O U T WA R D B O U N D
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OUTDOOR EXPLORATION TOURS OFFER A BACKSTAGE
PASS TO SEA ISLAND’S INDIGENOUS LANDSCAPE.
n the surface, Sea Island’s natural beauty adds to the aesthetics
of coastal living. But the area’s
varying terrain—from marshes
and maritime forests to sandy beaches and
pristine waters—actually provides complex
ecosystems for a diverse array of plants and
animals. Sea Island, with the help of a team
of naturalists, fully embraces its environs
with a variety of specialized tours designed to
inspire and educate the whole family.
Upon arrival, it’s impossible to ignore the
expanse of marshlands that have inspired
poetry. The marsh ecosystem is dotted with
patches of bright green spartina grass, and
the area is regularly filled and drained by the
tides. It serves not only as a transition zone
between land and ocean, but also as living
quarters for a bevy of birds. “Nearly everybody enjoys our showy shorebirds and birds
of prey,” says Raleigh Nyenhuis, naturalist at
Sea Island. “We can see great blue herons and
egrets wading underneath ospreys and bald
eagles circling overhead. Further north in
the salt pan upland area where it’s drier, we
frequently spot fiddler crabs and snails.”
An equally vibrant area, the maritime forest
is populated with majestic stands of ancient
live oaks, as well as other old-growth trees
like red cedar, holly and pine. The canopy
of interlocking branches provides a luxurious haven for wildlife, while it conserves
groundwater by reducing evaporation. It also
protects underbrush from forceful winds and
damaging salt spray.
And, of course, there’s the beach—not
only the background for leisurely days of
fun in the sun, but also an important part
of the surroundings that’s highlighted in
Sea Island’s nature tours. The beach is
home to a special type of tall grass, called
sea oats, for its proximity to the water and
golden-brown color during the summer. The
plant species helps to trap wind-blown sand
and promote sand dune growth, ultimately
shielding beaches and nearby property from
wind, storm and tide damage. “In this area
we love to show off our horseshoe crabs and
sea turtles, who share shore space with gulls
BY REBECCA MCCORMICK
Raleigh Nyenhuis (right) works with the Sea Island Junior Naturalist Program.
16 SEA ISL AND LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2015
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