Explorers Club members prepare to search Sparkleberry Swamp for the ivory–billed woodpecker: (first row, l–r) Janie Stancyk, Dr. John Safko, John Safko Jr., Pat Bright, Ginny Newell, Dr. Ernest McCutcheon, John Cox, Ginnie Saunders, Dr. Warner M. Montgomery, (second row) Nena Powell Rice, David Stancyk, Scott Powell, Marion Rice, Linda Sosbee (holding Explorers Club flag), Dale Boozer, Dr. Billy Moore, Weezie Palmer, Jerry Bright, and John Cely. Photograph by Amanda Taylor Just 50 miles southeast of Columbia, there’s a true natural treasure that’s unknown to many Columbians. Pristine, brimming with wildlife, and publicly accessible, the Sparkleberry Swamp is a great place for boating, fishing, camping, and enjoying nature.

On April 9, 2005, the Greater Piedmont Chapter of the Explorers Club experienced the splendor of this swamp in a kayaking /bird–watching expedition led by Jerry Bright and John Cely.

At 10 am at Sparkleberry Landing, 20 club members and guests cranked up their paddles and headed south through the swamp. Many members brought along a camera or binoculars to better experience the diverse wildlife of the swamp.

During the seven-–hour trip, the kayakers saw many types of fauna, including snowy egrets, great blue herons, anhinga, Acadian flycatchers, prothonotary warblers, and brown water snakes. They also saw several osprey and their rookeries. One kayaker even noted a peculiar stump that closely resembled a monkey.

The Explorers also enjoyed the flora of the swamp. The Spanish moss laden bald cypress trees that delineate pathways through the swamp were most notable. Many Explorers also took note of elephant ear, loblolly pine, mistletoe, swamp tupelo, water hychanth, white water lilies, and yellow Jessamine.

In addition to observing the flora and fauna, the Explorers did their part to preserve them. After a short lunch break at one of the few accessible banks of the swamp, the Explorers collected bags of other people’s litter from the campsite. It was their goal to leave the swamp in better condition than they found it.

Sparkleberry Swamp is a 16,000–acre tract of land in the eastern portion of the Upper Santee Swamp. It is bordered on the north where the Congaree and Wateree rivers meet, and is bordered on the south by the Rimini–Lone Star railroad trestle.

Before 1942 when the Lake Marion Dam was completed, Sparkleberry swamp was similar to the Congaree Swamp in that it had more dry land than wet. Now the situation is reversed, and the swamp is permanently inundated with water. This significantly altered the original habitat of the swamp but has done nothing to detract from its natural beauty.

The Explorers’ next expedition will be to hike the Palmetto Trail. Information is available from Warner Montgomery 803-771-0219 or warnerm@sc.rr.com