Nature and conservation were the primary themes at the second annual Sullivan’s Island Earth Day on April 27, as environmental groups at the Poe Library clued in locals on best practices to promote the interconnectivity between humans and their surrounding ecosystem.
Among the preservation groups in attendance was Sullivan’s Island for All (SI for All), which is leading the charge in safeguarding the local Maritime Forest, encompassing 195 acres of trees and vegetation.
Attendees at the Earth Day celebration were invited on guided tours of the Sullivan’s Island Martime Forest, which according to SI for All President Karen Byko, provides a protective wall between the ocean and island homeowners.
The trees, she told the Moultrie News, serve as a barrier to stave off erosion.
While surrounding communities, such as the Isle of Palms, have seen their trees uprooted from their natural environment, according to Byko, Sullivan’s Island residents continue to benefit from their “hidden treasure.”
Joining Byko at the gathering was fellow SI for All member Dan Krosse, who highlighted the importance of showing children how humans can positively impact the constantly moving and changing world around them.
“[We’re] just trying to let them know that everything’s connected, from the trees down to the turtles and the ocean, to the snakes you’re seeing here. I mean, everything depends on everything. And we all play a role in making sure that we’re doing our part to be responsible with the gifts of our earth and nature,” said Krosse.
In addition to learning about the Maritime Forest, visitors of all ages were treated to one-on-one introductions to Carlos the turtle and a ball python (a species native to West and Central Africa) named Simba, courtesy of the South Carolina Aquarium.
The Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station was also on hand, featuring biologist and local photographer Sarah Harper, who explained the process of capturing birds and fitting them with lock-on bands.
The purpose behind this task, she shared, is to track the migratory patterns of birds who cross through the Sullivan’s Island area.
The creatures are captured with nets set up along 150 acres of a conservation easement, Harper noted.
“We are recording this data on the birds we are capturing; it is important to get not only their band number, but also to get the species’ age, sex and other data points,” said the avian expert.
As for what birds are most commonly seen in the area, yellow-rumped warblers, cedar waxwings and winter sparrows are prevalent during the winter months. Summer visitors include breeding birds, such as great crested flycatchers, common yellowthroats and painted buntings.
“So, the importance of the land is far-reaching because not only are these birds seeking an undisturbed type of natural habitat, but they’re also coming back to the same place every year,” Harper observed.
