2021 Accomplishments

Here a list of things we accomplished at Beidler Forest this year.

February

Deferred Maintenance

We were able to use this time for deferred maintenance, making improvements to our roads, fixing lights, and getting a new roof for our barn. Visit Beidler to see some of our new improvements.

March

Volunteer Program

We had volunteers come out in March to help us with cleaning bird boxes for the spring, and later in the year we began a volunteer program starting with volunteers helping at the front desk. Since then our volunteers have worked for a collective total of almost 400 hours. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, fill out our volunteer interest form. Volunteer needs pick up in the spring and summer months.

April

2nd Bridge on Grassland-Woodland Trail

Eagle Scouts have helped us build multiple bridges over old ditches along our grassland-woodland trail. Learn more about the trails here.

Making it Grow visits Beidler!

Amanda McNulty from Making it Grow visited Beidler Forest to learn about us and meet Lucy the Greenish Rat Snake! Check out her episode on Beidler here.

May

Seasonal Bird Technician Hired

Aaron joined our crew as a Seasonal Bird Conservation Technician to help with our projects on Prothonotary Warblers, Swainson's Warblers, MAPS banding, and more. While here she successfully defended her Master's thesis on the effects of toxic contaminants in Seaside Sparrows following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To read about her experiences over the season, click here!

June

Project Protho

We continued our research on Prothonotary Warblers, banding 35 of them during the season. Helping us was Aaron Angel, our Seasonal Bird Conservation Technician. Read about her experiences here!

July

Swainson's Warbler Research

We took part in a program to further our understanding of the elusive Swainson's Warbler. The bird is a prime example for the importance of bird friendly forestry, managing forests in ways that minimize the impact on native bird populations while still being productive. To read about the hunt for the secrets of the ghost bird, read Jennifer Tyrrell's article here!

August

Gift Shop Restored

Following multiple seasons of our visitor center being closed due to Covid 19, we revamped our gift shop and created a few new and unique Beidler-themed products for sale!

September

International Underground Railroad Month Honored at Beidler Forest

We took part in the International Undergrond Railroad Month, offering a day of free admission and beginning the process of develop educational interpretation for Four Holes Swamp's involvement in the Underground Railroad as a place of refuge and respite for seekers of freedom. To learn more about the National Park Service's program, check out their Network to Freedom website.

October

Motus Tower Installed

This tower will allow us to track birds by radio telemetry. Birds tagged with nanotransmitters that fly into range of these towers will automatically be detected, allowing us to record their presence without having to capture them again! To read more about Motus, check out Jennifer Tyrrell's blog article!

November

Good Ole' Fashioned Dendrochronology

Researchers from the University of Alabama visited for a week collecting core samples of our cypress trees. Check out the article in the Summerville Journal Scene!

December

First Steps Visits Beidler

First Steps South Carolina is an organization focused on helping children from birth to kindergarten to achieve their highest potential in preparation for school and beyond. Learn more about First Steps here.