2024 Atlantic Cup Sets Sails From Charleston

The Atlantic Cup sailing race returned to the calendar after a multi-year hiatus and also returned to the familiar start line at the Charleston Maritime Center. The 2024 format included two long-distance legs up the Atlantic Coast, and one coastal racing series in Maine. The first leg is 708-nautical miles from Charleston to Newport, Rhode Island and challenges can include shipping traffic in the Gulf Stream and inclement tropical weather. The second leg is 249-nautical miles from Newport to Portland, Maine, and then the teams will race a 30-nautical mile course there on June 5 and June 6 to determine who win the Atlantic Cup.

20204 Race Start in Charleston Harbor;
Acrobatica in Yellow

Team Acrobatica won both Leg One and Leg Two and Day One of Maine races to WIN the 2024 Atlantic Cup.

To view the feature story in the Post and Courier newspaper click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from the Atlantic Cup click on 2016 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - Inaugural Atlantic Cup Race Start

To view past stories in Tideline click on Paddling For Pups Photos - Silvopasture Forestry - Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Beidler Forest - 50th Anniversary Celebration

Male Prothonotary Warbler with
Bug and Four Leg Bands

The May 11 date of the 50th Anniversary of Beidler Forest began with temperatures in the 50's and the unseasonably cool weather with sunny conditions made made for a glorious day to spend in the swamp. A day full of scheduled events began with a guided walk, included the banding of a prothonotary warbler, and finished off with a Who's Who of Audubon at a 2 PM ceremony at the Meeting Place on the boardwalk next to a 1000-year old Cypress Tree. Wildlife sightings during the day did not disappoint including warblers, snakes, gators, damsel flies and some visitors saw much more. Since May 11 fell on the Second Saturday, their monthly policy of free admission allowed for everyone to enjoy their visit for free.

Ebony Jewelwing in Display Mode

To view my feature article on the Beidler 50th Anniversary click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Audubon / Beidler Forest click on 2023 Birding By Ear - 2021 Flora and Fauna - 2022 Silver Bluff - 2021 Name That Snake - 2017 Audubon Insectarium - 2016 Prescribed Fire -  2015 Boardwalk Bonanza - 2014 SAMBI Award - 2013 Audubon Aquarium - 2012 Audubon's Aviary Book- 2011 Audubon Magazine - 2009 Wildlands Philanthropy Book  

Water Moccasin on the Move

Grandson of Francis Beidler 
speaks to Audubon faithful

To view past stories in Tideline click on Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Professional Outdoor Media visit Pinewood, S.C.

POMA members at the SCWA waterfowl overlook
after riding in the Honda Pioneer 1000

The annual membership meeting for the Professional Outdoors Media Association (POMA) rotates throughout the U.S. and the 2024 meeting was held in South Carolina. This was POMA's first meeting in S.C. since 2013 but I predict they will return to the Palmetto State sooner rather than later thanks to media-friendly host, South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA). SCWA is transforming their footprint from a hunting operation, to a newly expanded campus for shooting sports and corporate meetings, with the proceeds to benefit youth education operations on site. The setting along the banks of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie is where meeting co-sponsor Santee Cooper Country operates 12 months out of the year, and plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities abound for both locals and visitors.

Chef Danny Hieronymus after his 
Lowcountry Boil cooking demo

The POMA meeting did not fall during a hunt season, but the first order of business was to send writer sea photographers out on the Lake for a Monday morning fishing trip for catfish! The three-day conference ran from Monday, May 6 though May 8 and features a jam-packed schedule of sessions focused on content creation, gear access and even first-aid education. POMA members coming from many states gather together for all meals and lodging which creates a setting where idea exchanges can take place, and future stories can blossom. SCWA founder David Wielicki received an award for POMA one day, and was back to giving personally-guided tours to media members the next day.  SCWA marketing director Mark Copley is the contact to learn more about the future at SCWA.

POMA members during Airboat Ride 

To view past blog entries from POMA click on 2014 / Knoxville, TN. - 2013 / Columbia, S.C.

To view past blog entries from SEOPA click on 2018 / Florence, S.C. - 2015 Eufala, Alabama - 2014 / Fonatana, N.C. - 2013 / SW Louisiana - 2012 / East TN. - 2009 / Punta Gorda, Florida

Range Day is always a favorite 

2024 Birding Journal Observations - March / April

Male House Finch feeding a juvenile 4/26

Another mild winter came with a deluge of rain in March and April that recharged swamps to 'high tide' levels. This wet footprint on the landscape may have helped lead to several cool mornings and a fine Spring season. The neotropical migration season that comes during March and April seemed a bit delayed this year, with many first sighting not coming until April, and then many of those sightings were fleeting glimpses of birds that were solidly on the move to the North. Indigo bunting, Orchard oriole and rose-breasted grosbeak just cruised on through while blue grosbeak and summer tanager took up their stations for the remainder of the summer. The first hummingbirds I saw in Mid-April were migratory, and the ones electing to stick around came later in April.

Hawk in a Tree 4/10

To view the most recent Birding Journal Observations click on January / February 2024

To view past Birding Journal Observations from March / April click on 2023 -  2022- 2021- 2018-  2017 - 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Swallow-tailed Kite and Wood Stork 4/3