Blog

Recently we enjoyed having the Vienna Boys Choir out with us and enjoyed some pretty incredible nature! We saw an osprey eating a fish on a dock piling and as we kept cruising the osprey started flying with its catch. Then we noticed a juvenile bald eagle chasing after the osprey. The osprey dropped the…

Dunlins are a small shorebird found along our coasts during the winter. When they are here dunlins are in their non-breeding plumage and can look similar to other shorebirds upon a quick glance. Identifying shorebirds on the beach can seem overwhelming and tedious but a great way to get better at shorebird ID is taking photos of the groups of birds and comparing the birds later. Another helpful tool is using a scope or more powerful binoculars that allow you to get a great view of the bird! 

In honor of Tom Yawkey’s birthday and team bonding, we recently had the pleasure of getting a team tour of the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center! If you haven’t had a chance to go yet, please check it out! Tom Yawkey grew up with a love and respect for nature and the land around him. Because…

SEWE Feb 16-18th This exciting expo kicks off the start of tourism in the low country. SEWE began in 1983 and has continued to grow since. SEWE’s mission is to “showcase the nation’s finest wildlife art, create awareness for the conservation of wildlife and the environment, positively influence wildlife and nature education, and impact the local and statewide economies through increased tourism.”. Don’t fret if you don’t want to pay for SEWE tickets! There are a lot of free events in Marion’s Square. Flight demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, ambassador animals to meet, and more! Music and arts are celebrated and the amount of planning and partnerships that go in to this event are impressive. SEWE has brought about 40,000 visitors annually to the Charleston area and generates about $33 million for the local economy.  If you’d like to read more about…

Citizen science projects involve the collaboration between scientists and the general public to collect and analyze data, conduct research, and contribute to scientific knowledge. These projects aim to harness the collective power of individuals, often enthusiasts or volunteers with varying levels of expertise, to address scientific questions or challenges. Some citizen science fields include topics ranging from astronomy to environmental sciences/life sciences and more! Participants may contribute by making observations, collecting samples, or even using their computers or smartphones to analyze data. The involvement of citizens in scientific research not only accelerates data collection but also promotes public engagement, education, and awareness of scientific issues. You don’t have to be an expert on the project but may walk away with having learned many new things from getting involved. Accessibility, inclusivity, and the potential for large-scale data gathering are some goals…

Capt. Joseph on his first BIET as a 6 year old! Captain Joseph recently shared a photo of him on his FIRST EVER Barrier Island Eco Tour. He was just 6 years old…14 years later he was HOOKED and is ofFISHally (sorry we couldn’t help it!!!) a captain & naturalist for the company! When Jojo…

Capers Island beach not only contains a boneyard of trees but it is teeming with fascinating collection of treasures that have washed up on the island. One unique creature that can be seen is the mottled purse crab.

During low tide it is fun to discover marine invertebrates that are finally exposed on the beach at Capers Island. One way of determining different animals beneath the now exposed sand is through their tracks! Sea snails are notorious for leaving trails, and a type of sea snail we can find on Capers is a…

‘Happy as a Clam’ Did you know this expression is believed to have come from an author in the 1800’s? The expression over time became shorter but the full expression was, “As happy as a clam at high water!”. This meant during high water (or at high tide) clams were free from certain predators like birds or humans and were able to filter feed on plankton!

2023 Critter Review.  Here are some of our favorite animals we got to see in 2023. Enjoy! 

On Sunday December 17, 2023 a Nor’easters hit the low country. No’reasters are cyclones that typically form outside of the tropics, and usually affecting the Northeastern United States on the Atlantic Coast. This type of storm forms due to a polar air mass collision with a humid air mass and they normally occur in the late fall and winter. Because of these two factors, they are different than a tropical storm which forms over warm, tropic waters.  Nor’easters usually bring snow or blizzards but for the low country it meant one of the highest record non-tropical tides. Instead of a snow record, there was a daily record of 3.89 inches of rain (98.81 mm) from Downtown Charleston. Because of the tide and the rain water some streets of Charleston were under 2 feet (60 cm) of water. The tide was…