Favored by hundreds of thousands of birds that migrate to South Carolina after wintering in South America, the Audubon’s Francis Beidler Forest was recognized as an Important Bird Area in 2001 and in 2008 was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Encompassing over 15,000 acres, this site is home to the largest remaining virgin forest of bald cypress and tupelo gum trees in the world, including 1500 year-old trees long vanished from the rest of North America. Audubon has managed the forest sanctuary for 35 years.

Embedded in a matrix of old growth and maturing bottomland hardwood, all bordered by strips and blocks of upland forest habitats, Beidler Forest is a large fraction of the much larger Four Holes Swamp drainage system, spanning 60 miles in length. The land within this site is primarily used for wildlife conservation and education and secondarily for recreation and tourism.

The Audubon Center at Beidler Forest offers a full range of environmental educational opportunities. In 2007 over 12,000 people visited the Center, contributing to the National Audubon Society’s nationwide effort to connect people with nature

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Information about Visiting Beidler Forest, Beidler Blog, or Watch the Feature Video

Some of the 140 bird species that nest or make migratory stops in Beidler are on Audubon’s list of Common Birds in Decline., including Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Meadowlark, Loggerhead Shrike, Field Sparrow, Common Grackle, Whip-poor-will, and Little Blue Heron. The forest’s Red-headed Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite, Wood Thrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Painted Bunting, Rusty Blackbird, and Swainson’s Warbler are on the Audubon WatchList.

Beidler Forest supports a unique species assemblage, with its vast stand of rare Bald Cypress Tupelo Gum Blackwater Swamp, embedded in the matrix of 5,300 acres of mature second growth forest. Large numbers of colonial waterbirds, including Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Anhinga and White Ibis, concentrate here, and the site also supports a great diversity of landbirds. Over 25 years of spring breeding bird survey data demonstrate that this site supports some of the most dense nesting populations of song birds in the Eastern US, with nesting Hooded Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Kentucky Warbler, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, to name a few. The site is also an important research area, with long-term breeding bird studies conducted since 1979.

Serious Conservation Threats are deforestation (upstream), accelerating adjacent and nearby land use changes and continued impoundment of small tributary streams. Other conservation problems are overgrazing by White-tailed Deer, introduced species (alligator weed, kudzu and feral hogs), bird disturbance (low-flying aircraft), non-point source pollution, and mining by the nearby cement plants. Potential problems include a proposed nearby auto speedway, widening bridges and road fills caused by Port of Charleston expansion and over-extraction of groundwater. Conservation Measures Taken, in Progress or Proposed: Re-establishment of 3 small long-leaf pine stands; 20 large culverts recently installed in a 1960's logging road to restore natural hydrology; continual procurement of wetlands and upland habitats to increase overall size and complexity of the preserve and buffer the wetlands; educating private landowners about the importance of their lands (and the management of their lands) to the maintenance and enhancement of the Four Hole Swamp natural system