Summer Walk
By Frances Boyd
B
y summer, a walk may not be the best way to
see the wildlife. Consider relaxing in a park or
backyard habitat instead and let the animals
provide the action. Mother bobcats have
their kits in late spring and generally keep them in a den. By
summer, however, a lucky human may catch a mother and kits
enjoying playtime in the fresh air and sunshine. Does also hide
their fawns while very young and may leave them for hours
at a time. A fawn or other baby animal observed alone should
certainly be left alone because the mother is surely nearby.
Kiawah’s iconic painted bunting and other songbird
families visit bird feeders from spring into late summer.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds seek out showy blooms and
nectar feeders while bluebirds scratch the ground for grubs.
The elusive Chuck-will’s-widow, a ground bird rarely seen,
calls in early spring throughout the night to the dismay of
many trying to sleep. Another sound on a sultry summer
evening is the cacophony of seemingly thousands of tree frogs
croaking to attract a mate.
The early morning beach walker inevitably runs into
at least one or two members of Kiawah’s turtle patrol, a
dedicated group of people who attend to the nests of the
loggerhead sea turtles that crawl onto Kiawah’s beaches each
summer to lay their eggs.
Summer bikers need to watch out for skinks, anoles, and
the occasional snake that cross their path. The harmless and
colorful rat snakes Eastern king snakes, and corn snakes are
easy to spot while black racers, long and lean, often look
like a piece of ribbon draped around a tea tree or holly bush.
Remember, a snake is a good thing—let it live!
For about two weeks in early summer, geometer moth
caterpillars seem to drop from the sky along paths and roads
in heavily wooded areas. Usually called inchworms, these
larvae frequently come home on the clothing of unsuspecting
walkers. In late summer, golden silk spiders spin webs that
span more than six feet; the huge spider with the egg sac is the
female, the much smaller one the male. When the afternoon
sun hits a silk spider with its web spun high between the trees,
it creates a magical glow that is a rare glimpse into nature on
Kiawah Island. NK
“Tomato Picker” (left) by Jane Iwan; photo by Sylvia Bacon
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