FORDING ISLAND RESERVE NATURE GUIDE

FORDING ISLAND RESERVE NATURE GUIDE A PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE FOR MOSS CREEK MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS Fording Island is a small, natural island (or ha...
Author: Melvin Golden
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FORDING ISLAND RESERVE NATURE GUIDE A PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE FOR MOSS CREEK MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS

Fording Island is a small, natural island (or hammock) connected to the rest of Moss Creek by two raised boardwalks which pass over the salt marsh. It has a general east to west orientation. Its 11 acres comprise a pine straw/Saw Palmetto/Flatwoods plant community which reaches its northern most extension in Beaufort and Jasper counties, and is noted for a great variety of low-growing shrubs and herbaceous plants. These in turn provide wonderful undisturbed habitat for a variety of wildlife including various animals, birds and insects. We hope that you will find this guide to be a source of education and inspiration to explore all that the island has to offer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Fording Island Reserve: An Overview…………………………….4 Plant Life…………………………………………………………………….5 Wildlife……………………………………………………………………….9 Marine Life………………………………………………………………..11 Salt Marshes of the Lowcountry: Observations…………...12

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FORDING ISLAND RESERVE: AN OVERVIEW

Besides the paved leisure trail connecting the two boardwalks, there are two loop walking trails (East and West), both of which lead to their own observation deck on the south side of the island. From these vantage points, you can take the time to observe and enjoy your surroundings. Some of the birds you may see include wading birds such as great Blue Herons, Egrets, Snowy Egrets, little Blue Herons, Tri-Color Herons and Yellow Crowned Night Herons. If you are especially lucky, you might see some birds of prey such as Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and several types of Hawks. In fact, we are fortunate to have a large and active Osprey nest in a tall dead pine tree on the south side of the island (East loop); please be especially careful not to disturb them. On the North and East part of the island (just North of the leisure trail) is a small natural bog of “fresh” water which supports its own special flora and fauna. Throughout the island you may notice a number of dead trees (or “snags”), which have not been removed. Unless they pose a danger, they are left standing because they provide so many benefits to the wildlife. Listed on the following pages are descriptions of some of the plants and trees you will see on Fording Island that can be identified by the small signs provided. The map above will help you locate where you are on the reserve.

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PLANT LIFE

Live Oak This is the grand old tree of the South. Truly majestic as it ages and spreads, it may grow to only 40-50’ tall, but its trunk can be huge (3-4’ in diameter), and its twisting limbs often droop to the ground. It holds its leaves until spring when the new leaves push off the old, thus it looks “alive” all year long. Live Oaks produce extremely sweet acorns which are a major source of food for many animals. Their branches also serve as a platform for the Resurrection Fern and a support for Spanish Moss. Water Oak The Water Oak grows to 60-70’ tall, usually with a rounded crown. While deciduous, it usually holds its leaves well into the winter. Its acorns are small and black. The bark is blackish gray and scaly. It is a “good” tree because it can absorb the large amounts of surface water that we get from our heavy rains. In the winter, you will often see mistletoe clumps growing in its otherwise empty branches.

Red Bay This was a very common tree in Moss Creek until about 2003/04 when they began to die for some undetermined reason. However, they are coming back, but as a result are still quite small. Full grown Red Bays can reach 60’ tall. Their 3-4” long evergreen leaves are aromatic, and they produce creamy-white, bell shaped flowers.

Pignut Hickory This Hickory can be identified by its bark which looks like water rivulets. It grows slowly and puts down a long tap root to find sufficient fresh water sources. Green Hickory wood and nuts can be used to flavor meat when grilling or smoking. Squirrels love the nuts, as do Wood Ducks, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and many other birds. Because Hickory wood is strong and resilient, it is used for tool handles, athletic equipment (especially baseball bats), and furniture. Some early automobiles even had parts made out of Hickory.

Slash Pine This fast growing southern Pine is extensively cultivated for wood pulp and lumber. The seeds, bark and needles are eaten by a variety of animals. The orange to reddish brown scales of its mature bark look furrowed and constantly shed. Both the needles and cones help distinguish it from the Loblolly Pine. Slash Pine needles usually come in bunches of two, and their cones are “squeezable” while Loblolly Pine needles usually are in bunches of three and their cones are very “prickly.” Indeed, the name “Loblolly” is an Indian word for “mud puddle.”

Cabbage Palm This true palm is also called a “Sabal Palm” or just “Palmetto” (not to be confused with the “Saw Palmetto.” During the revolutionary battle on Sullivan’s Island, the stringy, soft wood of the palm logs absorbed the British fleet’s cannon balls and led to an American victory, and thus to our state tree! It can grow 30-60’ tall, live to 75 years, and has long (6’) drooping fronds. Its tiny, fragrant cluster of white flowers turn into black berries which are devoured by squirrels, raccoons, and birds. The Cabbage Palm’s long, stringy roots help bind the soil and prevent erosion. Besides providing wind resistance, its soft “wood” allows it to bend in hurricane force winds without uprooting or breaking.

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PLANT LIFE

Saw Palmetto As a shrub palm, Saw Palmettos often form impenetrable thickets. Its fan-like fronds are armed with sharp spikes resembling teeth of a saw, and can easily cut you if you are not careful. Small white flowers which appear in June produce a dark berry in the fall, which are enjoyed by birds and other small animals. The spiny and sharp stalks provide cover and nesting areas for reptiles, White-Tailed Deer, small mammals, and many birds.

Southern Red Cedar This Juniper is a salt marsh evergreen that prefers sandy soil. You’ll often see it along brackish mud banks and on sand/oyster pits. Its shredded-looking rust-red bark makes it hard to tell apart from its relative, the Eastern Red Cedar, but it does have much smaller cones. Cedar berries are the preferred fruit for hungry Cedar Waxwings, hence their name. It grows very slowly, so any large tree (up to 40-60’) is probably quite old. The beautiful red wood of this tree is used for cabinet work, storage chests, shingles, fence posts, furniture

American Holly This native holly is most like the English Holly familiar to colonists. Because of its popularity as a Christmas decoration, American Holly has become scarce in many areas. It can be either a thick shrub or a tree. Both male and female plants have small fragrant white flowers, but only the females produce the bright red berries which are poisonous to man. However, the berries are eaten by deer and 18 different species of birds. The fine textured wood is especially suited for cabinet inlays, utility handles, and even piano keys.

Yaupon Holly This prevalent, distinctive shrub or small tree (up to 25’) has its evergreen leaves and cluster of numerous tiny greenish-white flowers in the spring, but only the females produce berries. Local Indians made a drink, similar to tea or coffee, from its highly caffeinated leaves. The berries cause vomiting and diarrhea, so Indians turned them into the “black drink” which they drank in purification rites before battle. Birds, however, love the bright red berries! The name Yaupon comes from the Indian word for “small tree.”

Sparkleberry This shrub, which has a smooth bark, is part of the blueberry and cranberry family. It has a lovely white bell-shaped flowers which become shiny dark berries relished by song birds, game birds, and small mammals. It happens to be a plant that deer ignore. In the fall, the Sparkleberry leaves turn a spectacular red.

Fetterbush The name originated from early explorers and hunters who had great difficulty in penetrating the tangled growth of this plant. As a member of the Heath family, this deciduous shrub can be recognized by its leathery, toothless leaves. It prefers shade and moist soil. When it blossoms in the spring, it is festooned with any small white/pink bell-shaped flowers that resemble the familiar Lilly of the Valley flowers.

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PLANT LIFE

Inkbery or Gallberry This is a broad-leaved evergreen shrub with somewhat leathery, narrow leaves. It thrives in moist to wet sites, and blooms from May to July with single or clusters of small white flowers. Later, it produces black berries. Rabbits and deer love the leaves; at least 15 species of birds eat the berries. It can grow in both the shade and sun, and does a great job in halting erosion and protecting watersheds.

Wax Myrtle This salt tolerant member of the Bayberry family is an aromatic shrub or small Evergreen tree which can grow up to 25’ tall. The leaves are coated with tiny yellow glands and can be used in cooking like bay leaves. Its leaves also seem to repel insects, particularly fleas, so they were often planted close to southern homes. Its waxy, grayish-blue berries provide energy to our winter birds, especially Tree Swallows and the Yellow Rumped Warbler (which is the only Warbler able to digest the wax). By the way, Myrtle Beach got its name from this plant!

Wild Olive or Devilwood A member of the same family as the Olive tree, this fragrant evergreen can grow up to 25’ tall. It has dark green opposite leaves, small white flowers and dark blue fruit that looks like olives. Because it sprouts readily, it often forms dense thickets. Its common name, “devilwood”, reflects the fact that it fine-textured wood is difficult to split and work.

False Willow This medium-sized shrub grows on the edge of the salt marsh. Its leaves are very narrow, and the flowers of the female plant, which bloom in August – September, are very showy and look like they are snow covered.

Marsh Elder This is another shrub grows near the edge of the marsh. It is very similar to the Groundsel Tree and is often mistaken for it, but its leaves are broader and opposite. Its blooms are also quite showy and snow–like from a distance.

Muscadine Grape This native grape vine, also known as “Scuppernong,” thrives in our hot and humid climate. The vine will grow up to 100’ and become quite thick. Female plants are the ones to produce the grapes, which they do in clusters of up to 40 grapes, but do so only if a male plant is nearby.

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PLANT LIFE

Carolina Jessamine This attractive and fragrant native vine with its yellow trumpet shaped flowers is South Carolina’s state plant. Its blossoms are one of the first signs of spring in the Lowcountry. While it is toxic to man, butterflies enjoy the nectar.

Poison Ivy Unlike Virginia Creeper, which is a harmless vine, Poison Ivy has three shiny leaves and can give you a very bad, itchy rash on your skin if you come in contact with it. Therefore, do not touch it. Birds love its many berries.

Similax or Carolina Flower This tough, fast growing vine comes in many varieties, but all are part of the Catbrier family. Its common name comes from its “putrid” smelling flowers.

Spanish Moss This is not really moss at all, but an epiphytic plant (which grows on another plant), and does not rely on the host plant for nutrients; epiphytes make their own food. It uses its long, thin, scaly stems to wrap around the host tree and hang down from the branches. The leaves are covered with cup-like, permeable scales that 'catch' moisture and nutrients from the air and from pockets on the surface of the host. This water-trapping ability allows it to withstand long dry periods. In extreme dry spells, the plant becomes dormant until moisture returns.

Entrance to the Fording Island Reserve from the Marshwinds Boardwalk.

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WILDLIFE

Mink Minks live their entire lives on floating mats of dead marsh grass. Their bodies range from 1218” in length, and their tails from 6-10”. They are brown in color and are prized for their soft fur.

River Otter The largest member of the weasel family found in South Carolina. The River Otter has a long cylindrical body with a powerful tail, making it ideal for life in the water. Adult otters measure 35 to 55” in length, about one-third of which is tail. They are excellent swimmers and are known to eat almost any animal matter found in aquatic systems including crayfish, crabs, mollusks, fish, turtles, and waterfowl.

Raccoon These masked bandits often swim through the marsh to get to high ground to hunt. Dipping their food in water makes it easier for them to tear it apart.

Cotton Rat A small, stout-bodied animal with small ears, short tail and coarse, grizzled coats ranging from grayish brown to dark brown.

Osprey

Sometimes known as the Sea Hawk, Fish Eagle or Fish Hawk, the Osprey is a fish-eating bird of prey. It may reach more than 24” in length and 71” across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly grayish on the head and underparts, with a black eye patch and wings. The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant. As its other common names suggest, its diet consists almost exclusively of fish. Ospreys and Owls are the only raptors whose outer toe is reversible, allowing them to grasp their prey with two toes in front and two behind. This is particularly helpful when they

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WILDLIFE

Great Blue Heron It is the largest North American heron and has head-to-tail length 38–54”, a wingspan of 6679”, and height of 45–54”. Features include slate colored flight feathers, red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; the head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black plumes running from just above the eye to the back of the head. They can stand still patiently for what seems to be hours when fishing.

American Egret The largest of the egret family, they have all-white plumage and can be distinguished from other white egrets by their yellow bill and black legs and feet. Snowy Egret They are about 2’ in length and have a wingspan of about 3’. They have white feathers, a yellow patch of skin around the eyes, a black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet.

White Ibis Approximately 2’ tall and with a wingspan of around 3’. It is entirely white, except for its blackedged wings. Its blacked tipped wings may not be noticeable when at rest, but they are easily seen when the ibis is in flight. It has a long, down-curved, reddish-orange bill and a reddishorange face. Its legs are long and gray, except for during breeding season when they turn reddish-orange.

Wood Stork A large, long-legged wading birds, about 50” tall, with a wingspan of 60- 65”. The plumage is white except for black primaries and secondaries and a short black tail. The head and neck are largely unfeathered and dark gray in color. The bill is black, thick at the base, and slightly decurved.

Clapper Rail A ground-dwelling bird, with strong legs and short, rounded wings. Resembling a chicken, it is nicknamed the Saltwater Marsh Hen. This secretive bird may be briefly viewed on high ground during the highest tides, or glimpsed running across openings in marshes. They are able to hide in dense reeds and grasses because of their thin bodies. It has gray upperparts, a white throat, and white and grayish-brown streaked flanks. They are more often identified by their clattering call, a loudly repeated, chik, chik, chik, chik.

MARINE LIFE

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Fiddler Crabs They live in holes they dig in the marsh. There are an estimated 1,000,000 per acre! Males have one big claw and one little claw, while females have to little claws.

Wharf Crabs They look very similar to the female Fiddler Crabs, but tend to be on upper marsh or dead cordgrass.

Blue Crabs The traps you see out in the marsh throughout the Lowcountry are set to catch these tasty little creatures.

Oysters Unlike oysters in the northeast which are always under water, these oysters spend half their lives out of the water and live in attached clusters called oyster racks. Besides being tasty, they are important because they help filter and clean our waters.

Atlantic Bottle Nosed Dolphins These beautiful creatures often feed in the marsh creeks at high tide. If you are lucky, you may see them “strand feeding,” which is when the dolphins surge out of the water in unison onto the mudbanks to feed on the small fish stranded by the surge wave.

Mud Snails Approximately 1” long with a black shell. Seen by the thousands on our tidal flats. Coffee-bean Snails They are approximate ½” long with a black shell. They can usually be seen close to plants near the high tide mark. Marsh Periwinkle Snails The white snails found on Cordgrass stalks. They breathe air, so you can see them climb to the top of the grasses during high tides. They can hold their breath for up to an hour.

SALT MARSHES OF THE LOWCOUNTRY: OBSERVATIONS

Our wetlands change constantly with the comings and goings of the tides. Marshes are flooded to grass tops at high tide, and drained down to glistening mud flats with shallow salt pools at low tide. They are an extremely productive area between land and water and have a salinity (salt content) that ranges from near ocean strength to near fresh, depending on where they are, the amount of rainfall, and the tide. In Mackey’s Creek, the difference between high and low tide can be as much as 9’ when it’s a full or new moon! Because of the varying tides, temperatures, and salinity, a salt marsh can be a difficult place for an animal or plant to live. Indeed, in the low marsh which is covered twice daily by salt water, only one plant is truly adapted to life there – Spartina Alterniflora or Salt Marsh Cordgrass. It is able to pull fresh water out of the sea and also has special glands that allow it to secrete salt crystals which you can see sparkling on its leaves on a sunny summer day. In the upper or high marsh, which is flooded only occasionally, you will see more variety in the plant life – Salt Meadow Cordgrass, Black Needle Rush, Sea Oxeye and Glasswort. We now know marshes play a huge role in flood control, as well as helping to filter out harmful sediments and toxins. We also realize that, acre for acre, salt marshes are among the most productive areas in the world. They are nurseries for shellfish and fish, as well as nesting and feeding grounds for birds. Indeed, nutrients from the marsh begin the food chain which produce up to 95% of our commercially valuable fish and shellfish. Therefore, besides admiring and enjoying our marshes, we must also be sure to protect them.

Tidal Change These photos were take from the Marshwinds boardwalk at high and low tide, which occurs twice daily.