Rudy Mancke Collection

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.

Within this Collection

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 5 12

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 5

Episode 12

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

“Ghost Beach” - Rudy and Jim further assess the damage to the island by Hurricane Hugo. The pines and live oaks at the shore line are gone, but the Palmetto trees survived. The water is slowly eroding...

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4 10

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4

Episode 10

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim catch a full sized adult alligator sneaking around the area, and also find a Four-Lined Rat snake, also known as a Live-Oak snake.

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3 7

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3

Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, Rudy and Jim find more plants typical of barrier islands: Devil’s Walking Stick, Prickly Ash, and Buckthorn. In a shady area close by, Rudy and Jim find a resting Eastern Cottonmouth...

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1 3

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

On the other side of the impoundment we see the effects of Hurricane Hugo. The area once dominated by canopy trees like tall pines, are no longer there.

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1 2

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 2

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, Rudy and Jim come across a Northern Mockingbird, and a Red-Wing Blackbird perched in some nearby trees, making their distinctive bird-calls. Feeding on some nearby Dewberry flowers...

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3 8

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3

Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Osprey birds and Bald Eagles can also be seen nesting in this wildlife refuge.

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4 9

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4

Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Dike – Vast fields of Cord Grass populate this area. The fresh water impoundments, with much lower levels of salinity, are perfect places for shore and sea birds such as Yellowleg birds, Black...

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4 11

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 4

Episode 11

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Great Egret birds, whose nests were initially destroyed by Hurricane Hugo, have flocked back to the island to rebuild their homes.

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3 6

Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 3

Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Hurricane Hugo damage revisited – Here we see further evidence of damage caused by Hurricane Hugo. The tall canopy trees like pines, oaks, and palmettos have been stripped bare. Nature is slowly...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2 4

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2

Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Foothills- “flat rock communities” can be found here: outcroppings of rock with standing water. Endemic flowers are a species of flower only found in these communities, such as Cottony Groundsel...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 1

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim visit Forty Acre Rock, which is in Flat Creek Heritage Preserve, in Lancaster, S.C. Pine Forest - The forest, once dominated by hardwood trees, is now populated with mostly pine trees...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 3

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Damage from Hurricane Hugo, seen with some of the pine trees knocked over by high force winds, still remain. Yellow Jessamine and Japanese Honeysuckle plants can be seen growing over the damage left...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 2

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 2

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, Rudy and Jim come across a few common species of insects which populate the area: a male Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, a Sunflier dragonfly, and a cluster of Fall Webworm silk is...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2 5

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 2

Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The significant amount of warm rain water greatly benefits the plant and animal life here. In one of these pools of water found in the rock outcroppings, Spotted Salamander egg masses can be seen...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 5 8

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 5

Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim discuss the process of exfoliation, which commonly takes place on rock outcroppings such as this one. Here, on this island of soil, we see more yellow jessamine, moss, red cedar trees...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 3 6

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 3

Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Vernal Pools - Red Cedar trees commonly populate these rock outcropping areas. Lichens break down the rock surface, creating the dirt in which plants can grow. Black Rock Moss Haircap Moss...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 6 9

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 6

Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Large masses of granite such as this one, are sometimes called “Plutons,” named after the Roman god of the underworld. This is due the hot liquid granite coming up from the ground and cooling...

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 4 7

Forty Acre Rock (S.C.) Stop 4

Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

After the rock gets broken down into soil, the first species of plant life to grow in these areas are mainly Stonecrops, along with Rock Sandwort.

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 2 4

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 2

Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Before the trees start to bloom, the flowers in the area explode with blossoms first. Here we see Lousewort and Pennywort flowers. While observing the flowers, Rudy and Jim come across a Black Chinned...

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 3 7

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 3

Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Another characteristic of this forest which makes it unique is that it is has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The Mayapple flower is a common flower in the area, and features an...

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 1 1

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 1

Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim visit Appalachian Cove, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina. Some of the flowering plants found here have cousins nowhere else in the world except China and Japan. At this first...

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 5 11

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 5

Episode 11

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In the same stop, Rudy and Jim talk about the plants growing on a nearby rock: moss, Walking Fern, and another Canada Violet. On a nearby tree, Rudy and Jim find a cocoon of a Large Silkworm Moth.

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 6 12

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 6

Episode 12

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The constant stream of mist coming from the waterfall at this next stop affects the variety of plants found here. The mountain, like the forest, is ancient, and the waterfall continues to wear away...

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 5 10

Appalachian Cove (S.C.) Stop 5

Episode 10

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this next stop, Rudy and Jim find Canada Violets, White Trillium, Blue Cohosh, and a Green Frog can be seen close-by near the stream. Other plants which dominate the area are Yellow Buckeye trees...