National Great Outdoors Month is celebrated in June and serves as a reminder to enjoy and appreciate our state parks and wildlife refuges. This observation, begun in 1998, encourages us to explore our parks and enjoy the beauty that awaits us in our natural world.
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Jim and Rudy discuss the composition of the sand dunes on Sandy Island, and how wind and water have shifted the dunes over time. The waters between these slopes make perfect hunting ground for local...
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Rudy and Jim walk through a longleaf pine habitat, and come across a loblolly pine with a red-cockaded woodpecker nest. We also see Turkey oak trees, and yellow jessamine flowers. The yellow jessamine...
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Rudy and Jim visit Sandy Island, off the South Carolina coast, near Georgetown. Sandy Island is the largest undeveloped fresh water island on the East coast, consisting mainly of sand dunes, and...
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Here at The Refuge, Rudy and Jim come across a rare plant in South Carolina: rosemary. Not to be confused with the rosemary spice one would find in a kitchen. Turkey oaks are found here as well, along...
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In the same area, we see two white ibis birds. The ibis population in S.C. has increased dramatically since the 1920’s. The eastern cottonmouth is a common species of snake found in the Lowcountry
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Canopy trees, such as the Live Oak trees, Southern Magnolia trees, and Pignut Hickory trees compete for sunlight. Rough Green Snakes are a non-poisonous species of snake commonly found in canopy trees...
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The Osprey, one of the species of birds found in this area, has repurposed a dead oak tree by building a nest on top of it. The Osprey reuses its same nest year after year.
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Victoria Bluff – Two species of pine tree, and the Saw Palmetto plant grow here.
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In areas known as lime sinks, plants get more moisture and sunlight. Some of the plant life we see here are horse sugar plants, holly bushes, and lizard’s tail plants. While in the lime sink, Rudy and...
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Still in an area close to the coast, we see different plant life due to the significantly lower levels of salinity. Willow trees grow here, and a Yellow Crowned Night Heron bird has built a nest in a...
