SJC Receives Grants
In alignment with our dedication to conservation efforts in the region, we are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a substantial grant from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. This funding aims to improve wildlife habitats within the coastal areas of the state. St. James has offered optimal conditions for the implementation of three significant programs. As these grant initiatives progress and evolve in collaboration with our partners, we will provide updates on our advancements on this page.
Pollinator & Wildflower Garden
St. James will become involved in the "Butterfly Highway" initiative, supported by the NCWF Grant, by establishing a coastal garden designed to attract pollinators through the use of native plants and flowers. We are collaborating with the Garden Club of St. James and the Brunswick County Extension Office. Upon completion, this garden will be registered, contributing to a network of over three thousand sites throughout the state. Further updates will follow.
Osprey Nest Platform
This project has been temporarily postponed.
As development persists along our coastline, we are witnessing a significant loss of essential wildlife habitats, particularly suitable nesting locations for the Osprey. Thanks to the NCWF Grant, we are in the process of installing an Osprey nesting platform that will overlook one of our larger ponds, situated in a tranquil area adjacent to Jump and Run Creek and Beaver Creek, in close proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway. The St. James Woodworkers Club is our collaborator on this initiative. We extend our gratitude to Brunswick Electric for their generous donation of the utility pole. For more information about the Osprey, please refer to our Birds of Brunswick County resource folder. A progress report will be provided soon.
Bat Nesting Boxes
Awareness is growing about the vital role bats play in our ecosystem, shifting perspectives from past persecution to appreciation. Factors like increased pesticide use, loss of roosting sites, and the decline of foraging resources have raised concerns.
Bats are crucial pollinators for various food crops and contribute significantly to medical research, especially for the visually impaired, who, like bats, utilize echolocation for navigation. As the primary predators of nocturnal insects, bats are invaluable for natural pest control. Their diet includes lacewings, cockroaches, gnats, beetles, moths, and mosquitoes. A single Big Brown Bat can consume between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitoes in one night, and large bat populations can eliminate thousands of tons of harmful pests from forests and neighborhoods each year.
St. James Service Club Grant
The SJC Recycling Committee grant will enable us to establish a garden composting site within the St. James community. In addition, the funds will also be used to provide
educational tools to promote recycling here and in the local elementary Brunswick County schools.
We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon chatting about our programs and projects with key staff members from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Pictured from the left are Gerry Rosenthal, Rosie Tiani, Page Turner (NCWF), Taylor Ryan, Natalie Bohorquez (NCWF), and Ernie McLaney. We take pride in being a conservation partner with NCWF.