The Editor’s Desk
Kiawah, naturally …
E
a ch morning when the first rays of the sun begin to illuminate the
shores of Kiawah Island, we are treated to a view of a splendid ocean,
an expansive beach, wind-shaped dunes, acres of maritime forest,
beautifully contoured golf courses, shimmering marshes, a meandering
river, and endless creeks and lakes.
Keeping Kiawah this beautiful requires the dedication of countless workers who
trim and clean, paint and polish, sweep and repair. We have an army of dedicated
people who help to keep Kiawah the special place it is and has always been. We do
not thank them enough, but we are pausing here to do that. We are always grateful
for this splendid little island. Our breathing slows when we turn through the curve
on the causeway and the wide vista of the river leaps up to greet us. We know our
presence here is partly a matter of luck.
But keeping Kiawah entails much more than maintaining what meets the eye.
In this issue we look at other Kiawah keepers. Underneath that magical exterior
there is so much more to see and hear. In the light of early morning hundreds of
tiny loggerhead turtle hatchlings will bravely emerge from their shells and work
to reach the light of the ocean’s edge. A newborn bobcat will tease its mother for
breakfast. Tiny bluebird fledglings will make their way out of nest boxes lining
the golf courses. A pod of dolphins will chase mullet onto the dunes to feed in
an extraordinary display of ingenuity.
Much of the life that pulses under Kiawah’s beautiful exterior has been there for
centuries, and thanks to so many Kiawah keepers, continues to thrive. Hundreds
of us get up before dawn to walk on turtle patrol. We make our way to the edges of
our beach and rivers to observe and document the activity of our dolphins. We do
our best to ensure that the alligators who have lazed along the edges of our ponds
for centuries will continue to thrive.
Our Community Association and our Town of Kiawah are staffed by
professionals who devote themselves to learning what is best for the health of our
habitats and wildlife. They engage in research to discover how we can keep all of
Kiawah the way it is today for our children and their children to enjoy in the years
to come. We care so much about this island and are not content to shake our heads
in exasperation as we contemplate the seas rising around us but rather study and
act to address the issue responsibly and effectively. We find ways to include native
plants in our landscaping, striving to maintain and enhance the natural habitats
that surround us even as we make way for our houses and swimming pools.
When the sun sinks below the western side of the Island, our nights will
continue to bring the songs of owls and crickets as surely as the sky will glow a
brilliant orange in the fading light. Anoles and treefrogs will scurry through the
woods. An ancient loggerhead female will lumber up the beach to deposit her
eggs. As the light fades, grab a copy of this issue and settle down to enjoy the
pleasure we find in keeping Kiawah natural. NK
Winter 2020
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