With its simple lines and contemporary feel, a new house in the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s River Road Preserve is an unusual addition to the architectural aesthetics of Palmetto Bluff. But this model home wasn’t constructed to fit in to one of the Bluff’s charming neighborhoods. It was designed for chiropteran residents—in other words—bats.
You may have seen bats flying around as dusk falls, the time when many species emerge from their roosts in search of tasty insect morsels—and a bat that has just woken up from a good day’s sleep is hungry; it may eat over a thousand insects in a single night. (It’s no surprise they are one of the most beneficial animals to have around!)
For the past two years, the Conservancy has been studying the bats of Palmetto Bluff by catching them in mist nets (if you were out on the River Road Preserve Trail in March you may have seen the nets) and recording the high frequency calls that they make as they echolocate their prey. By identifying the species that live here and recording details of their behavior, the Conservancy is collecting critical information at a time when bats are threatened by habitat loss, disease, and the use of wind power (thousands of bats are killed by wind turbines each year).%GALLERY%Although the Conservancy team expected to collect new data on the bats of the Lowcountry, no one was prepared for the discovery of northern long-eared bats, a federally threatened species thought to occur only to our north and east. Yet, in November 2016, two northern long-eared bats were caught in the River Road Preserve. This news elated the Conservancy team and bat biologists throughout the country—northern long-eared bats are rapidly disappearing in other parts of their range because of a fungal infection known as white nose syndrome, so to have this species at Palmetto Bluff means that there may be populations that are thriving in other locations.
Bats in our area spend the day resting in hollow trees, in Spanish moss, in the dead fronds of palmetto trees or under the flaking bark of a pine tree. Still, there is nothing like a new bat house! BatBNB, a company that constructs bat houses, donated the bat house in the River Road Preserve and the Conservancy put it up where the northern long-eared bats were caught. If conditions are just right, there may be a young family or two moving in soon.
Photography from J. Banks Design Luxury interior design firm J. Banks and Palmetto Bluff Builders have collaborated to provide an extensive and beautiful design package for the residents of The Grove, Palmetto Bluff's first neighborhood built-for-sale. With j...
Indulge in the rich and flavorful Buttermilk Chess Pie with Vanilla Mascarpone Crème by following this delicious recipe from Palmetto Bluff Club’s Executive Pastry Chef, Jae Newby. The Buttermilk Chess Pie Filling combines the perfect blend of ingredients, inc...
Longfield Stables at Palmetto Bluff is thrilled to welcome Julien Beaugnon as the new Equestrian Director. With over 30 years of experience as an equestrian instructor, trainer, and manager, Julien’s journey is a testament to his passion, dedication, and stron...
Story and Photographs by Joel Caldwell I am driving through the predawn dark, trying to find the office of Jay Walea, the longtime Director of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. It’s a warm morning in late May, my windows are down, and I’m listening to that pecu...
Where are you from and how did you get here? I saw the job posting through a golf recruiting service at 6am one morning. [laughs] I applied for it and here we are. My wife and I always said if we ever left Nashville, we’d move to the Lowcountry. We love livin...
The Haunting of Palmetto Bluff | October 27 Venture deep into the woods of the Bluff, where echoes of the past are lurking in the shadows. Embark on a spine-chilling journey to explore legends and step beyond the veil of the living and the dead. Will you l...
The results of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards are in, and Montage Palmetto Bluff, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, and Savannah received numerous accolades and awards highlighting what makes the Lowcountry region a stand out amongst the rest....
Photographs by Cameron Wilder Story by Alex Marvar Left to right: Palmetto Bluff residents Cynthia Willet, Nancy Thomas, Donna South, and Michelle Solomon On the bluff’s 120-acre sporting clays course, four friends find a winning combination of fresh air, ca...
Behind the Design with Jason Kimes & Leighann Markalunas In the heart of the Lowcountry, where the gentle sway of Spanish moss-laden trees meets the tranquil embrace of the coast, lies a unique community: Palmetto Bluff. Their approach to home design capt...
Your Pine-ness Cocktail Recipe Before delving into the ingredients and recipe for Buffalos’ delectable Ricotta Meatballs and Sauce, it is imperative that the chef has an excellent cocktail for cooking. Pairing the sweetness of pineapple with the woody flavo...
Learn about the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy and how we keep the vision of our land in place.
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