Life on the Refuge ~ Wood Duck Banding

August - September, 2015

The month of August and the first two weeks of September are wood duck banding time. We banded once or twice a week during this time. While the process of banding is the same as banding doves, trapping of the wood ducks is much more difficult.

Three government agencies were on hand to band...Fish and Wildlife, South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources and Dept. of Agriculture.

Baiting began in June and continued on a daily basis until we were done banding...

Kellie baiting back in June

As the days and weeks went by, we baited further back from the water.

Unlike doves where metal traps were used, a net

is used to trap the wood ducks.

site of baiting, trapping and banding

As I said, trapping of the wood ducks was more complicated than that of the doves. The net was laid out in front of the water and attached to rockets. At daybreak the ducks would come in to feed. The rockets were detonated from a vantage point of 200 yards away. A spotting scope was used to determine the number of ducks that were feeding. Once the rockets were detonated, the net was launched, trapping any ducks that were on the ground eating the bait.

net attached to rockets. notice the lighter spots on the ground? that is the bait

close-up of rockets

gathering at daybreak, waiting for the crack of the rockets being launched

sunrise

notice the smoke in the background? from the rockets detonating

The sound of the rockets detonating (a loud crack) was our cue to jump into the trucks and hurry to the site. Our goal was to extricate the ducks as soon as possible from the net (this whole process is very stressful for them). As each duck was removed from the net, it was placed into a crate for holding. Once a crate was full, we placed a sheet over the top of the crate. This helped keep the ducks calmer.

our goal is to get the ducks extricated from the nets quickly and safely

Kevin, our law enforcement agent, removing a duck. 

South Carolina DNR helping out

Marcie, the Refuge Manager, ready to put a duck into a crate

when placing a duck into, or removing one from the crate, we would work
together to insure we didn't have any escapees!

ducks safely crated

sheets covering the crates

metal bands. each band is numbered

holding the tools of the trade

Once all of the ducks are safely in the crates, they are removed one at a time for banding. 

We had two people banding.

getting ready to band

placing the band on the leg

closing the band

tightening the band with a slight overlap. these bands do not hurt the ducks

banding is complete

Once a duck is banded it's wing is checked to determine it's age -- hatch year or after hatch year...

checking out her wing

The band number, sex and age of the duck is then recorded onto a data sheet...

recording the data

Following the banding and data recording, the duck was taken to be swabbed for avian flu. This was done by the USDA. This information was also recorded on a data sheet...

oh! the indignity!!

it's mouth was also swabbed

Finally, when these steps were completed, the wood duck was released...

free at last!

while we were banding, these wood storks flew over head

waiting to get banded

demonstrating another way to hold them. 

their colors are beautiful. love the red eye

beautiful wing colors

females are also beautiful

After all of the ducks have been banded, swabbed and released, it's time

to pack up...

folding up the net

Jim, one of our heavy equipment operators, rolling up the net for the next use

We were so blessed to be able to participate in this...we learned so much are so grateful for opportunity!

Til next time,

Ron, Dawn & Cooper

A South Carolina Summer ~ Colonial Dorchester

Sunday, July 26

South Carolina is a state rich in history; history dating prior to the Revolutionary War. Today, we decided to visit Colonial Dorchester and get a glimpse into the pre-Revolutionary War life in South Carolina. Colonial Dorchester was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Colonial Dorchester sits along the Ashley River, near the town
 of Summerville, 15 miles upriver from Charleston.

notice Fort Watson? Fort Watson is located within the
boundaries of the Santee National Wildlife Refuge (where
we are staying)

From 1697 to the beginning of the Revolutionary War,
the trading town of Dorchester flourished along
the Ashley River, inland from colonial Charleston.

Until 1697, colonial South Carolina's only gunpowder
 storehouse or "powder magazine" was in Charleston.
That year, fearing a French attack on the city, the legislator
authorized construction of another magazine at a secure,
inland location. Dorchester was selected in part
because the Ashley River offered easy transportation
 to and from Charleston.

remnants of the magazine

another view

To protect the magazine, thick walls of tabby
 (concrete made of oyster shells) were built around it.
This fortification, or fort, was built in 1757 and
overlooks the Ashley River.

what the wall once looked like as it surrounded the
magazine. this is considered the best-preserved tabby
fortification in America

To make tabby, oyster shells were burned to produce lime,
which was combined with sand, water and more shells.
This mixture was then scooped into wooden boxes or "tabby"
 boxes. When that tabby hardened, the box forms were
 removed and reassembled atop the initial layer.
This process continued until the walls
reached the desired height.

scooping the mixture into tabby boxes

close-up of tabby. tabby (concrete made of oyster shells) was
a popular building material in the 1700s

Ron within the walls of the fortification

Coop enjoying a walk along the fortification

Ashley River (view from back of fortification)

location of Walter Izard's home. Izard was a wealthy landowner

archaeologists have located the corner lot markers of
the quarter-acre lots that comprised the town of Dorchester.
this is one of those markers

St. Georges Anglican Church. the church was built in 1719,
the bell tower was added in 1751

another view; part of the Hutchinson plot

St. Georges cemetery. the cemetery sits to the
back of the church

Hutchinson Plot; located within St. Georges cemetery. though the town
had been abandoned, this plot remained in use through the mid-1800s

This large open field was designated the "Market Place". Twice
a week cattle, horses, grains as well as other provisions
were sold in this space. This area was also the site of slave
auctions. The area also served as a military parade ground.

Market Place

archaeological excavating at the Market Place; 

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Dorchester was a fortified post for the Americans. Its garrison was briefly commanded by Frances Marion aka the Swamp Fox. The town was abandoned in 1775 at the start of the Revolutionary War.

Archeology is on-going at Colonial Dorchester.

Til next time, Ron, Dawn & Cooper