Recent Arrivals

In the last week, quality boardwalk time has been limited.  If we were not accomplishing other tasks (tractor maintenance, driveway repair, paperwork, etc.) and were on the boardwalk leading a group, the weather often did not cooperate.  Like many of us, animals are not as active during rainy or unseasonably cool weather.  Today, however, was a different story.

Prothonotary Warblers are singing and battling for territories.  Just in time for Wine & Warblers happening on Sat.

Prothonotary Warbler inspecting cavity - Mark Musselman

A014 singing - Mark Musselman

 The warmer weather has also brought out the reptiles.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Common Musk Turtle - Mark Musselman

Red-bellied Water Snake - Mark Musselman

 Even some of the normally-nocturnal creatures were out to sample the bounty of the swamp.

Raccoon - Mark Musselman

There were plenty of other sights and sounds, including an American Crow flying back to its nestlings with the chick of another species secured in its bill.  Everything has to eat!  We will be doing just that at Wine and Warblers.

2013 Wine & Warblers

 It is almost time for Wine and Warblers!

On April 20th, join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each spring. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tastings as you explore the ancient swamp forest.

Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina and the cost is $40 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required. Walks begin at 5:00 p.m. and depart each half hour.  Please make reservations for your time slot by calling (843) 462-2150.

Click here for additional images and descriptions of past years' Wine & Warblers!

Warbler species will begin arriving this month with the Prothonotary Warblers returning on one of the last days of the month.  In the meantime, here is a sample of what has been around the boardwalk in the last week:

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 25, 2013 10:00 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments:    overcast, 40Fs, repairing boardwalk
11 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2


Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 26, 2013 2:20 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.75 mile(s)
Comments:    Overcast to clear, windy, 60Fs
20 species

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  3
Barred Owl (Strix varia)  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  3    Saw at #105, #165, and #169
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 27, 2013 1:55 PM - 2:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:    Partly cloudy, 60Fs, parking area
15 species

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1  (and again yesterday)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

Boardwalk Reaching End of Lifespan

The 1.75-mile boardwalk at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest was completed in 1977.  Hurricane Hugo made a mess of it in 1989, but much of the boardwalk remains the original 1977 lumber.  Through it all, the boardwalk has allowed visitors the chance to safely venture into the heart of the old-growth swamp to experience the peace and serenity that have characterized the area for thousands of years.  Visitors can hear the sounds of birds, insects, and breezes that have echoed through the 1000-year-old trees for ages, take relaxing and informative walk back into time, and see a swamp the way nature intended.

Unfortunately, the boardwalk is showing its age and needs your help.  Please help us build a stronger, longer-lasting, "greener" boardwalk by funding a portion of this new trail.  We will be using three different sustainably-grown, naturally-durable tropical hardwoods.  All three are incredibly rot-resistant and should last three times longer than pressure-treated wood.  Costs will approach $2 million.  Your support will make it possible for people from all over the world to continue to experience this natural wonder.

You may mail your contribution to:
Francis Beidler Forest
336 Sanctuary Rd.
Harleyville, SC 29448
(put "Boardwalk Fund" in the memo line) or donate online at Beidler Forest Boardwalk Fund.

The January-February 2011 edition of Audubon Magazine contained an article highlighting the Francis Beidler Forest.

Image by Mark Musselman