The Nature Conservancy

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/south-carolina/

 

Exploring the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker 

IUCN Red List:  Endangered

Kingdom: Animalia (Multi-cellular, eukaryotic organism)

Phylum: Chordata (possess five synapomorphies)

Class: Aves  (birds)

Order: Piciformes (nine families of large, arboreal birds)

Family: Picidae  (woodpeckers)

Genus: Leuconotopicus (woodpeckers native to North and South America)

Species: L. borealis (narrowed down to the species of woodpecker)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-cockaded_woodpecker

Dendrology of Sandy Island

 I have prepared a slide presentation on the trees that are found on Sandy Island, South Carolina.  Please enjoy the presentation.

Invasive Species is us!

 Invasive Species

Over the last several decades, the human population has grown dramatically. Over the next several decades, our population will grow more than 25%. This will cause an issue with biodiversity and food and water scarcity. Below is a PowerPoint presentation on the invasive species of the human population on a specific island in South Carolina. Sandy island, Georgetown county, South Carolina is located between two Rivers. Peedee river and the Waccamaw river flow on each side of the island. There is no bridge access at all. Many decades prior, this island was very populated at 500 people. As of today, there is only 100 inhabitants. There is still no road or bridge access to the island. Every one has to be boated over to the mainland for schooling, groceries, and healthcare. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1k99RQHotxFMN8AkT8HffXnvEAfUfDYP34iqV5tT3En4/edit

iPhone Species Identifier BUILT IN

 Did you know when you take a picture on your iPad that you can look up the species in your camera roll?  Here are the steps:

1.  Take a picture of a species

2.  Go to your camera roll and pull up a picture that you just took. 

3.  In the lower bottom of the picture, you will see a group of icons. Click on the “i” with a circle around it.

4.  Then Click on identify species.

5.  It will bring up what Siri thinks the species is. Sometimes it’ll bring up a couple species, but it will show you pictures also.

This is a great way to have and to use when you’re not sure which app to buy. This is for a beginner level. I have used often to help with identifying dogs, cats, plants, and birds. 

Smart Bird ID

Smart bird ID is available in your App Store or Google play store as a free download. It also has a paid membership to access profile, journals, pictures, and sounds. I have used this as a bird call identifier. This is a free resource in the app. It will help you narrow down the calls that you are picking up in the background. It will give you several birds that it thinks it might be. Then it has a database very similar to the Audubon app of the different calls and chirps. I haven’t paid for the paid membership. But this app is very user-friendly and even has quizzes on it.

I

Pictures were taken from the Smart Bird ID app. 

I love that it has a map function. It shows species that are in that specific area. The quizzes can be beginner, intermediate, or advanced. This will give the bird enthusiast a chance to brush up on their identification skills.

I highly recommend this app. It is free best of all. I enjoy going outside with a cup of coffee early in the morning and listening to the birds call. I will open up this app, and it will identify the different calls that it picks up.

Wahee fine sandy loam---Georgetown County, South Carolina

 

Soil Health

Photo: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

Soil Data Report for Georgetown County

 Custom Soil Resource Report for

Georgetown County, South Carolina

Soil Data Pictures of Sandy Island

 Custom Soil Resource Report Pictures

Georgetown County, SC

By using the USDA Web Soil Survey, I was able to look at and research the soil health, quality, and vegetation on Sandy Island and in Georgetown County.  This is a useful tool to use especially if you are looking at soil health and contamination.  Primarily made up of sand, this county and Sandy Island line the coast and are two feet above sea level.  Native vegetation and coastal plants thrive in these areas due to humidity, the salinity of the waters, and the pH of the waters. 

I was able to download and look at various data sheets on soil health over a time period of my choice.  The database was downloadable and can print any report on soil health.  This site is a great tool to use and be familiar with when researching an area.

All photos are from: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

Daily Almanac

 The Daily Almanac for Sandy Island

Info: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ilm

Climate Graphs

 Sandy Island, South Carolina

Climate Information

The nearest climate station is in North Myrtle Beach which is approximately 45 minutes away from Sandy Island.  Please see the graphs of average temperature, snowfall, precipitation, and max/min temperatures for this area.

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/past-weather/sandy%20Island%20sc

All graphs were collected from: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/past-weather/sandy%20Island%20sc

Nestled in Georgetown County, South Carolina

Schultz, L. (2020, 09 25). Sandy Island - Georgetown County, SC. YouTube. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://youtu.be/N5GW_6grOz0

 

Sandy Island Forever...a book published about the island.

 

Georgetown County Library. (2021, January 27). An Introduction to Sandy Island Forever. YouTube. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://youtu.be/s0-Fr_zaVKw

The History of Sandy Island, South Carolina

 

Georgetown Country Library. (2021, February 2). The History of Sandy Island. YouTube. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://youtu.be/SidRV0l4Pho

Navigating the Island

Navigating the Island

There are landings along the Waccamaw River that provide access to Sandy Island preserve:

• Sandy Island Landing – One mile south of Brookgreen Gardens. Turn west at the Sandy Island Landing sign on U.S. Highway 17 (Tours de Sandy Island, 2022).

• Wacca Wache Landing – From Charleston, take U.S. Highway 17 through Georgetown and Pawleys Island toward Garden City and Myrtle Beach. Turn left onto Wachesaw Road (sign for landing at intersection) and go 2.4 miles to the landing  (Tours de Sandy Island, 2022).

• Samworth WMA – Take Highway 701 to Plantersville. Turn east at Plantersville General Store onto SSR 52 for approximately six miles. Turn east at Samworth WMA sign on SSR 52  (Tours de Sandy Island, 2022).

• Yauhannah Landing – Take Highway 701 to Plantersville. Turn east at Plantersville General Store onto SSR 52 for approximately six miles. Turn east at Samworth WMA sign on SSR 52  (Tours de Sandy Island, 2022).

Bell, C. (2021). The SC hidden gem (Sandy Island Special Report). YouTube. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://youtu.be/jsEI1eNl6Fs

References:

Tours de Sandy Island. 2022. Tours de Sandy Island. https://toursdesandyisland.com/directions-sandy-island/

Bell, C. (2021). The SC hidden gem (Sandy Island Special Report). YouTube. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://youtu.be/jsEI1eNl6Fs

Climate in the Area

Over the last month, the area of Horry and Georgetown counties has gotten some heat with little rainfall. I have downloaded some weather and climate information for my area of research called Sandy Island, South Carolina.

 

Data was pulled from: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ilm