Naturally Kiawah Magazine Volume 35 | Page 13

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) Photo by Jack Kotz The smallest member of our Big Five, the beautiful painted bunting, is one of the more elusive birds here on Kiawah. Known for the brilliant coloring of the male, resident bird experts have become quite proficient at attracting them to bird feeders. College of Charleston graduate student Sarah Latshaw was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to study these small creatures, whose species has declined by as much as 60% over a period of 30 years. Because of their rapid decline, they have been designated a high priority species by the SC Department of Natural Resources. Sarah’s research demonstrated the importance of native vegetation, particularly in the understory, and identified the marsh edges and maritime forest as their preferred venue. Perhaps even more importantly, she determined that the bunting’s habitat covers an area small enough that a single homeowner can have a positive impact on the bird’s territory. Wouldn’t you love to awaken to the sight of these beautiful birds enjoying your property as much as you do? MAMMALS H WA CIES KIA SPE E OF LIF RE ILD TU MON W ND NA A M L E S O H HI EC T AG UID H WA KIA OF OT ET MAMM ALS WHITE-TAILED DEE R DESCRIPTION: Reddi sh coat during summer; darker , gray coat during winter. Males have antlers. Fawns have white spots for first few months. Striking white underside of tail which is raised when alarmed. SIZE: Males (100-1 75 pounds) Females (90-120 pound s) WHERE TO SEE: Comm on. All parts of island, most visible during dawn/dusk and at night. FOOD HABITS: Herbiv orous. Consumes a variety of native and ornamental plants, as well as grasses, acorns and muscadine grapes. LIFE HISTORY: Breeds in are born in spring (April fall (September-November). Fawns -June). Does will have year and keep them 1-2 fawns each hidden by themselves for the first few weeks of life. Unattended fawns are not aband oned and should never be approached or distur bed. Males grow a new set of antlers each spring and summ er. In early fall, the velvet is rubbed off these antlers as they of harden. Antlers are shed in late winter. NOTES: Kiawah Island is home to approximate There is noor ly 500 deer. e g on Kiawa huntin m to h and e deer numbers are natura m lled by bobcats er, hocontro lly g de and other predators. Island is includin Kiawah IslandammUse als,cautio n whenrr els. g on the island and drivin ah m e d squi be alert for deer eciaiews of itte crossin g roadw sp ays. Deer travel in its, an of K Comm bb n group ra than T20 s, , so w l if near the roadway, slow you see a deer o ta ccoons down, because there e atm s,enra are likely to be others nearby. by th bc iron ed bo Env lish Pub 10 Pamphlet courtesy of the Town of Kiawah Island One cannot count a visit to Kiawah complete until all five of these precious resources have been seen. Personally, I am still seeking my first painted bunting sighting, so wat