Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Canoes and Tourism


Yesterday, middle school students from St. Anne's Catholic School in Rock Hill, SC paddled the canoe trail through the virgin, old-growth forest of the Francis Beidler Forest. The weather was clear and warm with a slight breeze. The students saw a flock of White Ibis, Prothonotary Warblers, numerous Brown Water Snakes, and Yellow-crowned Night Herons. Surprisingly, though nobody fell in, many students were soaking wet.

Today, the Tourism Council for the Greater Summerville-Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting at the Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest. Those in attendance were encouraged to take a guided walk around the 1.75-mile boardwalk through the virgin, old-growth swamp. As the meeting began, a flock of 75+ White Ibis and several Great Egrets were slowly wading with the current and feeding along the edge of the swamp. The contrast of the bright white birds against the blackwater was spectacular! A chorus of Barred Owls signaled their agreement to that thought.

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