Natural Resources' Public Event Series

S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Public Event Series is hosting free public field trip outings, lectures and seminars. The series began in February to raise awareness about the Marine Resources Division.

To preregister for events, contact series coordinator Kim Counts at 953-9354 or CountsK@dnr.sc.gov.

September

ACE basin birding: Event 12. Birding in the Headwaters of the ACE Basin (field experience). Speakers Jeff Mollenhauer and Mark Musselman. Partner: Audubon. Monday morning. Limit: 40. Francis Beidler Forest Sanctuary. Participants will take the boardwalk deep into Four Holes Swamp led by Audubon experts to view resident birds and wildlife.

Striped bass lecture: Event 13. South Carolina Striped Bass (Lecture) on fishery and population history. Speakers Scott Lamprecht and Chad Holbrook. Evening of Sept. 27. Fort Johnson Auditorium.

October

estuary animals: Event 14. Animals of the Estuary (boat outing). Speakers Elizabeth Vernon, Al Segars, Kim Counts, Kattie McMillan. midday Oct. 2. Limit: 35. Bennett's Point (McKenzie Field Station). Participants will ride aboard the educational vessel the E/V Discovery into the heart of the ACE Basin to pull a trawl net in the estuary.

Butterflies: Event 15. Coastal Butterflies and Tagging (field experience). Speaker Billy McCord. Partner: Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. Afternoon of Oct. 10. Limit: 30. Fort Johnson Auditorium and Folly Beach County Park. Begin with lecture by McCord on coastal butterflies. The group will ride in DNR vehicles to Folly Beach County Park, where McCord will demonstrate tagging of Monarchs.

turtle-tagging lecture: Event 16. In-Water Turtle Tagging Project (lecture). Speaker Mike Arendt. Evening of Oct. 17. Fort Johnson Auditorium. Lecture will review the findings of DNR project seeking to unveil the whereabouts of adult loggerhead males.

--Events are free; donations accepted. Directions and what to bring will be provided when participants make a reservation. Check for updates on www.sc.dnr.gov under calendar link.