Posted on

The Eagle Flies Free

IMG_3473
James Elliott (Center for Birds of Prey) holds the rehabilitated eagle. (Photo: Zach McKinley)

When Mrs. Montgomery received the call from Grainger McKoy on March 3, she knew we had to respond. A rehabilitated bald eagle, a female juvenile, was about to be released out at Hobcaw and it would be a sight to behold. Mrs. Montgomery packed her fifth-graders into the car and Dr. Gates packed his seniors. The little group watched with excitement as the bird took flight in the wild for the first time since getting rescued.

Students were impressed at the sheer size of the bird and her unusual plumage.” She didn’t have a white head,” said Amelia and Zach agreed: “She was a blonde.” James Elliott, director of the Center for Birds of Prey, told us that bald eagles don’t get their white head feathers until they are five or six years old. According to Clayton Stairs of The Georgetown Times who was also present, this was the first-ever eagle release from Hobcaw Barony. We were so privileged to be there!

Posted on

Hobcaw Fish Survey

IMG_7650 IMG_7612 On Friday, September 5, Dr. Neubauer’s Biology and Environmental Science classes took a field trip to Hobcaw.  The purpose of the trip was to participate in Hobcaw’s transient fish survey.  Dr. Paul Kenny is studying climate change and changes in the fish population in North Inlet. The sky was a mix of sun and clouds as students began mucking around in a side creek of North Inlet, helping to pull the seine and gather as many fish as they could from the estuary.   “Jump in the mud?  Who doesn’t want to do that!” said Maston, plunging into the pluff. After getting totally soaked and muddy and narrowly escaping a downpour, students returned to the laboratory to sort and count the fish on large trays.  Species included pin fish, mojarra, ladyfish, white shrimp, striped mullet and white mullet.  The day ended with lunch and rehydration on the porch of Visitor’s Center.  We would like to thank our guides Melissa Heintz and Paul Kenny, and Hobcaw for allowing us to help out with Dr. Kenny’s current study.  Thank also to Dr. Neubauer and Dr. Gates for arranging and chaperoning the trip.