Keep South Carolina Wild

Tag: webinar

Wild Webinars: Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are one of the most unique and beautiful animals on the planet. Though we only have one species breeding here in SC, there are over 360 species in the Americas, a few of which have been spotted in SC outside of the breeding season.

If you’d like to learn more about these frenetic feathered jewels, please join Jay Keck, our Industry Habitat Manager and Costa Rica guide, to become more acquainted with these birds, while learning their habitat needs so they continue to inspire awe and wonder in those who see them.

Whether you’re a gardener, birder, naturalist, educator, or simply curious about the natural world, this webinar will provide the knowledge and tools to begin observing and appreciating these tiny wonders of the Americas.

 

Jay Keck

Jay has been a passionate nature and bird lover since his early teens. He lives in Chapin, SC with his wife and two boys, and has identified 95 bird species in his yard in three years, as well as 160 species in Lexington county since moving back in September of 2013. He has viewed birds in Spain, Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica, as well as many areas in SC from the mountains to the coast. Being inspired by SCWF’s mission, he earned his Palmetto Pro Birder certification, and has led bird walks for SCWF as well as Saluda Shoals park, Columbia Audubon, and private organizations. Even when he is golfing, hunting, or fishing, he is secretly birding. At SCWF, Jay coordinates the Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program as well as leading birding classes for the Palmetto Pro Birder & Midlands Master Naturalist programs.

Wetlands 101 Webinar

Join the South Carolina Conservation Coalition on Tuesday, August 11th at 12:00PM ET for a webinar all about wetlands, their benefits, and how we can help preserve them as they face new threats. 

Wetlands play crucial roles for our communities, protecting us from flooding and providing fishing, hunting, and recreational opportunities. Development pressures are mounting as SC continues to grow, but there’s still hope to conserve our valuable wetlands.

From building resilience across the state to creating a local ordinance, Coalition Co-Chair Emily Poole will lead a conversation with staff from the SC Office of Resilience and the Town of Bluffton about their recent work to protect wetlands.

SCWF is proud to be a member of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition and proud to work alongside partners across the state to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our wetlands and advancing the protections they need.

Header image credit: Andrea Capers

Introduction to Caterpillars

Join Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager, for an introduction to the fascinating world of caterpillars and their essential role in South Carolina’s ecosystems.

Caterpillars are much more than just the larval stage of butterflies and moths. They are a critical link in the food web and serve as an important indicator of habitat health. During this webinar, participants will learn how to identify common caterpillars found throughout South Carolina, where and when to search for them, and the host plants that support their development.

Jay will share practical tips for finding caterpillars in gardens, parks, and natural areas, while exploring the incredible diversity of species that call South Carolina home. Participants will also discover how caterpillars contribute to healthy ecosystems by supporting birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife, and why native plants are key to their survival.

Whether you’re a gardener, birder, naturalist, educator, or simply curious about the natural world, this webinar will provide the knowledge and tools to begin observing and appreciating these often-overlooked creatures.

 

Jay Keck

Jay has been a passionate nature and bird lover since his early teens. He lives in Chapin, SC with his wife and two boys, and has identified 95 bird species in his yard in three years, as well as 160 species in Lexington county since moving back in September of 2013. He has viewed birds in Spain, Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica, as well as many areas in SC from the mountains to the coast. Being inspired by SCWF’s mission, he earned his Palmetto Pro Birder certification, and has led bird walks for SCWF as well as Saluda Shoals park, Columbia Audubon, and private organizations. Even when he is golfing, hunting, or fishing, he is secretly birding. At SCWF, Jay coordinates the Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program as well as leading birding classes for the Palmetto Pro Birder & Midlands Master Naturalist programs.

iNaturalist 101: Documenting South Carolina’s Biodiversity

Would you like to learn more about iNaturalist? If so, join us on Thursday, January 22 at noon for a webinar with Phil Harpootlian, who is a retired electrical engineer and lifelong naturalist with a deep focus on South Carolina’s biodiversity. He is the author of two Clemson University publications on South Carolina scarab and jewel beetles, as well as several peer-reviewed journal articles. A longtime member of the South Carolina Association of Naturalists, Phil currently concentrates on documenting species across the state through iNaturalist. He has created over 100 iNaturalist projects covering South Carolina’s state parks, heritage preserves, state and national forests, and local parks, helping make biodiversity data more accessible to researchers and the public.