Shorebird Protection on Botany Bay WMA Beach

Least tern on Botany beach - Photo by Bess Kellett

With the arrival of June, the new normal of life during the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve for the outdoors enthusiast. The big news for beach goers came down on May 27 when the SCDNR officially reopened the beach access at Botany Bay WMA, although some restrictions are in place to protect shorebirds currently nesting on the north end of that beach. This Wildlife Management Area and Heritage Preserve had already reopened to visitors that wanted to utilize the driving tour or perhaps go birdwatching on the main property. SCDNR reports active shorebird nesting on the beach currently including 80-pairs of least terns, a half-dozen pairs of Wilson’s Plovers and one American oystercatcher. Other shorebirds that might be visiting the beach include red knots, dunlins and ruddy turnstones. 

Least tern eggs and nest site on Botany beach

Bess Kellett is the volunteer coordinator at Botany Bay WMA and she explains that the restart process is still ongoing. “While the public has access to the property, we have not had any volunteers on duty since the original Covid-19 restrictions on March 23,” said Kellett. “Driving tour visitors still have access to the kiosk where the sign-in and maps are located, but there are no volunteers present to answer frequently asked questions. For those walking to the beach, the restricted access is on the North end, so look for restricted access signs right past the boneyard beach area. Beachwalkers heading to the South are able to walk down to the inlet without restriction.”

The causeway to the beach is wheel chair accessible, and visitors cross through the maritime forest on Pockoy Island, which is a great place to look for colorful birds like the painted bunting. This fragile ecosystem is a part of the ACE Basin, with a multitude of birds utilizing this habitat in conjunction with other nearby protected areas such as Deveaux Bank and Edisto Beach State Park. Remember that shelling is prohibited on the beach at Botany Bay, since those same shells break down over time creating a heathy habitat that signals shorebirds to nest there. And yes, a sea turtle patrol is active on the beach at Botany Bay WMA too.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries on shorebirds click on 2017 Shorebird Symposium - S.C. Spring Shorebird Synergy - Manomet visits Yawkey Preserve - The Narrow Edge book - Red Knot Rendezvous - World Shorebird Day

To read past blog entries from Edisto in 2020 click on Pockoy Island Dig Delayed

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2019 click on ACE Basin Appreciation - Dolphin Slam - Jim Bost Memorial - Sea Turtle Nesting - Billfish Tourney 

 To view past blog entries from 2018 at Edisto click on Thirsty Whale Tours - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Coastal Geology - Grits Cook Off - Billfish Tourney 

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open- I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book - Billfish Tourney