The Johns Island Conservancy

07/26/2015

Help us by sending an email to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Protection (DHEC) requesting public hearings for a new mile long waterline proposed under the Kiawah River. For more information and sample email, check out our website by clicking below:

Kiawah Island Utility (KIU) is proposing to build a new water line under the Kiawah River and marsh from Johns Island to the eastern end of Kiawah. (see maps included with DHEC application). The project will use an innovative technology called horizontal directional drilling (HDD) which has matured…

06/07/2015

Ironic - just when Kiawah Partners are touting their environmental sensitivity in a P&C op ed fluff piece (see previous post), Mother Nature shows us how stupid their development plan for the spit really is.

KIAWAH ISLAND — No sooner than the sand berm went up to stop the Kiawah River, it came down. Now a bulldozer and a dump truck lie in the inlet off embattled Capt. Sam’s Spit.

06/07/2015

The "Real Story"? Seriously? Story - yes, Real - no. Where to begin ...?
How about "for 25 years", "eight years we have worked on ...". These gentlemen, from Charlotte, backed by a huge NY hedge fund, only bought the place less than three years ago! Starting with that whopper how can you believe much else they say?

By Patrick Melton, Jordan Phillips,

06/01/2015

Guy Carawan, the co-author with his wife Candie of "Ain’t You Got a Right to the Tree of Life? The People of Johns Island, South Carolina" recently passed away at his home in New Market TN. Guy was a civil rights activist, musician and folklorist who played a significant role in popularizing the songs “We Shall Over Come” and “Eyes on the Prize” as anthems of the Civil Rights movement. The Carawans lived on Johns Island for a few years in the early '60s while researching and writing their book. Read an excellent retrospective of his life and contribution in the Atlantic (click picture below).
The Conservancy recently presented an exhibit of quotes and photos from Guy’s "Ain’t You Got a Right to the Tree of Life?” at the Johns Island public library (see description here - http://jicsc.org/index.php/tree-of-life/ ). We are currently working on an on-line version of the exhibit.

Guy Carawan, who died at 87 on May 2, is credited with turning the song from an obscure protest song into a civil-rights anthem.

07/30/2014

Osprey's fly the coop .... see more here .....

A few years ago we were lucky enough to see three chicks fledging on an almost daily basis. There were three in that nest and ten weeks in they began jumping around and flapping their wings, hopping three to four feet in the air. At one point, while there was a moderate breeze one jumped up, got blo…

07/30/2014

Johns Island's very own "Rocky" ... see post here ....

The Southern flying squirrel is commonly found throughout the eastern half of the United States including South Carolina. Being a nocturnal animal, they are rarely seen. This little fella was caught at a bird feeder one night. These pictures were taken in the Summertrees neighborhood of Johns Isl…

06/22/2014

Chick Pics! (Ospreys!)
Second chick in the nest, both keeping daddy and mama busy.
See full post and more pictures here ...

We first noticed the pair brooding on some eggs on March 22. By May 7, the hen was sitting up and appeared to be shading new born chicks. Observing from the ground we couldn’t see into the nest to confirm the newborn chicks which weight about 2oz when first hatched. The platform is about 50 ft up…

05/25/2014

We have an Osprey chick!
For more information and great pictures, see the post on our website.

Last Fall, with the help of Berkeley Electric, the Conservancy installed two Osprey nesting platforms, one at Legare Farms and one at Mullet Hall (a third was recently installed at CATR Farms – see below). Often it can take a couple of years for a nesting pair to occupy a new platform. Osprey’s pre…

04/27/2014

Volunteers Needed!
Come join us for Adopt-a-Highway cleanup this coming Sat, May 3, 9AM on Maybank Highway. See our website (http://jicsc.org/adopt-a-highway ) for details and to sign up. Thanks!

Help us and Johns Island on Saturday, May 3 (9AM – 1PM) by joining our Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Our section is on Maybank Highway between River Road and Southwick Drive by the Habitat Restore. We will be meeting in the First Builders parking lot (where Sweeney’s and Seanacahi are located) at 9AM t…

04/12/2014

04/12/2014

“Growing a New Johns Island”
Can Johns Island maintain its traditional values while continuing to grow as a desirable residential and tourist destination? See the report on our website including interviews with some notable Johns Islanders.

In that spirit, over the last two years, the Johns Island Conservancy has spoken to people, both on and off the Island, to find out what they value most about this unique place. “Growing a New Johns Island” is the result of that effort. We have concluded that the things we love about our home, both…

04/08/2014

The nesting platform setup at Legare Farms has new residents. Go to our home page for an update.

The Osprey nesting platform we installed at Legare Farms has attracted a pair of Ospreys who have made it their new home. The platform was built by Conservancy volunteers and erected by Berkeley Electric who also donated the pole. We think this is the same pair that had been nesting last year in t...