Keep South Carolina Wild

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2021 Photo Contest Winners Announced

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Congratulations to the winners of our 2021 Photo Contest!  We had great participation this year, with nearly 400 amazing entries. It is always difficult to choose winners because we have so many wonderful photos submitted for consideration. Visit our Flickr page to see our top selections in each category.

Thank you very much to all who entered the contest this year. We will feature entries throughout the year on our social media pages so stay tuned to see more photographs from this years’ contest! Well done to all of you, and we hope to see more of your beautiful pictures in our 2022 Photo Contest!

Scenes of SC Winning Entry: Hunting Island, Teresa Kopec.

“The sunsets at Hunting Island State Park are always wonderful, but the peace that comes over the salt marsh at dusk is truly magical.” -Teresa Kopec

Carolina Critters Winning Entry: Dolphin pod strand feeding near Kiawah, Gayle Bryan.

“I would love to say that this photograph was the result of research and planning, but it was really the result of being in the right place at the right time. I hiked to Captain Sam’s Inlet with my gear, hoping for a few good shots. The dolphins fed several times that day in various spots along the inlet, including once right in front of where I was sitting. Fortunately, I had the settings right on my camera because I was too caught up in the moment to give them much thought. It was an incredible experience and I smile every time I think of it.” -Gayle Bryan

Backyard Habitat Winning Entry: Hummingbird on Mexican Salvia, Charles Rucinski.

“This was just a spur-of-the-moment opportunity as I noticed the hummingbirds (finally) taking notice of the Mexican Salvia. I grabbed my camera and took a number of photos, several of which came out very well.” -Charles Rucinski

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The photographs contained on this, and any other site under the scwf.org domain, are the property of SCWF and are protected by United States and International copyright laws. All copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights in this site, are the property of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

All Photographs on scwf.org are copyrighted.
No permission, either express or implied, is granted for the electronic transmission, storage, retrieval, or printing of the photographs contained on scwf.org, other than that which is related to the normal “caching” practices of web browsers and activities such as downloading solely for your personal enjoyment. No parties/individuals visiting or viewing images from scwf.org, may otherwise copy, modify, publish, transmit, or distribute the contents of the photographs found herein. Express written permission must be granted in order to use these photographs for any purpose that is not outlined above.

Your use of scwf.org or viewing of this statement indicates your acceptance of these conditions.

Conservation Corner: With simple steps, you can create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

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Male bluebird bringing a snack back to the nest, photo by Natalie Chapman.

A flash of color across the yard, the chorus of birdsong in the morning, the delight of children chasing a toad. Feelings of hope finding new flower buds, joy as baby birds leave the nest: There are many reasons to plant a garden for wildlife in your yard and throughout your community.

South Carolina is blessed with an incredible variety of resources that are beautiful and accessible. There are many habitat types, from mountain streams to rolling piedmont, sandhills with longleaf pine and coastal plain with bottomland hardwood forest, salt marshes and beaches. These diverse habitats provide for an astonishing array of wildlife.

Our wildlife, the native plants that wildlife depends on, and the beautiful places we cherish for vacations, outdoor recreation, and solace – all of this is in jeopardy. It’s threatened by new housing developments, invasive species, pollution, increased storms, flooding issues, and so much more, right here in our state.

It’s overwhelming to think about all of these threats. As we enjoy breathtaking scenery and amazing wildlife around us, the world is facing serious issues like pollution, climate change, and overharvesting.

We’re hooked, we want to help, but we don’t know where to start. There is good news: You don’t have to save the world all at once. Small steps can have a big impact.

One step is right outside your door. You can create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat – even a small yard can be certified by the National Wildlife Federation if you provide food, water, cover, and places to raise young. This makes a big difference for wildlife and gives you the opportunity to educate your neighbors and spread the word throughout your community. Habitat gardens also can be created at parks, libraries, churches, schools, and businesses.

To begin, food can be offered with different types of backyard feeders– hopper-style seed feeders, hanging suet cages, hummingbird nectar feeders, mealworm cups for bluebirds, and more. Native plants such as American beautyberry, asters, bee balm, coreopsis, goldenrod, and oakleaf hydrangea provide food in the form of nectar, fruits, and seeds.

Painted lady butterfly on native verbena, photo by Joe Gilfus.

Butterflies are looking for native plants that provide nectar, and also “host plants” where they can lay their eggs, and then for caterpillars to feed on. Each species of butterfly has specific plants that are the preferred food sources for its caterpillars. Monarchs, for example, lay their eggs only on milkweed plants, and the caterpillars will chew through the milkweed before forming a chrysalis for the miraculous change to a butterfly.

Wildlife can find water in birdbaths, shallow dishes, and fountains. Offering several different types of water sources throughout your yard, at varying heights and with various amounts of cover nearby, will encourage a greater diversity of wildlife in your yard.

Evergreen shrubs and trees provide great sources of cover and nesting sites. You can also add a nesting box for birds; mounting it on a metal pole with a squirrel baffle, away from shrubs and trees, will keep the nest safer from predators.

While providing these habitat elements, it is also important to consider using sustainable gardening practices in your yard. Limiting chemical fertilizers and avoiding pesticides and herbicides is important to provide a healthy environment. You can cut down on water use by selecting native plants, mulching flower beds, and using drip/soaker hoses instead of sprinklers.

Once you have these main ingredients for habitat – food, water, cover, and places to raise young, and are taking steps to garden sustainably, you can apply to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.

Aerin Brownlee checks on the pollinator plants at Conestee Park Community Garden.

Going a step further, tell your neighbors, and spread the word throughout your community. Your entire town could be a certified Community Wildlife Habitat! Greer and Paris Mountain were both certified in 2021 by educating residents about gardening for wildlife and taking additional steps to enhance habitat in common areas, parks, and schools.

Working together and taking some of these little steps creates a network of habitats and increases the impact on wildlife. You can find out more about habitat gardening, including lists of native plants valuable to wildlife, on the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s website: https://www.scwf.org/habitats

Sara Green is the executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

Women’s Spring Hike at Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve

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The 2nd annual Women’s Spring Hike at Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve was a great success! This special area in Lancaster County, managed by SCDNR, contains an abundance of unique native flora and fauna, as well as an impressive 14-acre granite rock with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Master Naturalists Tara Boone and April Rodgers led the group of 20 hikers, and shared their knowledge of native plants and flowers as well as the geology of the area. The group explored two areas of the preserve, ending the hike at the giant granite outcroppings. Everyone was very involved, and enjoyed sharing knowledge and spending time outdoors with other like-minded women.




Pictured L to R; Southern Nodding Trillium, Common Violet; Mayapple, Wild Geranium, Wild Ginger/Little Brown Jug.











Grant from Richland County helps Irmo library go bird-friendly

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Published at: https://whosonthemove.com/grant-from-richland-county-helps-irmo-library-go-bird-friendly/

A new project that balances wildlife preservation with art will make the area around Richland Library Ballentine safer for local and visiting birds.

Thanks to grant funding from the Richland County Conservation Commission (RCCC), the S.C. Wildlife Federation (SCWF) recently applied a material to the library’s windows to eliminate reflections on the outside of the building, making it easier for birds to avoid colliding with the structure.

A Texas-based company, CollidEscape, developed the material to prevent incidences of birds flying into glass, which can stun or kill them. Richland Library commissioned local artist Nell Warthen to design CollidEscape treatments that feature renderings of birds native to South Carolina. Warthen’s display is called “Birds of Ballentine.”

The S.C. Wildlife Federation recently installed bird-safe window coverings at Richland Library Ballentine. The project was funded via a grant from the Richland County Conservation Commission.

“This project really exemplifies what we want to do with Community Conservation Grant awards,” said John McKenzie, conservation program analyst for Richland County Community Planning & Development.

“It combines the priorities of public benefit in a community space with conservation of our threatened bird populations, and it serves as a great example to others. It also provides energy savings as well as protection of the library’s books and furnishings,” McKenzie said.

CollidEscape was installed on the outside windows of Richland Library Ballentine to reduce reflections and prevent birds from colliding with the windows. The windows feature work by local artist Nell Warthen.

Designing with Safety in Mind
A 2014 study by the Smithsonian Institution estimated that each year, as many as 1 billion birds perish from window collisions in the United States.

Richland Library Ballentine, located in Irmo, features nearly 700 square feet of continuous windows that directly face a forest. Before SCWF installed CollidEscape, the outside windows reflected that forest, a natural habitat for birds, posing a hazard to native and migratory bird populations.

Richland Library Ballentine visitors look out at the forest through the library’s 700 square feet of windows. Though CollidEscape was installed to eliminate reflections on the building’s outside, visitors’ view from inside is unimpeded.

With CollidEscape now covering the outside windows, the library’s glass surfaces, featuring Warthen’s renderings, become a work of art. From inside, the window coverings retain their transparency, allowing patrons to enjoy the view of the forest and its inhabitants as they use the library.

Along with the window installation, SCWF worked with Richland Library staff to design educational materials highlighting the dangers that window strikes pose to bird populations and how the new wall coverings help prevent such collisions. While bird strikes were once a regular occurrence at the library, zero strikes have been recorded since the installation five weeks ago.

Richland Library Ballentine visitors look out at the forest through the library’s 700 square feet of windows. Though CollidEscape was installed to eliminate reflections on the building’s outside, visitors’ view from inside is unimpeded.

Jay Keck, habitat education manager for SCWF, is hopeful that his organization’s partnership with RCCC and Richland Library encourages other public and private building owners to take similar measures to help protect local wildlife.

“It’s the first commercial (CollidEscape) install in South Carolina,” Keck said of the project. “There’s all sorts of places we can apply this.”

Richland Library Ballentine will feature the Birds of Ballentine effort during an Earth Day celebration 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 12. Visitors can learn more about the project and local birds.

Thanking Senator Graham for backing bipartisan wildlife bill

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  • by Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

Fifteen local and national conservation groups have taken out a half-page print and digital ad buy in the Sunday Post and Courier thanking Senator Lindsey Graham for cosponsoring the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will prevent extinctions by dedicating $1.4 billion annually for collaborative efforts on behalf of at-risk wildlife species. South Carolina will receive $14 million each year to help hundreds of species in need, including bobwhite quail, gopher tortoises, black rails and loggerhead sea turtles.

“America’s wildlife are in crisis and this groundbreaking legislation tackles the problem at the magnitude that is necessary,” said Sara Green, executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. “We thank Senator Graham for cosponsoring this fiscally responsible effort to help at-risk wildlife with collaborative, voluntary measures across every state, territory, and Tribal nation.”

The Senate bill has 32 bipartisan cosponsors — 16 of them Republicans, including Senator Graham. Senator Graham sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will vote on the bill next week. Nearly 170 representatives have signed onto the House version of the legislation.

“Saving the thousands of at-risk wildlife species will require bold, bipartisan leadership and unprecedented collaboration,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are so grateful to Senator Graham for leading the way on the historic Recovering America’s Wildlife Act that will have an immediate impact – saving species and creating jobs in South Carolina and all across the country.”

Nationwide, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act dedicates funding to collaborative wildlife restoration efforts, largely led by the states and Tribes. Federally recognized tribal nations, such as the Catawba in South Carolina, would share $97.5 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on their lands.

A recent nationwide poll of nearly 1,199 likely voters found that 87 percent of likely voters supported the bill, with only 7 percent opposed.

“Wildlife conservation is an issue that unites all South Carolinians. We hope to see this bill make it to the President’s desk this year,” said Green.

The ad was paid for by the National Wildlife Federation. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Hampton Wildlife Fund, Midlands Striper Club, Audubon South Carolina, South Carolina Waterfowl Association, Wildlife Action, South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, National Deer Alliance, and Ducks Unlimited joined the effort.

SCWF Upstate Nest Box Program

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Arthur Robinson next to his new Wood Duck Nest Box on Lake Wateree.

To restore habitat for two bird species in the Upstate, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation is partnering with Duke Energy to construct and install 40 Wood Duck nesting boxes and 40 Eastern Screech-Owl nesting boxes in the Keowee-Toxaway watershed.

SCWF will coordinate with property owners, volunteers, biologists, and rangers to determine suitable sites for the boxes. The goal is to install boxes prior to the start of the 2023 nesting season. Boxes will be placed in locations that are convenient for monitoring and maintenance.

Species-specific information:

  • Wood Ducks: Once threatened with near extinction from habitat destruction and overharvesting, wood duck populations are now steady or increasing.  Wood ducks begin to pair with each other starting mid-October. The ideal box placement is either in water (3 feet above the high-water mark) or within 100 feet of water, with the box facing the water. There should be no branches or other obstructions in front of the entrance hole so they have a clear flight path into the box.  Once a nest box is used, it will likely help raise many broods over the years to come.
  • Eastern Screech-Owls: Eastern Screech-Owls heavily rely on adequate habitat and nesting sites for survival. They are found throughout a range of sites including, but not limited to, farmland, suburban landscapes, and city parks. Although they are currently listed as a species of Least Concern, Eastern Screech-Owl populations are declining due to habitat fragmentation and deforestation. Providing suitable habitat, such as a nesting box, is integral to the success of this species. Nest boxes should be placed at a woodland’s edge with adjacent fields and/or wetlands. It is helpful if a branch, or something equivalent is installed below the entrance hole, or is located on the post or tree on which the box is attached. There should be no obstructions in front of the entrance hole so the owl has a clear flight path into the cavity.Volunteer involvement is integral in helping to foster community-wide awareness and appreciation for the project. The nest box project aims to engage the community in long-term and sustained conservation actions. This project is great for people of all ages. SCWF is actively searching to recruit volunteers to assist in all facets of the project, including nest monitoring, data recording, and witnessing first hand the life cycle of these birds.
ALL BOXES FROM THIS PROJECT HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. Complete this form to volunteer to help MONITOR NESTS IN THE UPSTATE:
Photo by Richard Sasnett

Palmetto Pro Birders at ACE Basin

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Thanks to all of the bird lovers that joined us for this winter’s Palmetto Pro-Birder walk at Bear Island WMA! Thanks also to Jessica Kinsella, Stewardship Coordinator for ACE Basin, which is managed in partnership with SC DNR, for teaching us about the property and showing us how a rice trunk works!  We viewed 85 species total, including a Black Skimmer that was chasing Tundra Swans and ducks.
We also viewed trees filled with dozens of Roseate Spoonbills, and saw a cute little rail called a Sora weaving in and out of the marsh grass. SCWF loves sharing special places like this with you, and we hope to see you at our next nature adventure!
Here is the list of the 85 species we saw and/or heard!

  1. Tundra Swan
  2. Gadwall
  3. Wood Duck
  4. Blue-winged Teal
  5. Green-winged Teal
  6. Northern Pintail (photos of a high-flying flock captured by Zach)
  7. Mottled Duck
  8. Northern Shoveler
  9. Bufflehead
  10. Hooded Merganser
  11. Pied Billed Grebe
  12. Sora
  13. American Avocet (one seen flying in and then landing in the far end of Mary’s Pond)
  14. Common Gallinule
  15. American Coot
  16. Bonaparte’s Gull
  17. Ring-billed Gull (two flyover birds at Bear Island)
  18. Forster’s Tern
  19. Caspian Tern
  20. Black Skimmer
  21. Double-crested Cormorant
  22. Anhinga
  23. Green Heron
  24. Great Blue Heron
  25. Little Blue Heron
  26. Tri-colored Heron
  27. Snowy Egret
  28. Great Egret
  29. Black-crowned Night Heron
  30. White Ibis
  31. Glossy Ibis
  32. Wood Stork
  33. American White Pelican
  34. Roseate Spoonbill
  35. Greater Yellowlegs
  36. Lesser Yellowlegs
  37. Killdeer
  38. Mourning Dove
  39. Eurasion Collared Dove
  40. Turkey Vulture
  41. Black Vulture
  42. Northern Harrier
  43. Red-tailed Hawk
  44. Red-shouldered Hawk
  45. Bald Eagle
  46. Barn Owl(In the nesting box on Bear Island)
  47. Belted Kingfisher
  48. Fish Crow
  49. American Crow
  50. Blue Jay
  51. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  52. Red-headed Woodpecker
  53. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  54. Pileated Woodpecker
  55. Downy Woodpecker
  56. Northern Flicker
  57. Red-cockaded Woodpecker
  58. Carolina Chickadee
  59. Tufted Titmouse
  60. Tree Swallow
  61. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  62. Carolina Wren
  63. Marsh Wren
  64. Eastern Bluebird
  65. American Robin
  66. Swamp Sparrow
  67. Song Sparrow
  68. Chipping Sparrow
  69. Eastern Towhee
  70. Red-winged Blackbird
  71. Common Grackle
  72. Boat-tailed Grackle
  73. Eastern Phoebe
  74. White-breasted Nuthatch
  75. Brown-headed Nuthatch
  76. Northern Mockingbird
  77. Gray Catbird
  78. Eastern Meadowlark
  79. Blue-gray gnatcatcher
  80. White-eyed Vireo
  81. Northern Cardinal
  82. Pine Warbler
  83. Palm Warbler
  84. Common Yellowthroat (A cute warbler that we heard at both places).
  85. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Educator Certification in Project Learning Tree & Project WILD

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This past Friday, February 11, early childhood educators from around the state gathered at the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens to become certified in two complementary national curricula— Project Learning Tree: Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and Project WILD: Growing Up WILD.

BeBe Dalton Harrison, SCWF’s Director of Education, led the instruction in Growing Up WILD, whose mission is to “provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources.” In essence, the program is designed to help students learn how to think and not what to think about natural resources and conservation. Matt Schnabel, the Environmental Education Coordinator at the SC Forestry Commission, led the training for Project Learning Tree: Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood, which teaches students how to think about environmental issues through the lens of trees and forests.

“Helping to foster a child’s natural curiosity about the outdoors is very rewarding. Some teachers may not feel comfortable with outdoor-themed lessons, and these programs make it easy and fun to teach what can sometimes be a challenging topic with a hands-on and exciting lesson”, says Harrison. Whether teaching indoors or out, Project Learning Tree and Project WILD make it easy for teachers and students alike to learn about their own backyards and schoolyards. After this day of interactive, hands-on instruction, 14 teachers were certified in both of these curricula, and will be able to share the exciting lessons from Project Learning Tree and Project WILD with their students!















Pee Dee Tree Planting Project Update!

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This past Saturday, February 5th, Britton’s Neck residents were joined by Sara Green, SCWF’s executive director, volunteers, and partner organizations, New Alpha Community Development Corporation, Environmental Action Club (SC State University), and The Dogwood Alliance, for a kickoff event celebrating the start of a project to plant 1,000 trees in the rural community of Britton’s Neck to reduce flooding.  This first tree-planting was a success!  Not only were 500 Dogwoods and Eastern Redbuds planted in the areas most affected by flooding, but residents also received trees to plant in their own yards. All 1,000 trees were paid for by the National Wildlife Federation.
The community of Brittons Neck has seen serious flooding issues over the last several years after the Flood of 2015 and Hurricanes Matthew & Florence.  As a result, schools and businesses have closed and residents have been forced to evacuate away from their homes that had been in their families for generations.
Community residents and partner organizations are joining together to make some changes before the next storm.  1000 trees which are native to our area and help to soak up water and provide drainage are being planted to improve the quality of life for residents, combat climate change, and make the community more resilient from flooding.  Natural infrastructure, or green space, is critical for storage and drainage of water during major storm events.

See news reports and more info on the project here:

There will be subsequent tree plantings each weekend in February until 1,000 trees are planted in this community.  Please use the link below to sign up to be a part of this project!














Volunteer to help with future tree-planting events here:

Volunteer Day! Camp Discovery, Blythewood SC

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Did you know it’s important to clean out bird boxes so Eastern Bluebirds and other cavity nesters, like the Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, will return the following year to build a new nest?

On Friday, January 28, SCWF staff members, Jay Keck and Bev Roberts, were joined by volunteers who cleaned out and collected data from over 30 bird boxes at Camp Discovery in Blythewood, SC.  Camp Discovery’s mission is engaging and inspiring through discovery in science and nature.  This 116-acre outdoor learning environment is a perfect home for Eastern Bluebirds, Woodpeckers, and other cavity nesters!  SCWF’s volunteers removed old nests from last year’s season to make space for the creation of new nests for this year’s breeding season.  In addition to cleaning out dormant wasp nests and other debris, repairs were made to damaged boxes, and four were replaced with brand new boxes.  They also collected data about the contents of each box, which will be used to help educate the hundreds of students that will visit Camp Discovery in 2022.

Thank you to all of the enthusiastic and helpful volunteers that spent time with us on Friday! We hope to have an even bigger volunteer day next year, during which, we plan to replace around 20 of the boxes with new ones. Hope to see you there next year!
If you would like a bluebird box for your yard, they are available to purchase in SCWF’s office.  https://www.scwf.org/merchandise