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It’s a critical time to save
the Bobcats on Kiawah
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
Bobcats were a topic of conversation once again at the October 14 Kiawah Island Town Council meeting. This time, it was because Kiawah Island Town Council Member Madeleine Kaye and Town Biologist Jim Jordan had spoken before a Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA) meeting the week prior concerning bobcats and how to protect them.
They are desperate to find a solution to eliminate the use of second-generation anticoagulants (SGAs) in the rodenticides used on the island. SGAs in rodenticides were the primary contributing factor and were responsible for at least seven bobcat deaths on Kiawah Island during 2019 and 2020. Biologists estimate that Kiawah’s bobcat population declined from a historic population of 30 to 35 to less than 10 during that period.
Although they found some success with the Bobcat Guardian program, launched in 2020, the Town is now seeing a decline in bobcat numbers once again.
However, Jordan and his team have been studying the rates of SGAs in raccoons and opossums. The rates dropped in 2023, but are now back up to pre-Guardian program levels since 2024.
Every year, from January through April, the Kiawah Conservancy traps and collars bobcats on the island for the purpose of identifying habitat patterns, denning sites, travel corridors, behaviors, survival characteristics, and more. The study, known as the Kiawah Bobcat GPS Project, is used to pinpoint specific areas or habitat types on the island that are of vital importance to bobcats and to update the Bobcat Management Guidelines for the Town.
The Bobcat Guardian program was enacted by the Town in 2020 to combat the decreasing population. This voluntary program is a community-wide pledge to participate in a commitment to banning the use of SGAs on individual properties. The Town asks that residents pledge to tell their pest control provider: “I do not authorize the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, and Difethialone) on my property and I want you to use alternative methods.” Or, they can pledge, “I personally commit not to use the above products on my property.”
After the successful implementation of the Bobcat Guardian program in 2020, bobcat numbers stabilized and started to increase.
Town of Kiawah Island
Planning Commission
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Infrastructure and Public Works Committee
Thursday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Arts & Cultural Event Council
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Environmental Committee
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Board of Zoning Appeals
Monday, Nov. 17, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
The Kiawah Bobcat GPS Project is the longest, continuous GPS study on bobcats in the world and was developed by the Town of Kiawah Island, in partnership with the Kiawah Conservancy, 18 years ago. Since then, a total of 111 bobcats have been captured and fitted with GPS collars.
Although the Town started collaring the bobcats in 2007, they were actually studying bobcats long before that, since 1998. They report that the bobcat population remained fairly stable from 1998 to 2016. It was in 2017 that they noticed the alarming downward trend in the bobcat population.
Kaye said that they didn’t have a suggestion when they went before the KICA board in early October. “We did, however, lay out the situation as clearly as possible,” she said. “We wanted to explore whether or not they would consider a rule change to prohibit the use of SGAs.”
The Town tried to outlaw SGAs altogether, but state law prohibited them from being able to do so. Individual HOAs, however, would have the right to prohibit the compound. Furthermore, there are other products
(Continued on page 3)
Town of Seabrook
Planning Commission
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 1:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Environment & Wildlife Committee
Thursday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Board of Zoning Appeals
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Community Promotion & Engagement Committee
Thursday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
K iawah iSland Town h all 4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway Kiawah Island, S.C. 29455 843-768-9166
SeabrooK iSland Town h all 2001 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, S.C. 29455 843-768-9121 lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
JohnS iSland c ouncil
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, S.C. 29455 Chairman Chris Cannon: 843-343-5113
charle STon c oun T y c ouncil 4045 Bridge View Drive N. Charleston, S.C. 29405 843-958-4700
ciT y of charle STon 75 Calhoun St. Charleston, S.C. 29401 843-724-3745
Photo by Neal Kinard.
Bobcats
Continued from page 2
that are just as effective. They are not anticoagulants and don’t build up in predators.
Kaye announced that she would encourage anyone to contact a member of the KICA board and voice their support of any and all initiatives to save the bobcats, including prohibiting SGAs.
Kaye also presented an image of a bobcat with a rat in its mouth. She said, “Someone on the KICA board sent this to me. This was taken many years ago in the mayor’s neighborhood. This shows that the bobcats are, in fact, eating rats, which are being treated with SGAs. They are getting into the food chain, and bobcats are at the top of the food chain. This is what we are dealing with. It doesn’t take much of the poison to affect the food chain and go all the way up to bobcats.”
Bobcats are important to Kiawah Island because they are the top predator and provide vital natural control for the island’s deer and rodent populations. Fewer bobcats mean more deer and more rodents. The rise in deer numbers forced the Town to implement a deer management program to control deer numbers for the first time in history in 2021.
In June of 2024, the Town put out numbers at a Council meeting saying that they noticed that 90% of alligators have tested positive for the SGA compound and 100% of birds of prey have SGAs in their system.
Kaye concluded, “Please, community, sign the pledge. Talk to your pest control company and make sure they’ve signed the pledge. It’s on our website. Whenever Atlantic Pest comes to my house, I ask them about the pledge. You can’t really let up on this.”
The Town will be holding the Bobcats and Bluegrass festival on November 7 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kiawah Island Town Hall. Jordan will give a presentation, and attendees will enjoy wine tastings, Rodney Scott BBQ, special giveaways, and, of course, bluegrass music.
Registration for the event is required on the Kiawah website, where visitors can also find bobcat-friendly pest control providers and business partners, more bobcat information and the pledge to protect bobcats.
Seabrook Island Garden Club restores sweetgrass and culture to the islands
BY SUSAN MCLAUGHLIN AND LYNN MINER For The Island Connection
At the October meeting of the Seabrook Island Garden Club, Sean Cannon from Kiawah Conservancy gave a presentation on the efforts the Conservancy is making to restore and revitalize sweetgrass production on Johns Island. The project began as a result of conversations with local sweetgrass artisans who expressed increasing concern about finding quality materials to craft their beautiful woven baskets and other traditional goods. The rapid urbanization of the area has greatly reduced the availability of sweetgrass and other natural materials used to construct the baskets. Additionally, the use of herbicides and insecticides along the roadways and in landscaped areas has resulted in plants that are tougher and more difficult to weave into the intricate basket designs.
Kiawah Conservancy decided to merge their long-standing commitment to habitat restoration with a desire to help local artisans preserve this historic art form, and Cannon was hired to lead this initiative. He immediately reached out to form a partnership with Marilyn Hemingway, CEO and president of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce. Hemingway, in turn, introduced Cannon to fifth generation sweetgrass artisan Corey Alston, who agreed to assist. The three of them embarked on a project to grow native sweetgrass on Johns Island. After securing a parcel of land, volunteers from the Conservancy collected seeds from native sweetgrass plants on remote areas of Kiawah Island. The seeds were then sent to Charleston Aquatic nursery, (Continued on page 6)
A Collection of Luxury Townhomes
Architect
Continued from page 1
which among the three the design selection committee would choose to recommend to the council.”
Belt added that the selection was incredibly close. “I would have been comfortable with any of the final three firms leading the project,” he said.
What set Caplea Coe/H3 apart in the end was the depth and breadth of their firm, as well as their responsiveness and engagement.
Berner said that Caplea Coe/H3 was chosen unanimously by the committee. He was particularly impressed with their ability to think outside the box.
“They recognized that the front entrance to the existing building doesn’t face the street. They designed a new main entrance to the building, as well as a separate entrance for the cultural facility,” Berner explained. “And they were the only ones that did that. It opened our eyes to what they could do.”
Kiawah Island Town Council Member Luke Ferrell voiced concern over the higher cost for Caplea Coe/H3 compared to the other firms.
President of Caplea Coe/H3 Steve Coe was on hand at the town council meeting to speak on behalf of the firm.
“There’s a lot of work to be done to roll up our sleeves and get to a point where we have a design that meets the budget,” Coe said. “The last thing we wanted to do was come in and tell you we could build something for what we did not feel comfortable with, given all the questions and the programmatic discussions. It takes a lot of work to come up with a design that meets both the budget and the program. The budget presented was high, but knowing the current market conditions and having worked in Charleston for over 30 years and understanding the construction process, I think the budget is as important to discuss as any of the other design criteria.”
Belt noted that the committee did not pick the firm based on its design since that has not been finalized. “We picked the firm, not the design.” He said there will be many changes to the design, and it will likely be scaled back significantly.
Kiawah Island Town Council Member Madeleine Kaye chimed in with concern about parking and septic.
“This particular schematic calls for a 250-seat auditorium, and that, in my opinion, and this is a very raw opinion, seems too big to me,” she said.
Belt replied that the auditorium had already been scaled back from 400 to 250/300 seats. He also added that this facility will be multipurpose and not just for arts and cultural events. He said he felt confident that when they started planning this expansion, the additional parking was accounted for and that they could add more parking if needed in grassy areas. He also mentioned that the addition will have to be added to the septic system.
The last concern voiced came from Council Member Luke Ferrell about the trees in the area. Belt responded, saying that no grand oaks will be removed. “We had a conversation with Arbor Care tree service, and the few Laurel oaks that will need to be removed are diseased anyway,” he said.
After the discussion, the Kiawah Island Town Council unanimously voted in favor of going forward with Caplea Coe/H3 as the architects for the civic and cultural center addition to the existing town hall building.
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Garden Club
Continued from page 3
where they were grown to plugs. In spring 2023, the Conservancy planted 1,400 sweetgrass plugs at the newly established farm site. The plants thrived under the care of the Conservancy staff, Alston, and local farmer Sidi Limehouse. Three years later, the Conservancy now hosts regular distribution days during the summer where sweetgrass bundles are offered to local artisans. The goal is to increase production so the artists can devote more time to their craft rather than harvesting materials.
Kiawah Conservancy recently acquired 100 acres of land along Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Their long range plan is to move the sweetgrass farm to this area and implement walking trails, as well as an information center, to highlight the art of sweetgrass basket-making. Additionally, local artists will be able to sell their baskets at the site. This initiative illustrates how environmental stewardship can work hand-in-hand with preserving cultural traditions.
The Garden Club’s next meeting will be Citrus Growing in the Lowcountry with Zack Snipes.
Date andTime: Friday, November 14, 9:30 a.m.
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center, Seabrook Island
Cost: Members, Free, Non-Members, $5
Seabrook Island Garden Club is excited to welcome Zack Snipes, Horticulture Agent with the Clemson Cooperative Extension, for a special presentation on growing citrus in the Lowcountry.
Snipes brings extensive experience in vegetable and fruit production from working closely with researchers from Clemson’s Coastal Research and Education Center and the USDA Vegetable Lab. He currently is focused on multiple research citrus projects, aiming to help growers successfully cultivate different citrus varieties in our coastal climate.
Join us for an informative and engaging session as Snipes shares his expertise, practical tips, and research-based insights into growing healthy and productive citrus right here in the Lowcountry.
Details are available at seabrookislandgardenclub.com.
SKiawah Arts, Etc sponsors local Scrollathon at Haut Gap on Johns Island
BY ELISABETH ST JOHN
For The Island Connection
tudents from Haut Gap School on Johns Island recently participated in the National Scrollathon at The Gibbes Museum in Charleston. Part of a Collaborative Masterwork across all states and territories, artistic brothers Steven and William Ladd’s mantra is “Uniting America” through the art of scrolling. The program originated in 2019 at the High Museum in Atlanta, and the brothers seek to use three values that unite people: focus, discipline, and collaboration.
On two large tables draped with solid and patterned colorful webbing, each student selected two ribbons and started at one end, then rolled them together to form a colorful coil. “The scroll contains your story,” Steven Ladd said, as each student was encouraged to share with the group the deeply personal meaning to him or her as represented by the colors and design. Each coil was secured and placed in a tin container for taking home as a souvenir of the project. The tin was personalized as a remembrance of participating in the larger national project, celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday.
Next, students selected two longer webbing pieces to roll together to create coils 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Program director Becca Hiester of the Gibbes Museum shared that the colors selected for the Charleston portion of the project were blues for the sky and sea; greens for palmettos and trees; and golden beige colors for representing sweetgrass baskets and our beach sand. The color combination resulted in a creative, calming, coiled composition of our beautiful state of South Carolina.
And this was a family affair! The Ladd brothers’ parents were gluing each coil in place in a wooden frame. When all 50 states have made their scrolls, the composite work will be displayed in the Kennedy Center as part of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. A videographer recorded stories, and a photographer took a picture of each participant. A commemorative folder celebrating the Palmetto state and containing photos of every participant will be given to Haut Gap participants, who keep the personal tin and the first coil made. Additionally, a portion of the Collaborative Masterwork will be returned to the Gibbes for permanent display in Charleston.
Sponsorship for the project was funded in part by Kiawah Arts, Etc., an organization of Kiawah residents that raises funds to help schools participate in projects involving the arts. Some 40 enthusiastic students and teachers from Haut Gap School on Johns Island joined the fun and were treated to lunch and a tour of the Museum afterward.
For more information on the National Scrollathon, please email steven@stevenandwilliam.com or contact Rebecca Hiester at The Gibbes at rhiester@gibbesmuseum.org. Kiawah Arts, Etc. projects can be visited and contacted through the website, kiawahartsetc.org
Betsy Kerrison Parkway
Continued from page 1
When it comes to basic maintenance-related issues, Belt admitted that they have had a hard time getting the state to come out and deal with them. He mentioned the potholes that were patched up a “little bit” by SCDOT but not fully repaired.
“We’ve tried to get them to restripe to put in turn lanes in and out of this complex, but we just can’t get them to do it. It just simply isn’t a priority. It’s a secondary road.”
Because it is a secondary road, the state is willing to convey the portion of the road to the Town without cost.
If the Town of Kiawah Island acquired that portion of Betsy Kerrison Parkway, it wouldn’t have to get approval from the state and county to do things like connect to the Seabrook Island Utility, which runs right along Betsy Kerrison Parkway, or to maybe put in a bike path going up to Kiawah River Estates.
“We have seen people who are working in Freshfields Village and are traveling by bike or walking in the middle of Betsy Kerrison Parkway,” he noted.
Belt said that they could even change the speed limit of that portion of the road if they acquired it.
“People are roaring through here,” he said. “It is sometimes really tough to get in and out of here because it doesn’t cut down to 35 until just as you get to the median. We could start that up at Resurrection Road without having to get any other approval.”
Belt said that he believes they have already received approval from a staff perspective from the state. Maintenance of that portion of the road, including the median, has been neglected.
“I think we can take better care of that portion of the road from a programmatic standpoint, as well as an aesthetic standpoint,” he said.
Charleston County is currently gathering the deeds that they have for the portion of the road and will be in touch with Kiawah Island’s lawyer. The conveyance will have to go up before the state board for approval. The Town of Kiawah Island will have to do an assessment and evaluation of the road’s condition so acquisition can take place.
The box culvert was constructed in 2005 or 2006, around the same time that the roundabout was constructed, and its lifespan is 75 years.
He also explained that the evaluation will help them determine if there are going to be costs associated with the Town’s conveyance.
“We need to get a sense of the cost associated with repaving the road,” Belt said.
Kiawah Island Town Council member Luke Ferrell proposed having an agreement with the state and county that they would kick in some money for the cost of the initial improvements of the road and median.
After some discussion about the potential cost of maintenance, the Kiawah Island Town Council unanimously agreed to accept the conveyance of SCDOT’s portion of the Betsy Kerrison Parkway roadway in front of Town Hall, subject to a couple of conditions, as discussed.
AROUND THE ISLANDS
Our community calendar keeps you updated on local events, from festivals to workshops to family-friendly gatherings. Stay connected and never miss out on the excitement.
ONGOING
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., Johns Island
WHEN: Every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Sea Island Farmers Market is a year-round delight for locals and visitors alike. This market offers a wide variety of fresh produce, artisanal foods and handmade crafts. It’s the perfect spot to start your weekend with a basket full of farm-fresh goodies and unique finds.
WHAT: Weekend Wine-Down
WHERE: Deep Water Vineyard, 6775 Bears Bluff Rd., Wadmalaw Island
WHEN: Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Attendees can expect tastings ($15 gets you a tasting of 6 samples of the vineyard’s wine and a souvenir stemless glass), drinks, food trucks, live music, and more.
WHAT: Charleston Beer Week
WHERE: Various
WHEN: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2
MORE INFO: After a one-year break, Charleston Beer Week returns for its 11th year at participating venues throughout the greater Charleston area. All events and participating venues are listed on charlestonbeerweek.com.
WHAT: Charleston Literary Festival
WHERE: Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St., Charleston
WHEN: Nov. 7- Nov. 16
MORE INFO: Named “the best literary festival in the United States” (Richard Ford), and “the standard to which all literary festivals should be held” (Michele Norris), this year’s Charleston Literary Festival lineup will be the most ambitious yet with more authors and events than ever before.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1
WHAT: Harvest Festival
WHERE: Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Rd., Johns Island
WHEN: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Harvest Festival is known for its showcase of Charleston’s bluegrass talent, with local bands playing throughout the day. Hosted by Richard Todd, the event kicks off with a demonstration from the City of Charleston’s Mounted Police at 11 a.m. Live music begins at noon. The festival will also feature food vendors selling barbecue, kettle corn and other festival favorites, plus plenty of cold beverages. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets or tables. Festivalgoers can shop the crafters’ market, featuring handmade items from local vendors, perfect for holiday gifts. Families will find kid-friendly activities including hayrides, arts and crafts, giant bubbles, hay bale rolling and more.
WHAT: Maker Marché: The Dunlin
WHERE: Dunlin Resort, 1030 Sound Dr., Johns Island
WHEN: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join Garden & Gun and Penelope Bourbon for the last stop of the Maker Marché event series at The Dunlin. Set at the picturesque Lowcountry resort, the open-to-the-public event features shopping from Round Top Makers Market artisans and live music from The Bluestone Ramblers, paired with creative Penelope Bourbon cocktails served from their bespoke mobile bar.
TUESDAY, NOV. 4
WHERE: “Throwback with a Twist” Andy & Friends WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Seabrook Island Club
MORE INFO: Pianist Andy Armstrong is joined by the electrifying violinist Geneva Lewis for an evening that begins with deep reverence for the classical tradition and ends with a joyful, genre-blurring celebration of classical music. Described by Andy as a “throwback” to the great serious violin sonatas, the first half of the program features Ravel’s only sonata for violin and piano, known for its ethereal elegance and a signature middle movement infused with early blues influences. Ravel’s admiration for American music—especially jazz and blues—shaped the piece, and his artistic friendship with George Gershwin creates an audible dialogue across the program.
THURSDAY, NOV. 6
WHAT: South Carolina vs. College of Charleston
WHERE: Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, 360 Fishburne St., Charleston
WHEN: 6:15 p.m.
MORE INFO: College Baseball at The Joe! The University of South Carolina visit the College of Charleston.
FRIDAY, NOV. 7
WHAT: 3rd Annual Bobcats and Bluegrass
WHERE: Kiawah Island Municipal Center
WHEN: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Celebrate Kiawah’s magnificent bobcats at the Town’s 3rd Annual Bobcats and Bluegrass. Come and enjoy the following activities: presentation on the island’s bobcat population from Town biologists, spirit and wine tastings, Rodney Scott’s barbecue, Bluegrass music on the lawn by Moto-Grass, and special giveaways. The event is free, but registration is required.
MORE INFO: A concert benefiting the Folds of Honor Palmetto State Chapter. This year marks the 4th edition of the annual event and will feature a performance by country music star Lee Brice. Attendees can enjoy live music, food and beverage offerings, and a patriotic celebration, capped with live and silent auctions. All proceeds from the evening will fund educational scholarships for the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders in South Carolina. Tickets available on palmettofreedomfest.org.
SATURDAY, NOV. 8
WHAT: Holy Smokes BBQ Festival
WHERE: Riverfront Park, 1061 Everglades Ave., North Charleston
WHEN: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
MORE INFO: Over 50 of the nation’s top pitmasters and chefs come together to honor the rich culture, history, and flavor of American barbecue. Set along the scenic Cooper River, Holy Smokes combines world-class BBQ with live music, good vibes and epic eats. Learn more at holysmokeschs.com.
CHART
11:58 AM 5:20 AM, 6:16 PM
TUE NOV. 11 12:30 AM, 1:00 PM 6:21 AM, 7:17 PM
WED NOV. 12 1:35 AM, 2:01 PM 7:26 AM, 8:16 PM
THU NOV. 13 2:38 AM, 2:58 PM 8:31 AM, 9:11 PM
FRI NOV. 14 3:36 AM, 3:50 PM 9:32 AM, 10:02 PM
OKiawah residents learn the artistry of performance at Opera 101 event
ELISABETH ST JOHN
pera is like baseball. When you attend an event in person and get involved, you discover the intricacies of the game, aka plot, and the individual strengths and talents of the performers. Opera is often referred to as king of the arts because it deploys elaborate costuming, a full orchestra, multiple voices, actors, and ballet in its entertainment of the audience. The only tools missing from this comparison are a baseball and bat!
“Our job,” Dr. David Templeton explained, “is to allow escapism for the audience.” And that comes, by the way, with casual clothing these days. No gowns or white ties adorn theatergoers, as more comfortable dress has become the norm.
Introduced by Susan Sullivan – chairperson of Charleston Opera Theater’s Board of Directors and the Opera 101 administrator – Dr. Templeton and Dr. Saundra Deathos-Meers recently spoke to an audience at Kiawah Island’s Opera 101 event. Both are professional opera singers, as well as faculty at the College of Charleston’s Opera Department.
So, what is opera? Originating from the Latin word for work or works, it roughly compares to a book using musical voice instead of words, or a play using musical dialogue and sung instead of spoken. Popular in Europe, operas were commissioned by wealthy sponsors, and therefore the themes were tailored to the then-current culture, including murder and love. Sound familiar? Put into today’s vernacular, they’re just as challenging as TV murder mysteries, but a lot more interesting and fun to watch on stage.
During the event, Dr. Templeton explained that opera singing is very challenging. It is not uniform, nor written in a way that roles necessarily suit the singers’ voices. Voices are traditionally classified as alto, soprano, tenor and bass, with a few distinctions in between, as in mezzo soprano. However, not all mezzo sopranos have the same capability. “Passagio” is the ability of a voice to reach both the low and high ranges or registers written for their role, which is the hardest thing for a voice to master. And the traditional opera composers, such as Bizet and Verdi, were not terribly considerate of the ability of a voice to sing the role they laid out in the music.
Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen is a tale of intrigue and murder. It’s about a sexy gypsy working in a cigar factory who lusts after Don Jose, an army lieutenant who couldn’t care less about her, at least at first. What becomes of their fate? Come and see for yourself.
Charleston Opera Theater will perform Carmen on November 7, 9 and 11 at the Sottile Theatre. Friday and Tuesday’s evening performances are at 7 p.m., and a Sunday’s matinee performance is offered at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the George Street Box Office by calling 843-953-4726 or visiting cofc. evenue.net/events/COTCM
How to clean the bird “kitchen” this winter
BY SCDNR For The Island Connection
Ahealthy flock of backyard birds often reflects the cleanliness of your bird feeders. Feeding birds during the fall and winter months is a favorite activity for many South Carolinians, as birds readily take advantage of supplemental food sources. This season is also an ideal time to commit to cleaning your bird feeders regularly—about once a month.
“Cleaning the feeders and bird baths where birds congregate is very helpful to the birds,” said Amy Tegeler, SCDNR Bird Conservation Coordinator. “Disease can spread from bird to bird via saliva or feces, so it’s important to be mindful of where they gather. Don’t forget to clear waste seed from the ground beneath feeders, too. Clean feeders can reduce the spread of diseases like avian pox and finch eye disease.”
To clean your feeders:
• Soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub thoroughly with brushes to reach every nook and cranny.
• Use a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water for seed feeders.
• For hummingbird feeders, use one part vinegar to four parts water.
Periods of rainy weather can cause seeds to sprout or turn rancid quickly. Some feeders disassemble for easier cleaning. Also, keeping a few extra feeders on hand allows you to swap them out as needed. You can then clean the used ones when you have time—no need to worry about birds losing interest while the feeders are being cleaned.
“The placement of feeders near your home is also important,” added Tegeler. “To avoid window collisions, place feeders either less than 3 feet or more than 10 feet from your house. Black oil sunflower seeds are a great choice for most feeders, and if squirrels become a problem, try a hot pepper-flavored suet.”
Routine cleaning helps ensure that visiting birds stay healthy and that feeders remain in good condition all season long.
