Season Cycles in Focus for ACE Basin Book

ACE Basin cover depicts flora and fauna

A new book on the fledgling legacy of the ACE Basin brings together observations from the field by author Pete Laurie with nature photography by Philip Jones. This dynamic duo worked together for years at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and they leveraged those experiences to produce The Ace Basin: A Lowcountry Legacy.

Opening with a chapter on the history of the formation of the ACE Basin project, simple geography is a part of the conversation. Many of large acreage plantations along the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers were involved in rice culture. This practice involves putting water on agricultural land and then being able to manipulate the water levels, so proximity to the rivers of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto was pivotal.

Indeed, due to the unique conservation efforts in the ACE Basin of South Carolina, the outlook for future avian migrations is looking good whether it is shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, ducks or neotropical songbirds. Many good viewing areas in the ACE Basin are just about an hour from Walterboro, Charleston and Savannah and they are well worth the drive time to watch nature in motion. 

To view this feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about encounters with the natural world click on Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar - Hooded Warbler - American Oystercatcher - Bats - Snakes - Honey Bees - Wood Storks

To view my latest Field Notes and Photos click on October 2015