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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….

November 1st & 2nd, 2024 Upcoming Eco Events!  Looking for an eco event this weekend?? Check out these options listed below.  Low Country Marine Mammal Network has an upcoming event November 1st at Two Blokes Brewing! Link to the event here: Click for more! SIBBS–Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station Annual Fundraiser! Check out the QR…

American White Pelican  Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Earlier this October we slowly began seeing one of our yearly migrants that has started migrating to the Charleston area, we believe, within the last 10 years. This could be due to climate change, sea level rise, habitat loss, habitat preference, or a combination of all of those things. This…

With this awesome fall weather there are  A LOT of upcoming events.  Here are a few events we’d like to highlight and we will try to share more events pertaining to all things eco!!!   TURTLE TALK–TONIGHT OCT. 17th 6pm. If you are looking for a sea turtle talk there is a sea turtle talk…