The ecosystem of the Francis Marion National Forest provides endless opportunities to view a birds. Nearly 300 species of migratory and non-migratory birds have been documented on the Forest. Salt Marsh on Francis Marion National Forest Red-cockaded woodpeckers live in a social system called a clan. Two to nine birds nest and roost in a group of cavity trees called a colony.
New cavities take the birds months or years to complete.
Since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, forest service employees have aided the birds by creating more than 500 new nesting holes using chainsaws and drills. The woodpecker population recovered nearly to its pre-Hugo numbers until 1995, according to Kiser. The species' population then began to decline slightly a phenomenon currently under study by naturalists, who do not yet know the cause. You can watch birds all across the Forest. For the most rewarding opportunities, go to several key areas that offer ideal access where birdwatching can easily be explored.