2013 Kiawah Conservancy Annual Report 2013 | Page 10

Another Conservation Success The Kiawah Conservancy’s newest preserved property is located at the eastern end of the Preserve. The property was donated to the Kiawah Conservancy by Bob and Paula Ott on November 14, 2013. The 0.60 acre lot, between 83 and 85 Blue Heron Pond Road, can be characterized as having two distinct habitat types: maritime forest and salt shrub thicket. While most of us are familiar with the maritime forest and its characteristic flora: live oaks, palmettos, wax myrtles, yaupon hollies, etc.; salt shrub thickets often receive less attention… from people at least. These areas of scrub-shrub vegetation that are often comprised of plants like sea ox-eye, black needlerush, groundsel-tree, saltmeadow cordgrass and marsh elder provide superb habitat for much of Kiawah’s wildlife. Salt shrub thickets make up the transitional habitat between tidal salt marsh and higher ground and are only influenced by saltwater during the highest tides. Lower elevations often include grasses and in higher elevations, closest to the thicket’s upland edges, occasional tree species grow – most often, eastern red cedar. This diversity of vegetation supports many wildlife species. The low scrubshrub vegetation provides important resting and movement cover for bobcats. Over 50 location points have been logged on the property via GPS collars since 2007. The groundseltree is an important nectar source for monarch butterflies. The shrubs that comprise this edge habitat also provide nesting and foraging space for many of Kiawah’s resident and migratory songbirds including tufted titmouse, Carolina chickadee, yellow-rumped warbler, painted bunting and orchard oriole. This property contains a diversity of natural vegetation, that benefits a wide variety of Kiawah’s wildlife. If you own undeveloped land on Kiawah Island and are interested in learni