Another Conservation Success
128 Halona Lane
The
Kiawah Conservancy’s newest preserved property, 128 Halona
Lane, is located in the southeastern portion of the Indigo Park
subdivision. The property was recently donated to the
Kiawah Conservancy by Clay and Andrea Thomson. The
0.24 acre parcel consists primarily of maritime forest
habitat, and despite construction in the area, the overall
integrity of the natural habitat at the property remains
intact. Live oaks, cabbage palmettos and loblolly pines
are common canopy species, while yaupon holly and
wax myrtle dominate the forest understory. Vines,
which often present important food sources for birds,
are also common throughout the property – muscadine
grape, Virginia creeper and poison ivy are present.
The 2014 Bobcat Management Guidelines
(Town of Kiawah Island) indicate that the lot is
associated with a newly delineated “Important Bobcat
Area,” because of its use as a bobcat den site in the spring
of 2013. Bobcats also utilize Indigo Park’s nearby marsh
edge for movement cover and daytime resting. Year-round
avian species that characteristically utilize maritime forest
habitat such as that encountered at 128 Halona Lane include:
northern cardinal, Carolina wren, tufted titmouse, Carolina
chickadee, red-shouldered hawk, red-bellied woodpecker, downy
woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, fish crow and brown thrasher.
Winter species include yellow-rumped warbler, ruby-crowned kinglet,
hermit thrush, gray catbird and white-throated sparrow. Summer avian
species include painted bunting, blue-gray gnatcatcher and Chuck-will’swidow. Several species of neo-tropical migrants, including tanagers, orioles,
warblers, vireos and flycatchers utilize Kiawah’s upland areas during spring and
fall.
We are very grateful for this gift of land made by the Thomson family.
The mature maritime forest and substantial understory layer found on the property
have great ecological value. Additionally, areas of lightly managed natural habitat
provide important nesting spaces for a host of songbird species.
If you own undeveloped land on Kiawah and are interested in learning
more about making a donation of property to the Conservancy, please contact our
office. A perpetual gift of land greatly supports the Kiawah Conservancy’s
mission. n
Red-bellied woodpecker photograph courtesy of Pamela Cohen
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