north mount pleasant www.Nor thMountPl easant . com | www. Par kWes tNe i ghborhoods . com | www. Br i ckyardHomes . com 109 planning to open additional programming on Fridays beginning in May and hope to resume full visitor capacity by fall. “Our programs offer the unique opportunity to view raptors such as hawks, owls, falcons and vultures in free flight with extreme closeups (just inches overhead) highly likely,” explained Schabel. Special events occur throughout the year including Photography Days and an Owls By Moonlight flight demonstration and tour scheduled for November and December. The Center houses an Avian Medical Clinic that treats injured raptors and shore birds, which saw more than 900 birds last year. Contact them if you see an injured bird. And raptorphiles take note: they also offer volunteer training if you want to get involved. They require social distancing and mask wearing when on the main campus. Check their website for status updates and upcoming events. Thecenterforbirdsofprey.org 843-971-7474 SANTEE COASTAL RESERVE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA This 24,000-acre reserve can be a seasonal hotspot for birding and catching migratory, breeding and year-round species. The Washo Reserve, a 1,040-acre sanctuary within Santee owned and co-managed by The Nature Conservancy, harbors the oldest wading bird rookery in continuous use in North America. Tranquil and secluded, it’s typically uncrowded, providing an ideal setting for wildlife viewing and nature photography. Achi Treptow, a certified wildlife biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, advised that unlike a state park, Santee doesn’t concentrate much on visitors. “A Wildlife Management Area’s main focus is to provide a habitat for a variety of native and migratory wildlife,” Treptow explained. “We therefore have no public restrooms and rather few educational displays. Our place is all about enjoying nature, away from the traffic and noise of bigger cities.” A network of trails traverses wetlands, diverse uplands and old rice fields, and a boardwalk passes through cypress swamp habitat where you may glimpse vibrant yellow prothonotary warblers migrating through during spring. They also offer biking and primitive camping and have a new dock for fishing. Santee additionally serves as a designated hunting area during season. Visitors should be aware that water levels in the former rice fields can be adjusted for management purposes and fluctuate throughout the year, which attracts varying wildlife at different times. As you drive along Santee’s main entrance road, watch for red cockaded woodpeckers among the burnt longleaf pine habitat. Bring bug spray if you’re coming between late March and late October. Maps are available at their kiosks, but often run out, especially on weekends. dnr.sc.gov 220 Santee Gun Club Road, McClellanville, SC 29458 CAPE ROMAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge encompasses rich coastal ecosystems, including salt marsh, tidal creeks, barrier islands, pristine beaches and maritime forests. With more than 293 bird species recorded on the 66,000-acre refuge, birdwatching opportunities abound. Observe seabirds nesting on the beaches during summer, including the state threatened Wilson’s plover and black skimmers. The refuge hosts the largest wintering populations of American oystercatchers and marbled godwits along the Atlantic coast. It also supports the biggest nesting endangered loggerhead sea turtle population outside of Florida. Most of Cape Romain is accessible only by boat, so if you don’t have one, the best way to experience it is by booking a Bulls Bay Island nature excursion through Photo by Chr i s Smi th .
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