Wildlife

http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/swallowtail-kite.php

The Center for Birds of Prey near Charleston, part of the Avian Conservation Center, is once again asking the public's help in reporting sightings of swallow-tailed kites visiting and nesting in the Lowcountry.

Swallow-tailed kites have striking black and white plumage, a long, scissor-like tail, and long, narrow, pointed wings. Their remarkable tails make them unmistakable. The wingspan is about 48 inches and the bird is about 24 inches tall.

They can often be seen soaring over bottomland forests and open habitat.

Spottail Bass: Fair to good. Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort reports that redfish are breaking up into smaller schools and the fiddler crabs are coming out of hibernation. Overall fish are still in a "March Madness" pattern, though, and it remains difficult to coax them into feeding. They are frequently refusing bait and it's hard to get a hook-up. Mud minnows and live shrimp are the best baits.

For South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations: http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/regs/pdf/saltfishing.pdf
Visit the Saltwater Fishing License Web site at http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov

A centerpiece story in the Thursday, April 15, 2010, edition of Bluffton Today by reporter Richard Brooks highlights the importance of managing old rice farms to help migrating shorebirds and other wildlife

It's a joint program by The Nemours Wildlife Foundation, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read more here.

The Conservation Voters of South Carolina expressed its concern about state funding for natural resource agencies. In its weekly electronic newsletter, the organization said the conservation community is concerned about the human and natural resource fallout from the severe budget cuts already instituted at DNR, Forestry, PRT, Agriculture and the Conservation Bank.