Rudy Mancke, who passed away on Nov. 7 at the age of 78, became a beloved figure in South Carolina and beyond through his groundbreaking work as the host of the nationally distributed television show NatureScene and SC Public Radio’s NatureNotes. NatureScene, co-created with Beryl Dakers premiered in 1978 and continued for an impressive 25 years, gaining national recognition for its simple and innovative approach to exploring the natural world.
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Cypress Tupelo Swamp: The ground here close to Indian Lake is perfect for tree species such as old cypress, red maples, and tupelos. Water pennywort resides in the water itself, and mistletoe is both...
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Sandy Island features around thirteen plant communities. At their next stop, Rudy and Jim discuss the plant life which resides here. They talk about reindeer moss, a species of lichen, and what...
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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.
