Local birder urges beacher-goers to honor shore birds need for space to nest in peace

Birds need space

The sea turtles are returning to Hilton Head, but some shore birds are leaving for upper or outer regions to nest. There is too much human activity on our beaches for birds to peacefully raise their young.

One potential habitat is the spit on Port Royal Plantation shore near Fish Haul. In mid-April the horseshoe crabs laid nutritious eggs there, gobbled up by threatened red knots and piping plovers, among others, who stop over on Hilton Head to refuel for their arduous journeys north to nest, but the birds were constantly disturbed by beachgoers.

Perhaps posts could be arranged horizontally across the point to protect the entire small spit so winter and summer birds can live undisturbed. People can go the other way.

I discovered a willet nest there last spring, but it was trampled. I recently saw four Wilson plovers who are potential nesters there, if protected, but unlike some other coastal communities, nesting shorebirds are virtually ignored here.

Can’t we share a portion of the beach with the birds? We recreate there and then go home. The beach is their home and they are running out of space. Where will they go?

Debby Boots, Hilton Head Island

Thanks, Tony

I want to thank a former coworker for saving my life on April 8 even though he was probably 100+ miles from me at the time.

Tony Sheppard is a former SCDOT director of traffic engineering. While in this position, his staff suggested that if the trees in the median along Lowcountry stretches of I-26 were removed, deaths would be reduced. After much effort, Tony convinced folks of the need for change.

Deaths dropped when trees were cut, medians were graded and a high tensile barrier was installed.

So how did Tony save my life on April 8?

I was returning from Charleston when, at 70 mph, I was run into the median by a truck aggressively passing a tractor-trailor that was in the right lane. Lucky for me, there were no trees, the median was nicely graded and the cable barrier was in place.

When I got home, I called Tony to thank him for saving my life.

I know the public questions things that the SCDOT does, but the clearing of medians along I-26 and I-95 has saved countless lives, including mine.

I thank Tony Sheppard for his tenacity in pushing for this life-saving effort.

Michael A. Dennis, Gilbert

Bad bill

I observed a second-grade teacher explain to her students that people sometimes do bad things, but most people are good. A Jewish child in the class responded, “Yes, but Nazis are bad.” The teacher agreed, “Yes, Nazis are bad.”

This week the S.C House of representatives advanced bill H.5183 that calls into question the above teacher’s response. This legislation requires educators to engage in ‘impartial teaching’ when discussing controversial segments of history. This impartiality would apply to the Holocaust, slavery and women’s suffrage, along with other topics.

I am the grandson of Holocaust survivors who endured concentration camps and forced labor. I also have spent 30 years as a South Carolina school administrator, and after careful reading of this bill, I find that rather than clarifying teacher expectations, it adds unneeded confusion and complexity. H.5183 can lead to horrific results as teachers perplexed by the proposed law might steer clear of topics that are crucial for students to learn.

I do not know why any legislator would vote for this bill.

Meir Muller, Columbia

Support girls

As the father of four daughters and a lifelong South Carolinian, it’s given me such hope to see our state legislators come together to honor our women’s basketball National Champion Gamecocks.

Yet, I wonder why so many of our state legislators have cowered in their support of South Carolina women outside of athletic dominance. Why else would more than 15% of South Carolina women be living in poverty if our State House and Senate have not placed them on the backburner for more politically attractive pursuits? In fact, according to the National Women’s Law Center, our state ranks worse than the national average in eight of nine economic and health factors.

Yet, we don’t see lawmakers coming together to support legislation to improve the cost of living and eliminate barriers to health care for women.

While cheering for our female collegiate athletes is a privilege and a duty of being an elected official, so, too, is actively working to ensure their financial and physical well-being off the court.

ReZsaun Lewis, Summerville