Pinckney Island
Written by Anne Brophy Chetwynd
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge has been a nature and forest preserve for aesthetic and conservation purposes since 1975. A wide variety of land types are found on Pinckney Island including salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow field and freshwater ponds. In combination, these habitats support a diversity of bird, animal and plant life. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, wildlife commonly seen on Pinckney Island include waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, neotropical migrants, white-tailed deer and alligators, with large concentrations of white ibis, herons, and egrets.
History
The land was once part of the Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Plantation. General Pinckney was a commander during the Revolutionary War, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and a two-time presidential candidate for the Federalist Party in 1804 and 1808.
The Pinckney family developed the island into a plantation, removing much of the maritime forest and draining and tilling the fertile soil. By 1818, the land produced fine quality cotton. From the 1930s to 1970s, Pinckney Island was a privately-owned game preserve.
The Pinckney Island Refuge includes Pinckney Island, Corn Island, Big and Little Harry Islands, Buzzard Island and numerous small hammocks totaling over 4,000 acres, according to stateparks.com. But Pinckney is the largest of the islands and the only one open to the public.
Wildlife viewing
The diverse habitats at Pinckney Island Refuge attract an abundance of wildlife throughout the year, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. More than 14 miles of hiking and biking trails are maintained to provide access to all parts of the refuge, the FWS website notes.
It is an important link in the chain of wildlife refuges along the Atlantic flyway, attracting thousands of migratory birds annually. The refuge also provides a nesting habitat, called a rookery, for colonial wading birds such as ibis, egrets and herons.
There are more than 250 species of birds nesting or migrating to the refuge. The most popular and colorful to see is the painted bunting, a common summer resident in the island’s brushy habitats. During spring and fall migrations, warblers and other migratory song birds are common among the live oaks and in the shrub/scrub habitat.
A variety of raptors, shorebirds and wading birds call the refuge home year-round. The refuge is one of the best places to see breeding yellow crowned night herons. Mammals include white-tailed deer, red fox and bobcat. American alligators are also abundant on the refuge, particularly in and around the freshwater ponds. Fishing is prohibited in the freshwater pond.
Photography
A growing activity on Pinckney Island Refuge is wildlife photography. You don’t need to purchase expensive equipment or have any experience to get started. A small camera or basic cell phone will do just fine for most visitors, according to the website.
The two-mile round-trip walk or bike ride back to Ibis Pond is sure to provide a wealth of photo opportunities; from shorebirds feeding in the salt flats to wading birds roosting in the Ibis Pond rookery.
Visitors willing to make the longer treks to spots like Dick Point and White Point will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the majestic Lowcountry.
Educational tours
Learn about the history and current management of the refuge through self-guided interpretive exhibits located in the parking area and along the main trail.
Guided interpretive programs are offered by local, trained, naturalist guides that can offer visitors a more enhanced experience by providing information on the natural resources and rich history of the refuge. Walking tours can be arranged through the Coastal Discovery Museum at 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.
Location
The entrance to the refuge is located between the mainland and Hilton Head Island off of U.S. 278 on land bordered by Skull Creek (the Intracoastal Waterway) on the east, Mackay Creek on the west, and Port Royal Sound at its northern tip.
