This article was originally published in the Greenville Journal on June 24th 2021 by Alex Cooper
One of the oldest conservation groups in the world, the Audubon Society was founded in the 1890s. A South Carolina presence was hatched by the early 1910s, says Audubon South Carolina’s executive director Justin Stokes.
Today, there are more than 26,000 Audubon members and supporters spread across nine chapters in South Carolina. In the Upstate, the organization recently partnered with South Carolina’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and Duke Energy on a project at Caesars Head State Park.
That project brought a Motus Wildlife Tracking System to give the Audubon Society access to data on the migratory patterns of birds in the region.
Stokes says it’s just one part of expanding their research efforts here.
“There will be additional towers that we want to place throughout the region to increase our ability to do research and understand the places that birds are spending time in the Upstate of South Carolina,” he explains. That research will help Audubon and other conservation groups know the places to protect.
Stokes says Audubon and Furman University are working together to establish research partnerships with professors and to create conservation internships for students.
Audubon’s outreach also includes public policy work. Recently, Stokes says, the group held an advocacy training at Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville.
More than a century after establishing a South Carolina chapter, the National Audubon Society continues growing and seeking ways to better protect, preserve and advocate for the Palmetto State’s bird population.
One of the oldest conservation groups in the world, the Audubon Society was founded in the 1890s. A South Carolina presence was hatched by the early 1910s, says Audubon South Carolina’s executive director Justin Stokes.
That project brought a Motus Wildlife Tracking System to give the Audubon Society access to data on the migratory patterns of birds in the region.
Stokes says it’s just one part of expanding their research efforts here.
“There will be additional towers that we want to place throughout the region to increase our ability to do research and understand the places that birds are spending time in the Upstate of South Carolina,” he explains. That research will help Audubon and other conservation groups know the places to protect.
Stokes says Audubon and Furman University are working together to establish research partnerships with professors and to create conservation internships for students.
“We partnered with Conestee and we had 25 to 30 people come out for a training on how to be effective advocates with elected officials about conservation policy,” Stokes says, adding Audubon is looking for more partners to provide those sorts of training.
The group also manages more than 20,000 acres of land in the Lowcountry as a sanctuary for birds and as a way to study their life cycles.
Related: Caesars Head State Park home to new migratory bird research tower
Stokes says there are plenty of ways people can get involved with their local Audubon society.
“You can get involved by going out on a bird walk and learning more about how to be a better birder or how to enjoy birds in your backyard or have your local community support some of the projects that we’re working on,” he says.
