Following Nature in South Carolina

 A Rare Sight "That's the biggest bird I've ever seen."        If you grew up in the Outer-Coastal Region of South Carolina, or at its Western border along the Savannah River, occasionally, you would spot this mighty bird and get pretty excited — at least, I did. The Sandhill Crane seemed pretty cool as a kid, averaging around 47.2 inches with a wingspan nearly twice that, and a great streak of red above its beak ( Cornell Lab Sandhill Crane Identification Page ). It always moved slowly through marshy areas along the previously mentioned South Carolina waterways, carefully stalking small amphibians and insects or feeding on plants that grow above the waterline.         While the Sandhill Cranes along the Western border are typically there as a result of their migratory pattern (Cornell Lab map shown below), Sandhill Cranes in the Lowcountry are non-migratory, but not a particularly common species to come across. Famous South Caroli...

Background Common throughout the southeast, but special to one state.        If you grew up in South Carolina, there's one thing you never failed to hear in the mornings. Perhaps it drove you crazy, or was a comforting component of your childhood soundscape. Regardless of your personal feelings towards the fairly incessant call of the state's official bird, it is undoubtedly an ever-present part of South Carolina's environment.         If you are unfamiliar with the Carolina Wren song, think you might know it but are not quite sure, or want to be reminded, you can find examples at Cornell Lab's All About Birds  Carolina Wren Sounds . What is the Carolina Wren up to? Where does the Carolina Wren go? What are its habits?  Carolina Wrens are non-migratory birds, and they mate for life, so they are fairly stationary. Their habitat encompasses the entirety of the American southeast and even stretches into South America.   ...