765 Curlew Court

The property at 765 Curlew Court, preserved in September 2007, is located in the central region of the Glossy Ibis / Salt Cedar enclave, just south of the intersection of Governors Drive and Glossy Ibis Lane, near Egret Pond.  It is bounded by 766 Curlew Court (developed home site) to the north, Governors Drive and the bicycle path to the east, Egret Pond to the south, and 764 Curlew Court (undeveloped home site) to the west.  The property is across the street from a 1.13 acre parcel owned and managed by KICA – site of a small parking area for the community dock located on Egret Pond.  The area of the property is 0.70 acres.  The lot displays the typical flora indicative of maritime forest habitat on Kiawah Island: 

Forest Canopy
The forest canopy at 765 Curlew Court is dominated by pines – both loblolly and slash are present.  Other dominant canopy trees include laurel oaks and cabbage palms.  There are a few live oaks in the southern portion of the property, as well as red cedar.  As one moves through the lot, from Curlew Court towards Egret Pond, the canopy becomes more diverse, changing from pine dominated to a mix of pine and laurel oak in the lot’s interior, with the southern edge containing many cabbage palms interspersed with pines, a few live oaks and red cedar.
Trees observed:
-Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
-Slash pine (Pinus elliottii)
-Laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica)
-Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto)
-Live oak (Quercus virginiana) with Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
-Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Sub-Canopy (Understory)
The sub-canopy at 765 Curlew Court varies in density, with the boundaries of the property being quite dense and the lot interior being more open and easier to move through.  The understory is impenetrable along Curlew Court.  Along its perimeter (excluding the pond edge), the sub-canopy is dominated by wax myrtles, American beautyberry, American holly, dune greenbrier, fringed greenbrier, red bay, winged sumac, and immature pines.  Devil’s-walking-stick is also present.  Within the lot’s interior, the following plants are dominant:  red bay, wax myrtle, yaupon holly, and immature cabbage palms.  American holly and American beautyberry are also present within the lot’s interior.
Sub-canopy plants observed:
-Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
-Dune greenbrier (Smilax auriculata)
-Fringed greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox)
-Red bay (Persea borbonia)
-American holly (Ilex opaca)
-American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
-Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
-Winged sumac (Rhus copallina)
-Devil’s-walking-stick (Aralia spinosa)
-Immature pines and cabbage palms

Vines (Understory)
The property displays a variety of vines in reasonable densities throughout the property.  Vines are most dense along the edges of the property, especially the southeastern edge along the bicycle path, approaching Egret Pond.
Vines observed:
-Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia)
-Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
-Cross-vine (Bignonia capreolata)
-Pepper-vine (Ampelopsis arborea)
-Morning-glory / Wild Potato-vine (Ipomoea pandurata)
-Yellow jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
-Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Forest Floor (Understory)
The forest floor is well covered with leaf litter and plant material (mostly pine needles).  Bracken fern is especially evident.  There are also several stumps and dead trees on the property.
Plants observed:
-Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Pond Edge
There is a slight area of pond edge habitat along the property’s southern boundary.  It is relatively diverse, and provides a soft buffer between the pond and the property where it eventually gives way to the pine dominated canopy.
Plants observed:
-Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)
-Marsh elder (Iva frutescens)
-Sea myrtle / Groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia)

The property’s interior is effectively shielded from the surrounding area by its dense understory along the perimeter.  This seclusion likely increases the possibility that the property supports wildlife populations, especially deer and bobcat – as it provides potential daytime rest areas.  Another striking characteristic of this property, in terms of conservation value, is its diversity of flora.  Both the habitat these plants provide, as well as the variety of food sources they offer likely make the lot appealing to birds.  The presence of a pond edge further diversifies the property’s habitat.  There is no evidence of bush-hogging on the property. 

Bobcat data collected since 2000 (including the new GPS pilot study points) show bobcat activity in the area, with two locations (GPS K099) within the lot’s boundaries.  There is considerable activity in the KICA property across Curlew Court.
2005 Town of Kiawah Island Aerial Photography
Governors Dr
Glossy Ibis Ln