by Teri KO4WFP
Friday, September thirteenth, I headed to Pinckney Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge (US-0265) for a POTA activation and was with out Daisy as canines usually are not allowed at this refuge. Pinckney Island is a 4,000+ acre wildlife refuge off Freeway US 278 on the best way to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The refuge consists of 4 islands and quite a few small hammocks with Pinckney Island being the biggest of the islands and the one one open to the general public.
The refuge is known as after Main Normal Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and is one in all seven refuges managed by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Advanced in Savannah, Georgia. Previous to my time as a ham radio operator, I volunteered for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and hung out at 4 – Savannah, Harris Neck, Wassaw Island, and Blackbeard Island – out of the seven refuges they handle. I by no means made it to Pinckney Island so I used to be excited to lastly see this property.
Most of Pinckney Island is accessible by foot or bicycle solely. After parking my automotive within the designated lot, I started climbing to my vacation spot – Ibis Pond, a big pond for waterfowl a few mile from the parking zone.
Simply earlier than I reached the data kiosk, I obtained an ideal have a look at an armadillo doing what most gardeners and garden aficionados hate – tearing up the bottom in the hunt for meals. This mammal eats largely invertebrates together with bugs and particularly likes grubs. They’ve horrible eyesight however eager listening to and I used to be shocked this man or gal let me get as shut as she or he did.
Pinckney island is a crucial hyperlink within the chain of wildlife refuges alongside the Atlantic Flyway and attracts 1000’s of migratory birds annually, in response to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Atlantic Flyway is a serious north-south route for migratory birds and it typically follows the Atlantic Coast of the US.
I noticed and heard many birds whereas visiting the refuge together with a flock of White Ibis feeding within the marsh and tidal flats, a Nice Blue Heron fishing with a Snowy Egret strolling close by, American Coots, a molting male Painted Bunting, crows flying overhead, and I swear I heard a pair of Sandhill Cranes calling to 1 one other at Ibis Pond. I might have spent all day watching the comings and goings of the refuge inhabitants not to mention do a POTA activation.
Nevertheless, I used to be right here for POTA and, briefly order, arrived at Ibis Pond. It’s one in all 5 artifical ponds on the island and exists to protect feeding and nesting areas for birds. The pond has cattails round its edges and far of the water is roofed by duckweed. I figured I might be much less prone to have any human guests if I adopted the path across the pond to the far facet. However I used to be incorrect. Ten to 12 individuals walked by my station whereas there, greater than I normally encounter at any park.
The trail round Ibis Pond was extensive sufficient, nonetheless, that I might arrange my antenna and other people keep away from it. A lot of the bushes right here have been both very tall pines or decrease, scrubby bushes; nonetheless, I discovered a pine with branches low sufficient for me to succeed in with my arbor line. I hadn’t seen any guidelines prohibiting antennas within the bushes so I relied on the Tufteln EFRW antenna as common. (I did carry my AX1 as a backup simply in case.) I really ran it over the department right into a partial inverted V for the reason that branches have been that low.
With Ibis Pond in entrance of me and a view of anybody strolling up the trail, I obtained all the way down to enterprise and shortly found I had no web entry at this park. I do know the RBN is meant to choose me up since I scheduled my activation however nobody responded to my calls on 40 meters. I then moved to twenty meters and Bruce N9DGL discovered me after seven minutes of calling CQ on that band. I requested Glenn W4YES to identify me on the POTA website after which the calls started coming in – six of them in seven minutes. Then, click on, it was like somebody flicked a change – NOTHING!
I known as and known as CQ for 40 minutes. I adjusted my antenna to that of a sloper, the configuration I normally use. I remembered that when 40 – 20 meters do not need nice propagation, generally the upper bands nonetheless work so I moved to 17 meters and gave {that a} go. However all this was for naught and, after quarter-hour on 17 meters, I known as QRT.
What I didn’t notice is a G2 magnetic storm was anticipated that day and it should have hit throughout my activation. Perhaps if I had began earlier within the day, I might have gotten the ten contacts vital for a sound activation. Nevertheless, that might have meant speeding by means of the sights and critters I noticed on the stroll into the refuge and I definitely wouldn’t need to have missed these sightings! Apart from, not getting a sound activation meant I’d want to come back again. Oh woe is me! 😉
As I dismantled and packed away my station, I hatched a plan for my subsequent go to, one thing a bit extra formidable involving the tide and cooler climate. You’ll have to attend for a future article to see how my plan seems.
No legitimate activation for right this moment means I stay at 39 parks out of the 60 legitimate activations I hope to realize for 2024. The place will I’m going for #40 within the meantime since will probably be a month or so earlier than I return to Pinckney Island? Keep tuned…
If you’re , right here is the hyperlink for the activation video on POTA Babe YouTube channel:
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