CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 7, 2024) — May 11, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of Audubon’s Francis Beidler Forest, an 18,000-acre bird and wildlife sanctuary and a crown jewel among South Carolina’s natural treasures.
Audubon South Carolina will commemorate this historic milestone with a day of celebration at the Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Harleyville, halfway between Charleston and Columbia. Visitors will enjoy free admission to Beidler’s 1.75-mile ADA-accessible swamp boardwalk, along with a variety of family-friendly activities and educational programs that will be offered throughout the day.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Beidler Forest,” said Rebecca Haynes, Executive Director of Audubon South Carolina. “Most of all, I’m excited for the opportunity to thank the countless people and partners who have played a role in protecting and stewarding this amazing landscape, and who have supported our organization and our conservation mission, through the years.”
The Francis Beidler Forest was established on May 11, 1974, thanks to a partnership between the National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy, which resulted in the permanent protection of 3,415 acres of land in the Four Holes Swamp watershed. Today, the sanctuary has grown to include more than 18,000 acres of critical bird and wildlife habitat in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.
“There are precious few places in the Lowcountry that look the same today as they did 50 years ago,” said Tim Evans, Director of Land Conservation for Audubon South Carolina. “Meanwhile, Beidler Forest offers a glimpse of what South Carolina looked like thousands of years ago. It really is a remarkable landscape and a true conservation success story.”
Center doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Morning programs will include a guided nature tour at 9 a.m. and a Prothonotary Warbler banding demonstration and 10 a.m. The Ridgeville-based Kitchen 27 food truck will be onsite from noon to 2 p.m., and an official anniversary ceremony will be held on the boardwalk at 2 p.m. A complete list of events and activities can be found at https://beidler.audubon.org.
“It’s serendipitous that Beidler’s 50th anniversary falls on World Migratory Bird Day, which is an annual awareness campaign that promotes the protection of migratory birds and their habitats," said Matt Johnson, Center Director at Audubon’s Beidler Forest. “We’re excited to be a part of this global initiative, which happens right as millions of birds are taking to the skies as part of their epic intercontinental migrations. I’m also eager to introduce our guests to some of the special species that are currently visiting the swamp, such as the Prothonotary Warbler, which is the star of our banding demonstration on Saturday,” Johnson continued.
Beidler Forest is located within the Four-Holes Swamp watershed, a blackwater swamp that rises in Calhoun County and flows for 62 miles to the confluence of the Edisto River. It includes portions of the tribal lands of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso, a state-recognized Native American Tribe headquartered in Ridgeville.
It is also a designated site of significance within the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom program, a National Natural Landmark, an Audubon-designated Important Bird Area, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Visitors to Audubon's Beidler Forest Center and Sanctuary have an opportunity to learn more about the history of the area, as well as Audubon’s ongoing bird research, conservation, and advocacy efforts through self-guided tours, staff-led programs, and guided kayak trips. It is one of two Audubon sanctuaries in South Carolina and 35 across the United States. Visit https://beidler.audubon.org to learn more.
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About Audubon South Carolina
Audubon South Carolina protects birds and the places they need using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. We’re the state office of the National Audubon Society, which has more than one million members and a century-long track record of success. In South Carolina, we represent nearly 30,000 Audubon members and supporters and 10 Audubon chapters and bird club partners. We own or manage more than 30,000 acres of land, including our Silver Bluff Sanctuary in Aiken County, and our Beidler Forest Center and Sanctuary spanning parts of Berkeley, Dorchester, and Orangeburg counties—which not only provide critical habitat for birds and wildlife but also provide public access to greenspace, inclusive educational programming, and important ecosystem services for nearby communities. Learn more about what we do and how to help at https://sc.audubon.org, on Facebook at @scaudubon and on Instagram at @audubon_sc.
For media inquiries, high-resolution photos, or video footage, please contact:
Matt Johnson
Center Director
Audubon’s Beidler Forest Center and Sanctuary
Matthew.Johnson@audubon.org
803-429-5571
