2025 SEWE at Palmetto Bluff

Chef Rhy Waddington and Ribs

The inaugural SEWE at the Bluff took place on Saturday March 29 and kicked off with a Bang during the Buffalo Blast Sporting Clays shoot at noon. Afterward, the shooters plus their wives and lots of Palmetto Bluff property owners gathered at 3 PM for a feast prepared by Chef Rhy Waddington and to shop the SEWE market of sporting vendors. Live music in the background provided a laid back feel to this warm and sunny afternoon with presentations from the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, Wildrose Kennels, and the Birds of Prey Center keeping everyone entertained.

The Experience Stand during SEWE at the Bluff

Vendors included Brackish Bowties, Norton and Hodges, Nana's Nuts and Cast-a-Way Carbon. The hat branding station from Bluffton was one of my favorites, since they present a way to customize hats, belts, and keepsake leathers with their branding iron - Neat! And with only four days until S.C. turkey hunting season, Jay Walea's turkey calling demonstration was right on time. 

To view Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Palmetto Bluff click on 2024 - 2023 - 2022 - 2021

To view past blog entries from SEWE click on 2025 - 2024- 2023 -  2022 - 2019- 2018 - 2017-  2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

2025 Turkey Hunting Season - Gear Up for Success

Each year of turkey hunting season brings new challenges and having the right gear can mean the difference between tagging a boss gobbler or not. Preparing what you can haul in your turkey vest is key because dealing with whiplash weather and the changing moods of turkeys are issues out of one’s control. To those who chase big game in the Spring, there is no comparison to seeking out the inspirational sound of a fired-up turkey gobbling.

Turkey Tags and Gear

 

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) sets the hunting regulations for wild turkeys in South Carolina, and there have been numerous changes recently. New for 2025 SCDNR reduced the bag limit per hunter to two turkeys per season, a strategic move that counters the decline of wild turkeys. Turkey hunting season opens April 3, hunters may only harvest one gobbler during the first seven days of the season, and juvenile jakes are no longer legal to harvest.

To read the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click Spring Conservation Calendar -  Edisto Flora and Fauna -  Horseshoe Crab Research -  Bird Banding Conference - ACE Basin Refuge -  2025 SE Wildlife Expo - S.C. Master Naturalist - CHS Outdoor Adventures - CCA oyster recycling -  SEWE / DU conservation -  Search for Shed Antlers -  Save The Light - Christmas Wish List - 2025 Christmas Bird Count -  December Saltwater Forecast - Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz

2025 Conservation Calendar for Spring

The month of April is synonymous with turkey hunting season in the bottomlands and pelagic fishing offshore. To be sure, there is a competition for your dollars and your time when it comes to outdoor pursuits, with conservation fundraising season also kicking into high gear. So whether by land or sea, those hunters and anglers chasing sporting endeavors this Spring will have plenty of options to choose from.

On Saturday March 22 is the SCDNR Open House at Fort Johnson from 10 to 4 and this family friendly event won’t cost guests anything. Just allow time to ride a shuttle bus from James Island Charter School to their waterfront facility and then soak up their educational outreach and picnic while viewing Charleston Harbor. This event only occurs every other year.

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

To view past articles in Tideline click on Edisto Flora and Fauna -  Horseshoe Crab Research -  Bird Banding Conference - ACE Basin Refuge -  2025 SE Wildlife Expo - S.C. Master Naturalist - CHS Outdoor Adventures - CCA oyster recycling -  SEWE / DU conservation -  Search for Shed Antlers -  Save The Light - Christmas Wish List - 2025 Christmas Bird Count -  December Saltwater Forecast - Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz

2025 Edisto Flora and Fauna Guidebook

While Volume One of this new book is hot off the press, the work going into it dates back seven years for author Tom Austin. As Director of Land Conservation for the Edisto Island Open Land Trust, Austin has been creating a weekly homage via social media, to a specific biota he encountered while surveying protected lands on Edisto. The book titled The Flora and Fauna of Edisto Island is a treat for naturalists, birders and for anyone who marvels at the ecosystem found on this Lowcountry sea island.

 

This is Austin’s first book, and he already has enough material ready for a Book Two. Anyone spending time in the field with Austin during the Edisto Christmas Bird Count, on South Carolina Naturalist Association walks, and during Edisto Land Trust events, knew that this book was in the works. The photo of a male painted bunting on the cover was one of the last images Austin made before it went to Evening Post Books for publishing. “There had been some delays on my end before publishing, and I was able to continue compiling images and knowledge for the book,” said Austin. “And I’m glad how it all worked out because printing the best product possible is my goal.”

To view this feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Horseshoe Crab Research -  Bird Banding Conference - ACE Basin Refuge -  2025 SE Wildlife Expo - S.C. Master Naturalist - CHS Outdoor Adventures - CCA oyster recycling -  SEWE / DU conservation -  Search for Shed Antlers -  Save The Light - Christmas Wish List - 2025 Christmas Bird Count -  December Saltwater Forecast - Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz

2025 Horseshoe Crab Reproduction Research

Horseshoe crabs in marsh.
Photo by SCDNR.

When water temperatures rise to 60-degrees and level off after the last cold snaps of winter, the coastline welcomes horseshoe crabs for their annual spawn. From late March until June is when these hard-shelled arthropods, scientific name Limulus Polyphemus, come crawling onto the beach. However, new research is observing that horseshoe crabs are nesting in the salt marsh too, piling their eggs into pluff mud where they are seemingly safer from predators. 

 

Dr. Daniel Sasson is an assistant marine scientist with SCDNR, who studies horseshoe crabs. “There are fossil remains of horseshoe crabs from 120 million years ago, that show the crabs today are similar to their ancestors,” said Sasson. “Despite their name they are not actually crabs and are more closely related to spiders and scorpions. Some folks at SCDNR had observed horseshoe crabs in the spartina marsh prior to my arrival in 2020, and they had some initial success at locating eggs in the mud.”

Horseshoe crab eggs.
Photo by SCDNR.

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

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Bird Banding Conference - ACE Basin Refuge -  2025 SE Wildlife Expo - S.C. Master Naturalist - CHS Outdoor Adventures - CCA oyster recycling -  SEWE / DU conservation -  Search for Shed Antlers -  Save The Light - Christmas Wish List - 2025 Christmas Bird Count -  December Saltwater Forecast - Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz

2025 Birding Journal Observations - January / February

Female oriole at mealworm feeder 1/12

Normal rainfall and cold temperatures held true for the first part of 2025, including a rare Lowcountry snow event on January 23, but a drier climate cycle began to form by the end of February. Notable observations included Baltimore orioles at jelly feeder, and pine warbler at seed feeders. The return of the brown creeper was welcome, and the yellow-bellied sapsuckers with their red markings are always handsome. Red-winged blackbirds mixed in with robins to scour the leaves on the ground, and goldfinches were notably absent from my feeders this winter.

The last weekend in February I was able to attend a Bird Banding conference at Kiawah.

Male Towhee in snow on 1/23

To view past birding journal observations for Jan/Feb click on 2024 - 2022- 2021 - 2020 - 2018-  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010