A photo by Patricia Roche depicting a Great Blue Heron at Hunting Island State Park was chosen for the cover of the 2013 Beaufort County Land Preservation Calendar.
The 2013 calendar theme is “Beaufort County Birds and Their Habitats” and is intended to show how the

[caption id="attachment_8203" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Calendar-Mr-Charlie-Hunting-Island-Pat-Roche.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8203" title="Calendar-Mr Charlie Hunting Island  Pat Roche" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Calendar-Mr-Charlie-Hunting-Island-Pat-Roche-300x265.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="265" /></a> "Mr Charlie at Hunting Island" by Pat Roche.[/caption]

county’s land preservation program benefits wildlife as well as people, the environment, waterways and the local economy.
Other winning photographers include:
• Fran Baer of Hilton Head Island
• Tom Brady of Dataw Island
• Bill Bosley of Hilton Head Island
• Ed Crenshaw of Hilton Head Island
• Richard de Asla of Bluffton
• Richard Henry of Callawassie Island
• Sue Jarrett of Beaufort
• Zeke Jordan of Hilton Head Island
• Ed Kelly of Oldfield Plantation
• Chris Kirk of St. Helena Island (two wining photos)
• Joanne Long of Bluffton
• David Shipper of Beaufort
• Mary Kay Taylor of Hilton Head Island.
The 2013 calendar will include pages for January and February, 2014, which allows for two additional winning photos. County Administrator Gary Kubic said selecting them was a huge challenge.
“Imagine choosing just 15 winners from more than 200 spectacular pictures! The exceptionalism of our local photographers never ceases to amaze me,” he said.
The 2013 calendar is being produced in partnership with three local Audubon clubs. Pete Richards, President of the Fripp Island Audubon Club, said birders represent the largest recreational group in the nation.
“Beaufort County offers some of the most diverse birding opportunities and unique habitats anywhere in America. Protecting habitat through land preservation is vital,” Richards said.
The 2013 calendar will sell for $15 and all proceeds benefit the County’s Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program. Calendars may be pre-ordered online at the county website, www.bcgov.net.