Four Holes Swamp
Four Holes Swamp
A Swamp!
Swamps are buggy, full of snakes and gators, smelly, muddy, polluted, evil, nasty, spooky, and full of monsters! Why would I want to visit a swamp?The "Swamp Thing" may exist and snakes are a fact of life in the low country, but the rest of the swamp's rep is unwarranted. Four Holes Swamp is called a "blackwater" swamp. The dark appearance of the water comes from a natural leaf, bark, and wood stain called tannin. Tannin is a natural mosquito repellent. Besides, mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in still water, not flowing water. The walk through Four Holes is relatively bug free.
Alligators are another fact of life in the low country but the swamp is too shallow and shady to attract the gators. They prefer lakes and estuaries over the swamp. There are snakes in the swamp but are rarely seen along the boardwalk.
The air in the swamp is clean and fresh. The swamp acts as a water filter and the abundant plant life pours oxygen into the air. It is peaceful and quiet, save for the chirp of the birds and the rustle of leaves.
While the swamp water levels vary wildly, it is rarely muddy. The majority of the water flow comes from rainfall. This can result in an 18-inch rise in one or two days after an upstream downpour, or a drop of 2 inches per day during a drought. The constant cycle of flooding and drying speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. It is absorbed back into the earth.
Now there is little I can say about the monsters that supposedly inhabit the swamp, but if the swamp thing exists, he sleeps during the day. I've never seen him.
What you can expect to see.
The walk through Four Holes Swamp is just over 1.75 miles in length. There are nine rest stops with two rain shelters. It is a natural environment so sightings are unpredictable. Forty-four species of mammals make their home in the swamp. There are bats, bobcats, white-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels and so much more. On my last trip through the swamp I spotted a beautiful fawn. It was right by the boardwalk and wasn't bothered by my presence.There are reptiles and amphibians and of course, the birds. There are 140 species of birds residing in the swamp. Depending on the time of day and time of year, different birds can be seen and heard. I've spotted some but my list is far from complete.
When I drive out to Four Holes and spend the day, spotting a new bird for my list is a bonus, not the goal. It is the peace and the quiet that I crave. For a brief period of time I'm surrounded by a world unspoiled by man. It's a poignant reminder of what we need to do to preserve and protect the environment. We are not the only creatures sharing space in an ever changing and shrinking world.
Peaceful and Quiet
Birder's Conservation Handbook
Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk
Amazon Price: $25.55 (as of 07/10/2009)
Well's Birder's Conservation Handbook details the status of 100 of North America's rarest birds. It also dedetails what needs to be done, and what is being done.
The Bald Cypress
Beidler Forest is an old growth forest. Some of the cypress trees are thousands of years old. While common at the turn of the century, giants like these were prized for their rot-resistant heartwood and were logged extensively through the 1930's. Today, virtually all of South Carolina's forestlands have been logged, leaving only parts of the Francis Beidler Forest and the Congaree Swamp National Park in virgin condition.As water levels drop in summer, cypress seeds germinate on the moist swamp floor. Most years the ground is too wet or too dry. When seedlings do emerge, they usually drown the following spring, or die in the shade of the dense canopy. The right conditions occur every hundred years or so. It takes hundreds of years for a heavily logged swamp to recover.
Nature's Beauty-Pure and Simple
Identifying the birds you see.
Forest Habitat
Breeding Bird Censuses have been conducted on two 20 acre plots on the sanctuary since 1979. The old growth plot has the highest density of nesting songbirds per acre for forested habitats in the Eastern United States, and the 5th highest in the country.The diversity of tree species, the variety of tree ages, and the multi-layered structure of the forest provides a spectacular habitat for many bird species. Unfortunately some of the species are still in decline. The old growth habitat is just a small part of the whole picture. Loss of resting places along migratory routes, shrinking wintering grounds, and summer habitats all play a part.
We all need to do our part. Provide feeding and watering stations, plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers. I want my children and grandchildren to enjoy the birds as much as I do.
Location
FROM CHARLESTON: Take I-26 WEST to Exit 187. Make a left turn on to Highway 27 (South) to Highway 78. Make a right turn on to Highway 78 (West). At the fork in the road, veer right onto Highway 178. Make a right onto Francis Beidler Forest Road (first paved right). After 4 miles the road will make a 90-degree turn to the left, veer right onto Mims Road. The center is a mile on the right.
Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society, with its staff of scientists, educators, land and wildlife managers, and its 600,000 plus members strive to protect the habitats and natural resources critical to the quality of life on our planet.National Audubon Society
Consider Joining Today
Audubon's Masterpieces
Audubon's masterpieces: 150 prints from the Birds of America
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
John James Audubon spent a lifetime documenting the behavior of, and drawing the birds of North America. Audubon's Masterpieces is a collection of 150 of his best works.
Cypress Knees
John James Audubon
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John James Audubon (1785-1851)
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Since his death in 1851 John James Audubon's name has become synonymous with wildlife conservation and natural history. Audubon had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds. He spent thirty-five years wandering around his adopted country capturi...
Conservation and Preservation are Vital
These beautiful birds are gone forever.
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The Ivory-billed Woodpecker
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The Ivory-billed Woodpecker was once a common sight throughout the Southeastern United States. That is no longer the case. As with the Passenger Pigeon it was man's short-sightedness that brought them to the brink of extinction. Large tracts of old g...
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The Passenger Pigeon
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The Passenger Pigeon used to be the most common bird in North America. They lived in huge flocks, and during migration, they covered the sky, some flocks containing up to a million birds. According to some estimates there were as many as five billio...
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Carolina Parakeet
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The once abundant Carolina Parakeet was a gregarious bird. They would form large, noisy flocks that fed on cultivated fruits and grains. They would tear apart an apple to get to the seeds, wreck havoc in the grain fields, and strip a corncob of its k...
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Eskimo Curlew
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Once an abundant bird, there hasn't been a reliable sighting of the Eskimo Curlew in over 40 years. There are occasional reports of sightings which allows for the possibility that a small population still exists, but most authorities believe it is ex...
Whisper Quiet
Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
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Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
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When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I really don't need a pair of binoculars or a scope to enjoy the sight. I frequently stop by the window and watch the birds for a minute or two between household tasks. (Occ...
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the United States.
How do you reach out and embrace nature's natural beauty?
JaguarJulie wrote...
Just popped in for another view of this restful and peaceful forest. ;)
Posted April 24, 2009
naturegirl7 wrote...
Gosh, this reminds me of Louisiana. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
JaguarJulie wrote...
How are the mosquitoes and no-see-ums there? Perhaps tell everyone in your intro where this is located. Sounds like a marvelous place for bird-watching!
Posted October 24, 2008
enslavedbyfaeries wrote...
How lucky you are to have spent some quiet moments in such a beautiful environment. Truly lovely lens! 5*
Posted August 14, 2008
Joan4 wrote...
Wow! Read every word! yes, this is definitely on my list of places to see! 5*FAV
Posted August 03, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 07/10/2009)
Birds are fascinating. Their behavior is complex, often comical. Some sing while others do not. Why Birds Do That explains forty distinctive bird behaviors and is enhanced with numerous photographs. It is a must have book for both the backyard bird watcher as well as the avid birder.
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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