The swallow-tailed kite is an endangered-species in S.C. and considered a species of highest conservation concern.
Credit: SCDNR
The public is being asked to report sightings of the swallow-tailed kite, an endangered-species in South Carolina and considered a species of highest conservation concern throughout its breeding range in North America. You call toll free 1-866-971-7474 to report a swallow-tailed kite sighting or fill out the SCDNR form.
Swallow-tailed kites are unmistakable with their narrow, 4-foot wingspan and 10-inch long forked outer tail feathers. The dorsal coloration is black while the head and underparts are white. Average weight for adults is a little over 1 pound, with females being slightly heavier than males.
“The South Carolina Working Group for Swallow-tailed Kites would like to extend its gratitude for all of the citizen science for swallow-tailed kite sightings reported during the 2008 season.” – Laurel Barnhill, SCDNR bird conservation coordinator.
Primary challenges to the swallow-tailed kite are wetland loss and drainage. Specific threats along its migration routes and wintering grounds in southern Brazil are unknown at this time, but significant land use changes could negatively impact the species.
South Carolina’s goal is about 400 nesting pairs statewide. The areas most likely to contain swallow-tailed kites are the Pee Dee and Savannah rivers, Francis Marion National Forest, the ACE Basin and associated floodplains.
Two Clemson University scientists were awarded more than $800,000 to find economical and environmentally sensible ways to treat what oilmen call ‘produced or co-produced water’: billions of gallons of contaminated water that come out of the ground during oil and natural gas production.
The research funding includes $689,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy and $120,000 from Chevron of Houston, Texas.
A constructed wetland
2 years later
Credit: Wikipedia
A constructed wetland
before treatment
Credit: Wikipedia
The idea of creating wetlands ties in well with the SPA’s plans to manage wetlands, where they have promised to increase their focus on our environment by contributing $3 million to restore 22 acres of tidal marsh along the southern tip of Drum Island in lower Charleston Harbor.
This treatment has the potential to increase oil and gas production and lower the cost of treating produced waters – not to mention reusing it, for:
“Co-produced water comprises 98% of all waste generated by U.S. oil and natural gas operations. Handling and disposal of this water is the single greatest environmental impediment to natural gas and oil exploration and production.” – Department of Energy experts
- irrigation,
- domestic use,
- livestock watering,
- cooling-tower water,
- municipal water use,
- treated sewage discharge dilution, and
- support of critical aquatic life and wildlife.
Professor’s Castle and Rodgers have already developed similar constructed wetlands for the energy industry, such as treating water used in coal-burning power facilities.
Geologist Jim Castle
(Credit: Clemson)
Environmental toxicologist
John Rodgers
(Credit: Clemson)
* UPDATE (related to wetlands): Learn about the importance of wetlands at EPA’s Exhibit at the 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show
Wetlands Facts
- An acre of wetland can store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
- As many of 1/2 of all North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands.
- More than 50% of wetlands have been lost or destroyed nationwide in the past century.
- 2/3 of all fish consumed worldwide are dependent on coastal wetlands at some stage in their life cycle.
