BEAUFORT COUNTY Address Services Requested Non-Profit OPEN Organization Welcome-CAYLOR ROMINES U.S. Postage LAND PAID Welcome our newest member of the BCOLT a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife TRUST Beaufort, SC team, Caylor Romines! Caylor joined us in and Fisheries Management. As Director Permit No. 75 June 2019 as the Director of Stewardship. of Stewardship Caylor oversees the land P.O. Box 75 Caylor brings with him experience working stewardship program including management Beaufort, SC 29901 BEAUFORT COUNTY Office (843) 521-2175 for the federal government as well as the of OLT’s fee-owned conservation properties. Fax (843) 521-1946 private sector in Land, Wildlife and Fisheries Caylor and his wife, Brett, have been in [email protected] Management. Caylor attended the University the Lowcountry of South Carolina since www.openlandtrust.org Open Land Trust of Tennessee receiving a Bachelor’s and September 2017 and live in Beaufort. FOLLOW US ON RURAL AND CRITICAL: Confederate Ave In May, Beaufort County closed on the continuing commitment to preserving water purchase of a 54.3-acre tract in the Alljoy quality through the Rural & Critical Land “Preserving this property area, less than 1,000 feet from the May River Preservation Program. Bailey Memorial and near Bluffton’s Historic District. The Park is located within one mile of previously as a passive park property was acquired for $1,310,000, or protected Ulmer Properties I, II, III and IV validates each aspect approximately $24,125 per acre. (887 acres) and provides approximately 30 Bailey Memorial Park is one of two acres of wetland drain toward the May River. of our mission which remaining large-acre tracts in this relatively Bailey Memorial Park is named in honor dense residential area. The undeveloped of Raymond Harold Bailey, a World War II includes championing our land contains a mixture of forested uplands veteran, past Director of Public Services for and wetlands, providing significant wildlife Beaufort County and longtime owner and environment, community habitats and natural stormwater filtration steward of the property. “From day one our and culture. The park and recharge benefits. Although this tract hope was to establish a responsible succession A Gentle The Beaufort County Open Land Trust and the has been a strategic land protection target plan for this legacy property.” shares Ryan Founding Trustees Coastal Conservation League invite you to: for the County’s Rural & Critical Program Stefonick, Broker Associate with Collins Reminder will be an extraordinary Marguerite Broz, John M. Trask Jr., Perhaps our membership letter An Afternoon at since 2006, the property was not available for Group Realty. “Bailey Memorial Park is the Betty Waskiewicz went astray. We know you believe addition to the community purchase until 2018. culmination of collective efforts by many in our mission because you have Beaufort County will manage the passionate residents and county leaders to help Three Sisters Farm supported us in the past. Your for all to enjoy,” property for optimal ecological benefit and protect this vital asset. Through cooperation Board Members annual membership is critical to will consider future passive recreational with the Rural & Critical Lands Program, Mr. Carolyn Smith, president of the Alex Shuford - President the success of our organization. opportunities at the site. Purchase of Bailey’s family, our clients, will leave a lasting Alljoy Preservation Commission. Terry Murray- Vice-President PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW the property represents the County’s contribution to the Alljoy area.” Beek Webb - Secretary TODAY AT WWW. John Trask, III - Treasurer OPENLANDTRUST.ORG. Dr. Al Segars Patricia Anne Denkler Photo credit Pierre McGowan, Jr. Alison Guilloud Thomas Tayloe A farm to table event featuring small plates by Chef Hampton Long EMAIL Brentt Toole, seasonal produce, and local seafood Dean Moss Sunday, November 17 Katie C. Phifer REMINDER 2 PM to 5 PM Please provide us with $75 per person your most current contact Staff Event also includes a silent art auction. Local artists information including Kristin Williams - Executive Director include Louis Bruce, Susan Mayfield, Eve Miller, email address. Send to: Barbara Holmes - Director of Land Protection Mary Segars, and Beth Williams. info@openlandtrust. Debbie Quirin - Administrative Assistant com RSVP by November 1 to Kim Bowlin at Fall 2019 Newsletter 843.521.2175 www.openlandtrust.org Caylor Romines - Director of Stewardship [email protected] or 843.723.8035 OUT AND ABOUT... When Student Becomes Teacher CONTENT VS. CONTEXT: How does your property Caylor Romines, our Director of Stewardship, recently hosted a compare to the landscape around you? group of senior level Wildlife and Fisheries Science students from Allendale Kite Field Trip the University of Tennessee at a local hunting property to discuss his Birds are a high-profile group of species management on your property, one must So next time you are out enjoying a Beaufort Toward the end of July, members of the Open Land Trust career path leading up to working for the Beaufort County Open that often attract a great deal of attention as consider the management on a landscape scale. County Open Land Trust property, other joined OLT Board Member, Dr. Al Segars, on an adventurous trip Land Trust. Caylor talked largely about the Open Land Trust and its watchable wildlife. Birds are also important For wildlife and land conservation planning, it protected property or even your cherished to Allendale, South Carolina in pursuit of witnessing hundreds of purpose and mission in the Lowcountry as well as various wildlife as indicators of habitat conditions and overall is extremely important to view the condition property, take a look at what habitat is Swallow-tailed kites and Mississippi kites feeding above pastures management techniques he has used in the area. Students were taught health of the environment. Generally, bird of the surrounding landscape as well as the surrounding it. This will give you a better and agriculture fields. Swallow-tailed kites, like other kites, are about hunting dogs, various equipment, as well as several wildlife communities in the South have been shaped property of interest. There are growing understanding of the present wildlife or lack atypical birds of prey, as much of their diet consists of insects, management techniques. Hosts provided the students with a taste of and influenced by humans and the vast land concerns about bird population viability thereof. which are consumed on the wing. One can often aurally witness the local cuisine by having a Lowcountry Boil to conclude the evening. use changes that have taken place. For instance, in heavily fragmented this through the “pop” of the insect as the kite consumes its prey. Thank you very much to the property owner and property manager species associated with old-growth forests landscapes due to heavy The kites arrive in South Carolina from their wintering grounds for hosting this event. have declined with the demise of that habitat, nest predation and nest in Brazil in late March and begin nesting in mid-April among tall such as the Carolina parakeet and passenger parasitism from other birds pines and hardwoods, often across extensive areas of forested pigeon. These birds became extinct as the as shown in the example Swallow-tailed kite preying on a Junebug mid-flight. wetlands. Swallow-tailed kites are famous for their large summer region was cleared of timber and remaining aerial photo. Connectivity foraging aggregations that the group was able to encounter in wildlife was hunted for commercial markets. of undeveloped properties July. These aggregations are often in historical fields that welcome ONE OF THE LAST GREAT PLACES Many birds act as an umbrella species, that are beneficial to kites year after year because of the abundant production of insects The ACE Basin is appropriately described as tour of South Fenwick Island. St. Helena Sound celebrates 30 years of successful conservation meaning that by managing for that species, widespread enhancement related to land use. These foraging aggregations begin breaking one of the “Last Great Places” and this spring the is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the and collaboration. Spending the day on the water you are effectively managing for a wide array of wildlife populations is up by the end of August as the groups of birds depart for their Board and staff of the Open Land Trust had the eastern seaboard surrounded by almost 300,000 in the heart of the ACE Basin was an important of wildlife communities. By stepping back and becoming more valuable to Brazilian wintering grounds only to leave us longing for more opportunity to explore the ACE Basin by water acres of protected land. Much of that protection reminder of how great an impact land protection determining what can benefit from proper many species of concern. until next year. If you have not been able to experience this with the Department of Natural Resources. The is due to a truly unique conservation partnership has on our way of life and the responsibility we as wonderful display of nature, you will not want to miss it in the day began with a brief presentation at the Michael initiative called the ACE Basin Task Force that a land trust and as members of this community future and we hope that you can join us next year! Mckenzie Field Station at Bennett’s Point followed consists of private land owners, federal and state have to continue this important work. by a boat ride on the Edisto River and a wagon agencies and land trusts. This year the Task Force BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT BEAUFORT KAYAK TOURS A big thank you to Beaufort Kayak Tours for a recent kayak trip for OLT staff members to get an up-close look at Whitehall from the water.