TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message From our President Anne
4 & 5 Marsh Memorial Dinner Guy Apicella 6 Eagle Nest Video Camera Coming to Dataw Anne Hale Miglarese 7 Dataw's Honeybees Take Flight in 2024 Anne Hale Miglarese 8 & 9 What Will Build Out Look Like Guy Apicella 10 & 11 Volunteer Spotlight Anne Miglarese 12 Dataw Island Garden Certification Lori Thompson
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The Dataw Island Conservancy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization formed in 2012 by the DIC and DIOA boards. Since that time, it has worked to conserve, maintain and manage the natural areas and habitats of the Island and its surrounds; and encourage an appreciation of, and interest in, the Island’s natural resources by the residents of Dataw Island. If you are interested in finding out more about the Dataw Island Conservancy's work, please click below to email:
DATAW CONSERVANCY
A Message From Our President
Anne Hale Miglarese
As summer has arrived in earnest, Dataw Island Conservancy is on track for another successful year! Our ongoing programs continue to flourish, and we're excited to introduce new initiatives that showcase the island's stunning natural resources.
As someone who thrives on innovation, I find immense satisfaction in dreaming up new projects. However, leading a resilient organization also requires focus on the "behind-thescenes" details. Over the past year, we've made significant strides in digital marketing, communication, and streamlining our financial systems.
But here's where we need your help! Like many organizations, we rely heavily on the dedication of our volunteers. Our small team punches above its weight, but we'd love to expand our impact. Currently, our board has only six members – a number that limits our capacity. We have been in communication with the DIOA and DIC boards and our club management about increasing the size of the boards. Our bylaws stipulate that each Board approves three candidates We are working with the goal of adding two new members by year-end.
Are you passionate about the natural resources of our Island and looking for a rewarding way to contribute? We have exciting opportunities across various areas:
• Party Planning: Help orchestrate fun and engaging events that raise awareness and support for our mission.
• Beekeeping: Join our dedicated team to ensure the health and well-being of our vital bee population.
• Membership Data: Assist with keeping our member data organized and analyze trends to enhance our outreach.
• Website Maintenance: Lend your tech skills to keep our online presence informative and engaging.
• Tallow Tree Removal: Help us combat this invasive species and protect our native ecosystem.
• Bird Programs: Contribute to our ongoing bird monitoring and conservation efforts.
• Capital Campaign Fundraising: Work with the board to develop and implement a capital campaign.
• Eagle Cam Monitoring: The Camera is a pan, tilt and zoom functionality and will require daily monitoring. It is controlled remotely.
• Technical Writing and Editing: We are always in need of good writers and editors.
This is just a glimpse! No matter your interests, we have a role for you. We understand everyone has limited time, and we promise a flexible and fun volunteering experience.
Together, we can make a world of difference for Dataw Island's natural resources. Join us, and let's thrive together
Marsh Memorial Dinner and Presentation Draws Largest Crowd Ever.
Guy Apicella
Tony Mills, a colleague of Alex, delivered the presentation, “Living in the Coastal Kingdom…Lessons Learned From Low Country Animals.” Tony writes and hosts the Emmy Award winning nature program, “Coastal Kingdom,” which airs locally on SCTV. He is also the Educational Director for the Spring Island Institute, which has assisted the Dataw Island Conservancy many times during our 12 years of exisitence.
Anne Miglarese, President, began the evening by welcoming everyone and briefly highlighting a few of the Conservancy’s latest projects in the works. After people were served a tasty dinner, I introduced our esteemed speaker.
More than 175 people enjoyed a delicious dinner and an exciting presentation on May 15th in the Carolina Room. The Dataw Island Conservancy held its annual event in honor of Dr. Alex Marsh, who was a founding director of our organization. Alex, a gifted professor of ecology, cared passionately for the natural environment at Dataw and the Low Country.
Mr. Mills began by letting us know that we are very fortunate to live on a South Carolinian Sea Island with amazing natural beauty and one of the most bio-diverse eco-systems in the country. He first showed a plant that he pulled out of a bucket with water – Spartina Alterniflora, which serves as the base of the marsh’s food chain. Tony interspersed projected slides with live animals that he held in his hands and exhibited to the audience as he walked around the room. Among the local critters he displayed were: turtles, snakes (nonvenomous), and a pair of 8-month old alligators. He responded cordially to questions that people asked freely as they saw an unusual array of animals.
we can be good stewards of our environment. He said and we see a turtle crossing it, we should stop, pick up the tur the road
Tony finished his presentation by showing part of a Coastal Kingdom episode about sharks that has previously aired. As he is narrating in the video, Tony notices an animal swimming along the water surface. Once the boat gets closer, he identifies it as an armadillo! Tony and his crew proceed to track the animal; he pulls it on board and releases the armadillo in shallow water where it is able to swim back
ashore. In closing, Tony Mills communicated his deep passion for nature in a way that enhanced our appreciation for this coastal kingdom where we are fortunate to live.
Eagle Video - Camera Coming t o Dataw: Soar
with Us!
Anne Hale Miglarese
Have you ever looked skyward on Dataw and been awestruck by a Bald Eagle soaring overhead? Dataw is fortunate to have a thriving Bald Eagle nest on an undeveloped lot on Longfield Drive. For the past six years, this nest has successfully raised young eagles, becoming a must-see destination for residents and visitors alike.
The Dataw Island Conservancy is thrilled to announce the installation of a two-camera live video system at the eagle nest this late summer. Thanks to the generosity of a Dataw family, the lot owner, and a team of dedicated volunteers, we'll soon be able to witness the wonders of the eagle family up close.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national symbol, is a truly remarkable creature. With a wingspan reaching up to 7 feet, these birds are powerful fliers, capable of spotting prey from incredible distances. Their keen eyesight is legendary, boasting four times the visual acuity of a human.
Bald eagles are devoted parents. They mate for life and work together to build massive nests –some reaching up to 13 feet across! Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and fiercely defend their young from any threats.
While bald eagles are opportunistic feeders, their diet primarily consists of fish. Their sharp talons are perfectly adapted to snatch fish from the water with incredible speed. They may also scavenge for carrion or steal prey from other birds.
The bald eagle wasn't always soaring high. Their populations plummeted in the mid-20th century due to the use of DDT, a harmful pesticide. Thankfully, due to conservation efforts, these majestic birds have made a remarkable comeback, inspiring us with their resilience.
By tuning into the nest cam, we'll witness the entire eagle breeding cycle, from courtship rituals to the hatching of chicks. We'll see the parents tirelessly caring for their young, teaching them to fly and hunt. This is a unique opportunity to connect with nature and learn about these aweinspiring birds in their natural habitat.
We are purchasing all the hardware and communication equipment from HDonTap, a leader in wildlife camera technology. For a sneak peek at wildlife cameras from around the world, visit their website HDonTap.com
From Bumpy to Buzzing : Dataw's
Honeybees
Take Flight in 2024
Anne Hale Miglarese
After an instructive but bumpy 2023, the beekeepers of Dataw are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of the new year for our resident Italian honeybees. As reported in our last issue of Green Wood we had a good but bumpy indoctrination to beekeeping in 2023. Our beekeepers regrouped, evaluated what went wrong and set out to gain the knowledge necessary to successfully start the year fresh. We attended several workshops, sought the counsel of experienced low country beekeepers and went in search of the most sought-after queen bees in a 200-mile radius.
I am happy to report things appear to be going very well. Our resident beekeepers did a hive inspection on Saturday May 11. We now have three hives happily residing in proximity to the Butterfly Garden on Dataw Drive. We will keep you updated on our progress, but we are confident that we now have the skill to deal with beetles, moths, fire ants and bee swarms all of which gave us a run for our money last year.
We look forward to offering the delicious honey for sale to Dataw Conservancy members in the fall and with any luck to other residents at the Mistletoe Market in November.
Buzzworthy Facts About Honeybees
§ Super Speedy Flyers: Honeybees can fly up to 15 miles per hour, which might not seem super impressive until you consider their size. To put it in perspective, that's like a human traveling at 180 mph! They use their wings, beating them an incredible 11,400 times per minute, to create the buzzing sound we all know.
§ Navigation Ninjas: Honeybees have an amazing sense of direction. They can navigate using the position of the sun, even on cloudy days! They also communicate the location of food sources to other bees through a special waggle dance.
§ Honeycomb Architects: The honeycomb, the intricate wax structure where bees store honey and raise their young, is a marvel of engineering. The hexagonal cells are the most space-efficient way to pack together, and the honeycomb is incredibly strong
What Will Build - out Look Like?
Guy Apicella
As Dataw’s 40th Anniversary historical presentations pointed out, the island was mostly maritime forest and abandoned farm fields during the original planning of the development. This was the “blank canvas” for laying out the infrastructure of roads, residential lots, golf courses and other amenities. The designers paid attention to the topographical features for siting stormwater drainage works and 26 retention ponds that help to protect ambient water quality as well as creating pleasing aesthetics. The resulting 1984 site plan became the framework for, among various things, the island’s “natural beauty” - a primary drawing point for people who buy property on Dataw.
Yet how could those designers know whether or not the balance between developed and habitat space that exists more than 40 years later would be right for safeguarding our diverse valuable wildlife? Fast forward to 2024 when 91% of the 1,052 lots are developed and the status of that balance becomes much clearer.
Although conservation was not a top priority in the mid-1980s, the DIOA and DIC boards were concerned enough to form the Dataw Island Conservancy, a IRS 501(c)3 organization, in 2012.
The purpose reflected in the Conservancy Bylaws is “to assist in the preservation of Dataw Island’s character by permanently conserving, maintaining and managing natural areas and habitats and to encourage an appreciation of and interest in the Island’s natural resources.”
The Dataw Island Conservancy Board realized the need to assess natural habitat on the island and develop a plan to conserve natural areas for the future well-being of the wildlife that share our environment. An ad-hoc committee, comprised of the Landscaping Department Director, a DIOA Board member, and representatives of the Garden Club, DHF, Common Grounds Committee and the Conservancy, was formed to steer the development of a Habitat Management Plan (HMP). The committee issued a Vision Statement in April 2019 that stated:
The Dataw Island community is committed to maintaining the beauty and mystique of this special place for generations to come by creating and maintaining a habitat management plan (HMP) that identifies where native vegetation is to be protected, how these areas should be managed on an ongoing basis, and how native plants can be used throughout the community to attract birds, butterflies and other desirable species of wildlife.
One of the values of this vision statement is that it shows potential buyers that the community has a program that helps protect a person’s long term investment once they purchase a home at Dataw. Furthermore, the HMP assures existing residents, who bought property when there was a lower housing density than presently, that Dataw’s low country character will be conserved.
The Vision Statement was received favorably by the DIOA and DIC boards as well as the General Manager. The Conservancy then collaborated with a woodland and wildlife consulting firm, Folk Land Management (FLM), to delineate the key natural areas that provide wildlife habitat. Their report, “Management Plan for Dataw Island Natural Areas”, which was shared with the community in October 2020, mapped 20 natural areas for conservation. One of FLM’s recommendations was to protect undeveloped lots adjacent to Natural Areas by securing them for conservation.
The DIOA and DIC Boards endorsed the protection of the 17 and three natural areas, respectively, that are under their purview in 2020. Later that year, the Conservancy proposed acquiring an undeveloped lot along Hillfield Lake between the cul-de-sacs of Gleasons Landing and Longfield Drives for wildlife habitat. The DIOA and DIC Boards approved this proposal in August 2020. The Conservancy owns Lot 456 (1465 Gleasons Landing Drive) - the “Gleasons Landing Conservation Preserve.”
The rate of residential development accelerated from 2020 to 2023 when the real estate market heated up with an average of 19 homesites being developed per year It is projected that the remaining undeveloped lots would be depleted in 2029. Thus, build-out may be only five years from now.
In order to picture what full build-out will look like, it’s necessary to know where all the undeveloped lots’ property boundaries are located. People are sometimes surprised to find out that an area they once thought was common ground turned out to be residential lot. The reality hits home when the lot is cleared and a house replaces the sprawling live oak tree that was once there. Sometimes the footprint of the house does not overlap with the trunk of a tree, so it does not have to be removed; however, the effects of trucks driving over the roots during construction causes damage that often kills the tree.
Another misconception is that Beaufort County regulations prohibit removing a large live oak tree from a residential lot that is proposed for development. According to Article 5, Division 5.11 Resources Protection Standards, 5.11.100 Tree Protection, the property owner has the right to remove a specimen live oak by prescribed mitigation measures. For example, a 30-inch diameter live oak tree would require payment of $3,000 to to the county’s tree fund- a pittance for a million-dollar home.
At this juncture, residents should be watchful for undeveloped lots that are naturally valuable sites for habitat and/or historical reasons. A prime example is Lot #404, 1730 Longfield Drive, which has a large live oak tree, known as one of the “entry oaks” of the Sam’s plantation era (photo right).
This lot was one of 19 lots recently purchased by a developer, meaning that the present owner will probably submit plans to build a house on it and the “entry oak” would probably have to be removed or else severely pruned so it does not overhang the structure according to insurance mandates.
The Dataw Island Conservancy recommends that environmentally valuable undeveloped lots to eliminate built house.
Volunteer Spotlight - Holly Dolan
Anne Hale Miglarese
Holly and Dave Dolan moved to Dataw Island in 1995 from Elmira NY, long before Gleasons Landing, Island Circle West and Longfield Drive even existed. They have certainly seen a tremendous amount of change in those three decades. When they moved to the Island there were approximately 250 homes built. As Holly said, “it was wild, and wooly then, not manicured like now” She liked it that way Back then you could put your kayak in almost anywhere on the Island because, because so few water-front lots were developed. She can often be found either in the lap pool at the Community Center or in her garden plot by the Cannery.
The Dolan’s have been active members of the Dataw Conservancy from the very beginning of the organization. Holly estimates that by her account she and Dave have easily felled more than 10,000 Tallow trees on the Island. She still has scares on her legs from tromping through the woods to eradicate Tallow trees around what is now Gleasons Landing. But Holly’s biggest contribution to the Dataw Conservancy has been her talent. She calls herself a “needle woman”. She was taught to stitch, sew, quilt, and knit at the age of six by her grandmother. She put all those skills to work over the past decade by making seven quilts which she donated for the Conservancy annual fundraising raffle. While financial records are a little murky in the early days Hollys time and talent have easily raised $ 18,000 for the Conservancy’s mission over the years.
The Dolans have decided to move closer to their son in Oregon and will be leaving our community in a few months. They will be missed for many reasons, and they will certainly be missed by the Dataw Conservancy.
Just a few of Ho!y’s beautiful creations
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Dataw Island Garden Certifications
Lori Thompson
The Dataw Garden Club and the Dataw Island Conservancy are working together to encourage home owners on Dataw to have their yards certified as a National Wildlife Habitat. This is offered through the National Wildlife Federation. This certification becomes particularly important as the natural areas on our beautiful island are diminishing
Friendly neighbors, green spaces, animals, birds, trees, flowers and plants… All of these things contributed to us wanting to live here, but sadly, the vacant lots are disappearing along with the natural habitat.
Although the conservancy sponsors great programs like Blue Bird boxes around the island, Monarches in the Rough , Honey Bee Hives, the certification of your yard helps ensure that our island continues to support the natural environment that we were all drawn to .
There is a way for you to help preserve the beauty of our island. Certify your yard as a natural habitat for wildlife! Do you have bushes, trees and flowers? These areas are needed for animals, birds, insects and butterflies to feed, live and raise their young. What about water? Do you live near a pond or lagoon? Do you have a bird bath in your yard? Do you have bird feeding stations or bird nesting boxes in your yard? If the answer is yes to all or some of these questions, your yard qualifies for Wildlife Habitat Certification!
It’s easy, go to http://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat and answer a few simple questions. Once completed, there is a small fee and you can get either a paper certificate or a nice yard sign saying you are helping to preserve an important natural habitat.
Also, from now until July 31st, in conjunction with Wild Birds Unlimited, customers of Wild Birds Unlimited can receive 20% off a Habitat Certification with the promo code GARDEN20.
When you have received your certificate, please email me, Lori Thompson, at lthompson44@ymail.com with your name address and certificate number. I will be tracking those who have certified their yards and inform the Garden Club and the Dataw Island Conservancy. You will also receive a garden flag compliments of the garden club and Conservancy that you can display in your garden.
Please consider using this tangible tool to preserve our environment.
Electronic Waste Recycling Day
Guy Apicella
Dataw Island residents brought the computers, televisions, printers and cell phones they no longer use to the Conservancy’s semi-annual electronics recycling at the Marina parking lot on May 18, 2024. Three pick-up truck loads of electronics were transported by our volunteers to Beaufort County’s facility on Shanklin Road. A certified electronics recycling company, contracted by Beaufort County, then securely breaks down the electronics to their commodity levels (e.g., metals) and then circulates the materials back into manufacturing new products. The Conservancy conducts this environmental service for the community in May and December. Thanks to our volunteers: Herb Stackhouse, Joe Burt, Dave Molsberry, Charlie Holbrook and Jack Belletete (left to right in photo) for making this happen!
All Things Sea Turtles
Pete Bongiovanni
Dataw Island had the pleasure of hosting naturalist Carlos Chacon in the Carolina room to share with us the life of sea turtles and especially our own Loggerheads. Many in attendance were current and past members of the Hunting Island Turtle Patrol and had a good understanding of how loggerheads lived and survived.
Carlos Chacon is the Coastal Discovery Museum's manager of natural history and the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society's fieldtrip coordinator. He is a native of Costa Rica. Carlos grew up chasing butterflies in the coffee plantations and rolling green hills near his home in San Jose. Today butterflies and interactions between insects and plants still fascinate him. Carlos studied Tropical Biology at the University of Costa Rica and then moved to the U.S. to earn a master ’s degree in Land and Environmental Resource Management from the University of South Carolina.
We learned the lives, habitats and survival rates for loggerhead, leatherback, green and Kemp Ridley Turtles. We all knew loggerheads come into Beaufort County beaches but learned we sometimes see greens as well. Leatherbacks can grow to over 1000 pounds and can dive to depths of 1000 feet in search of the jelly fish they eat. Kemp Ridleys, a smaller sea turtle, nests in the Gulf of Mexico and through ardent efforts of local naturalists are making a strong comeback from near extinction.
The most amazing part of his presentation was the ARRIBADA , a mass synchronized sea turtle nesting One of the best places in the world to witness an arribada is Ostional beach on the Nicoya Peninsula in Carlos’s home country, Costa Rica. Arribadas at this beach are considered the largest in the world, with millions of sea turtle eggs laid in the black, volcanic sand each year. Thousands of turtles come ashore to nest and lay eggs. The size and duration of arribadas var y between the dry and wet seasons. Those occurring in the dry season of January to April tend to be smaller and of shorter duration. In the wet season of August to December, up to 300,000 turtles may lay their eggs on the beach. The largest arribada thus far recorded in Ostional, took place in November 1995 when a calculated 500,000 females came ashore. Because the turtles lay eggs atop one another, local residents are even allowed to gather the turtle eggs for food during the first days.
If you would like more information in seeing an arribada, visit https://ecoadventurescr.com/who-we-are/#carlos for information on guided tours to Costa Rica
OLLI TOUR OF OAK ISLAND
John Claussen
Thursday, May 9th brought 27 students of USC-B’s Osher Life Long Learning Institute to Oak Island.
Arborist Micheal Murphy led a walking tour of the recently designated Old Growth Forest. The informative one mile hike provided a great opportunity to learn about the eco system of Oak Island
