The Editor ’ s Desk
Kiawah , naturally …
Where to start ?
Naturally Kiawah is published twice a year . Usually . We had scheduled our initial magazine committee meeting to storyboard the new issue for March 17 , 2020 . Apparently the universe had other plans for us . The havoc with which we have all lived for this past year is everywhere and has required adaption and persistence to say the least . To be honest , we floundered for a while . Could we produce a magazine ? Would funding be available ? How could we accomplish anything when we could not even meet ? The days , weeks , and months passed without easy answers , but this past fall we finally convened a meeting ( via Zoom — who had even heard of it before ?) to get started . Not only did everyone show up virtually for the meeting , they came with energy , enthusiasm , and best of all , ideas for our next issue themed “ The Colors of Kiawah .” So here we are .
Along the way some of our most esteemed writers agreed to help . Doug Tallamy wrote an excellent article about the importance of native plants and their relation to healthy wildlife . Whit Gibbons , always a favorite , provided wonderful descriptions of the animals , reptiles , and birds who bring their bright hues to our Island . Our Kiawah writers showed up with stories about our animals ’ unusual colors and why they change with the seasons . They sent in wonderful accounts about several of our feathered friends including belted kingfishers , black rails , and black-bellied whistling ducks . It is all here .
Last but never least , our photographers responded with photos that belie any notion that the colors of Kiawah might be boring . Perhaps we do not have neon and flashing lights . No Rainbow Row here either . But , oh my , the color that is ours . As soon as you have time — and you may well have more of it than you once might have — pull up an easy chair and take a peek inside . You will find color for sure but also the reassurance that life has continued apace during COVID-19 and hope resides right here . The bluebirds shown here were photographed in July 2020 . The mother is giving her little fledgling a last-minute feed . The second photo shows the “ baby ” a few seconds later perched in a nearby tree . Hope . See what I mean ? NK
Winter 2021
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