History, drones and surveys give undergraduates valuable experience

Doctoral students Akshit Suthar and Crystal Anderson have been working on an umbrella project at the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center at Clemson University's Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science in Georgetown, South Carolina.

As part of their research, Suthar and Anderson co-teach an undergraduate class - Historical Rice Fields and Tidal Wetlands of Coastal South Carolina: Drones, Ducks and Decision Support. In speaking with Jim Anderson, director of the Kennedy Center and the Baruch Institute, Suthar and Crystal Anderson thought it would be good to get the undergrads into the field where they could better understand the wetlands and waterfowl, the history of the antebellum rice fields and the Gullah-Geechee community, as well as assist with data collecting for his and Anderson's research.

Suthar has been using drones for waterfowl research and wetlands management. It is the first waterfowl drone survey conducted in South Carolina. Crystal Anderson is currently conducting a social dimension survey to explore how waterfowl managers, the public and Gullah communities engage with antebellum rice fields and their perspectives on priorities for future management. To deepen their understanding of social surveys, students have been assigned to design their own survey focusing on hunter satisfaction with current hunting rules and regulations.

"We designed the program for students to learn about the history, wildlife ecology and simultaneously they can go in the field and have real-world experience which will help them to be ready for the job market or their master's program in the future," Suthar said. "We teach about the different methodologies and how they can use drones for wildlife research. Also, our social dimension theme helps them design their social surveys and reach out to the people and collect their perceptions about the landscape."

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, the students went to Georgetown where they visited the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, toured Hobcaw Barony and went to Sandy Island where they interacted with the Gullah-Geechee community and concluded their trip with a private visit to the Gullah Museum.

While at the Yawkey Wildlife Center, the students learned the background of what once was a historical rice field impoundment. This structure now continues the legacy established by Tom and Jean Yawkey of conducting pioneering waterfowl, wetlands and wildlife management activities supported by natural resources research. It also provides unique educational opportunities by interpreting the property's diverse cultural and natural history.

"The morning in the Yawkey Wildlife Center was my favorite part," said Sarah Kolarik, a senior wildlife and fisheries biology major from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. "Jamie (Dozier, project leader of Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center) talked to us about management and what waterfowl are eating, and freshwater and saltwater fields and how they manage for that. What really made it memorable for me was just how wild it was. It was just a massive expanse of open land and native plants. I got to watch a northern harrier glide totally silently across the rice field for probably half an hour. There were just so many birds. All you could hear was bird song all around you. I think I'm probably going to hang onto that and carry it with me."

From there, the students toured Hobcaw Barony, a 16,000-acre research reserve with a rich diversity of every ecosystem found on the South Carolina coast. The students explored pine forests, hardwood bottomland forested wetlands, rice fields, a former slave village and coastal marshes. They also collected data using drone-based aerial surveys.

On their final full day, the students visited the Sandy Island Gullah Community where they interacted with the Gullah-Geechee residents to collect social dimension data. They were treated to a traditional Gullah.

"Sandy Island is a really unique place," Kolarik said. "There's land there held by The Nature Conservancy. We got to walk around and look at all the different ecosystems they have on the island, including maritime forests and sand hills. We talked to people who live on Sandy Island. The person leading the tour was Tyler Pratt, who was a Clemson graduate," and currently works for the University of South Carolina on shared property with Clemson and Hobcaw Barony.

That evening, the students had dinner with Jim Anderson at The Root in the historic waterfront of Georgetown where they discussed the course and future career objectives.

Before returning to Clemson, the students stopped for a private tour of the Gullah Museum, led by Janette Rodrigues and her sister Beatrice. The students were given a comprehensive overview of Gullah history, language and culture, and were able to view art pieces associated with Gullah life. Suthar and Crystal Anderson said the trip gave the class a unique perspective into the program and the research being conducted on antebellum rice fields.

"They learned about the history and the wildlife ecology," Suthar said. "They also learned about the management. Many programs just take you into the field and you completely learn about the ecology or research. But they do not consider the social dimension. They also do not consider the management perspectives.

"But on this trip, they experienced the people. They experienced the food. They experienced the culture. They experienced the exact area where these people used to work. This trip was more of an experience and holistic approach, how you can have ecology with imaging technology and human dimension."

Hannah Kern, a junior from Charleston, South Carolina, majoring in environmental and natural resources, said the trip was invaluable.

"It was cool to get my name out there as a junior undergraduate and to be able to meet with so many different people," Kern said. "I learned how to interact in those research environments. So much stuff is taught in class, but this was the first time that I was in a meeting where we talked and learned how to interact in those conference rooms. I got to see a lot more about what I want to do and don't want to do post-grad."

Kern said she also got a chance to connect with members of her research team. Prior to the trip, most of their interactions were through text messages or via Zoom.

"Being able to stay in the cabin together at Hobcaw Barony was a fantastic experience and we got so much done with our research because we were able to communicate with each other the whole time."

After compiling the data collected for the social dimension survey on hunter satisfaction, the students will have their findings published and they will be listed as co-authors, a rare experience for undergraduates.

For the drone survey, they collected aerial images of the waterfowl and merged the color images with the thermal image, calculating and counting the bars using both images.

"I've also gotten a recreational drone pilot license, which is a good step up," Kolarik said. "The next one would be a commercial drone pilot license and that would be valuable and applicable to my future as a wildlife biologist. These things are preparing me for either continuing in academia or going straight into the workforce. I've gained a lot."