Conservation and Management: Fields

Fields have been a part of Spring Island for centuries. Past owners of Spring Island grew Sea Island cotton and other crops. The numerous small fields scattered around the islands were created by the Walkers when Spring Island was managed as a hunting plantation. Many of these fields still are maintained. Summer crops traditionally include millet, sorghum, buckwheat, corn, and sunflowers. Dominant winter crops include winter wheat and naked oats.

The wildlife enjoy the fields, but we primarily plant for aesthetics. That rural sense of place is an important part of the cultural history of the island. Not all fields are planted; many are managed as meadows at different successional stages. Fields are disked every few years to create excellent “bugging fields.” The "weeds" that are allowed to grow are important host plants for grasshoppers and caterpillars which, in turn, are the major source of protein for fledgling songbirds, quail, and wild turkey.

Besides disking, fire is another tool we regularly use to maintain our fields. Fire is more effective than mowing at providing quality wildlife habitat because it creates a variety of microhabitats ranging from bare soil (where the fire burns hot) to scattered shrubs that survive the flames. In the second growing season (after a burn) these fields provide the best habitat for nesting blue grosbeaks, buntings, and chats because they contain both annual weeds, (which provide bugging areas) and shrubs in which to nest.