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Back in December Capt. Mike had one of the coolest wildlife encounters. He and his family got to see a group of Northern Right Whales!!! To watch Mike’s video click on the link below :). Capt. Mike and pals were offshore and got to see 3 Northern Right Whales. Mike said, “It was hard to see…

We recently shared a blog post about nudibranchs and wanted to update you on some of our discoveries in case you find any nudibranch in the wild! A great place to help you ID nudibranchs is Inaturalist, or if you need help identifying plant or animals species. It is a great way to contribute observations…

Citizen Science Blog Jan 1 2025 Happy 2025! We are going to continue our efforts of sharing citizen science projects as we come across them. With the citizen science projects list, we will try to share fun eco, family friendly events too! Citizen science is a form of data collection that the public (of all ages) can participate in. It usually involves the collection of data and recording it or entering it into a database for different organizations. A list of citizen science projects will be listed & linked below! An upcoming and exciting yearly event is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This is a yearly event and this year it is being held February 14-17 of 2025. To read about how to participate check out this informative page here!  If you love birds and are interested in participating in almost…

From the BIET family to yours we would like to wish you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Though we might not be expecting a white Christmas here in the low country, we did experience a super intriguing phenomenon that typically only can be viewed in the Arctic!  The northern lights danced unusually far south this…

Capers at night by Parker Gibbons. A lot of people ask us when we get to Capers about if camping is allowed. Here’s some important Information regarding camping from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources if you are interested in learning about how to camp on capers: Camping on Capers Info Now that you’ve got…

Sea pickle found by a student! Have you heard of Sea Pickle, Pickleweed or Glasswort? All common names for the genus Salicornia (and there are several other common names we’ve heard too!). These extremely salt-tolerant succulents are found salt and brackish water marshes along the coast. Some people enjoy using them in salads to add…

Happy December! Every month we like to include a blog post that contains information about citizen science projects that can be found in the area! Citizen science is a form of data collection that the public of all ages can participate in. It usually involves the collection of data and recording it or entering it into a database for different organizations. A list of citizen science projects will be listed & linked below! There are so many citizen science projects to get involved with. We’d like to highlight some beach sweeps and pollution pickups listed below. Pollution pickups and beach sweeps will enter the trash collected into databases and can be used to help ban or limit different products. These are only a short list of organized environmental cleanups–there are several out there if you are interested! SCA cleanups Ocean…

Beneath the moss-draped oaks, we gather round, Where marsh meets sand, and tides soft sound. On this barrier island, wild and free, Thanksgiving comes by the salty sea. Pelicans dive, and herons stand tall, While golden spartina waves in fall. The table’s spread with humble grace, As sun dips low on water’s face. Sweet tea and oysters, cornbread and greens, The bounty here, a coastal dream. Shrimp boats rest as day grows dim, And fiddler crabs in shadows skim. Voices rise with laughter and cheer, In this quiet place we hold so dear. Thankful hearts beneath southern skies, As starlight shines and embers rise.  

Nudibranchs belong to a group of soft-bodied mollusks called gastropods. Unlike many gastropods, they don’t have shells. The name “nudibranch” means “naked gill,” which refers to the frilly, gill-like appendages often visible on their backs. These “gills” are not just decorative; they’re for dissolved oxygen exchange (aka how they breathe) Nudibranchs come in a variety…

Recently, several Portuguese man-o-wars, Physalia physalis, (aka spicy empanadas) have been spotted in and around our waters. These organisms are found in tropical to subtropical waters. They vary in color and size. The “top sail” portion of this siphonophore (colonial organism) is usually a translucent pink, blue, or purple and we found some sails the…

There are so many citizen science projects to get involved with. We’d like to highlight some beach sweeps and pollution pickups listed below. Pollution pickups and beach sweeps will enter the trash collected into databases and can be used to help ban or limit different products. These are only a short list of organized environmental cleanups–there are several out there if you are interested! SCA cleanups Ocean Conservancy Surf Rider  Coastal Expeditions There are many species that SC Department of Natural Resources is asking for citizens to report their sightings. Certain species can be reported year round but are typically found in SC during the warmer months! However, now that the water temperatures are cooling down it would be VERY important information for SCDNR, especially if we have lingering manatees in the area! They sometimes wait too long to leave…

 Happy Halloween! Enjoy this poem about the hauntingly beautiful boneyard beach! Under moon’s pale, eerie light, On Boneyard Beach this haunting night, Skeleton trees make up this beach, Barren except for maybe just a leaf. Ghost crabs scuttle, white as bone, Silent spirits all alone, They dance across the quiet shore, Where whispers drift forevermore….