our migrating warblers will still be fairly good. Bird walks will begin at 5 o’clock and our meeting and dinner will follow about 6 o'clock.
Registration will be necessary, and friends and family are welcome to join you. We are asking you to bring a covered dish to share, Audubon will provide fried chicken, sodas and eating implements. You are encouraged to bring folding chairs; we have rented all three pavilions, but seating is limited. Costs will be $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. Children under 3 are free. Hope to see you there! Please signup by Saturday May 6. To signup click here.
Save the Date! Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 17, 2023 Hilton Head Audubon will be participating in the annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. Come enjoy bird-themed crafts for kids, bird bingo and guided bird walks while learning more about the history of this special place.
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Welcome to Carson Patterson, our new Social Media Intern We extend a warm welcome to our new social media intern, Carson Patterson. She is a rising junior at Clemson University, majoring in marketing and minoring in nonprofit leadership. A native of Greenville, SC, Hilton Head is her second home. She grew up exploring the marshes and beautiful wildlife of Hilton Head, and is passionate about keeping Hilton Head beautiful for future generations. Carson will be managing our Instagram and Twitter accounts, and strategizing Facebook advertising. Her position is made possible by a grant by the ATAX (accommodations taxes).
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Earth Day Beach Cleanup by Laura Voight Our 2023 Earth Day beach clean-up was a success, with 19 volunteers picking up about 70 lbs of trash at Fish Haul Beach! On April 22, HHA and the Lowcountry Tri-Delt Alumni group joined forces to help our beach birds. It was great fun! Thanks to everyone who helped!!
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International Shorebird Survey Volunteer Highlight: The Hilton Head Crew by Patty Kappmeyer Kudos to the crew of Hilton Head voluntereers who are featured in the International Shorebird Survey's April 2023 newsletter! Since 2013 the Hilton Head contingent has submitted over 100 ISS surveys contributing the important work tracking habitat use and population trends among shorebirds. Click here to read the article in the April 2023 Newsletter.
In 1974, Manomet organized the volunteer-based International Shorebird Survey (ISS) to gather information on shorebirds and the wetlands they depend on. Through the work of dedicated volunteers conducting field surveys during spring and fall migrations, this monitoring network provides hemispheric data on shorebirds. To learn more about ISS and the work they do, click here.
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Coming Soon! New Signs at Newhall Preserve by Patty Kappmeyer The Newhall and Communications team have been busy creating new interpretative signs for the Newhall Preserve to improve visitor's enjoyment and understanding of this unique native habitat.
Four signs will depict nature, birdlife and wildlife:
- Nature at Newhall: Conifers (cone-bearing trees)
- Wlidlife at Newhall: The Day Shift
- Wildlife at Newhall: The Night Shift
- Wildlife at Newhall: Alligators
The new signs are funded by the Accommodations Tax grant awarded to Hilton Head Audubon earlier this year. |
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Stress Factors for Nesting Birds by Patty Kappmeyer We are approaching peak nesting and fledgling season in the Lowcountry. While bird watchers, photographers and curious visitors look forward to the opportunity to witness nature's miracle, it is the opposite for our feathered friends. Birds are stressed and may be territorial about a particular feeding area, nesting location, or other types of personal habitat, and they will express anger to protect it and keep other birds or animals away.
In addition, other factors that stress birds during nesting season include:
Habitat loss and fragmentation: When nesting sites are destroyed or disturbed, it can cause stress for birds.
Predation: Nesting birds are vulnerable to predation from a variety of predators, including cats, raccoons, snakes, and birds of prey. The presence of predators can cause stress for birds and may even cause them to abandon their nests.
Human disturbance: Human activities such as hiking, camping, and off-road vehicle use can disturb nesting birds, causing them to leave their nests or abandon their young. Even simple activities such as approaching a nest too closely.
So please be mindful of these stress factors while you are out there enjoying the local birdlife! For more information on ethics in photographing nesting birds, please click here.
April Sightings Please enjoy these collages of bird activity photographed during the past month by our Facebook group members.
There are several ways to report bird sightings : use eBird, join the HHIAS Facebook group or Birding-Friends@google.com. If you would like to join the Birding-Friends google group please send an email requesting access to ecobon@hiltonheadaudubon.org. |
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