One of South Carolina’s earliest conservation success stories is marking its 50th anniversary with a Nov. 1 bash, and the occasion should not only be a time to reflect and celebrate the permanent protection of 3,400 acres along the Savannah River in Aiken County but also a chance to learn what this special site can teach us about making our state a better place to live.
In 1975, Philadelphia businessman Floyd Starr was growing too old to hunt on his vast property south of Aiken, but he wanted to ensure the land — which had been used for farming until he replanted much of it with young pine trees — remained much as he had known it. The Audubon Society — which had recently created its first South Carolina sanctuary, the Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, about 100 miles away — seemed a good fit given his interest in quail and birds in general.
So many of our state’s conservation successes have begun with a generous gift, as was the case here; Mr. Starr’s donation to Audubon was significant for its time and still would be impressive today.
But he did more than donate land. He helped shape a vision for how that land could give back in new ways. With Mr. Starr’s blessing, Audubon has managed Silver Bluff not only as a longleaf pine-wiregrass preserve but also for wildlife and as a working timber operation. And that dual role has led to important discoveries and provided an example for conservation work at other sites.
Rebecca Haynes, executive director with Audubon South Carolina, tells us while Beidler Forest’s story is one of preserving an old-growth forest, Silver Bluff is different.
