Robin Storey

Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC
Nature Photography by Robin Storey

Career: Banking
Family: Husband, Greg, 3 sons and 2 grandchildren, ages 19 & 16
Hometown: New Orleans
Current Town: Hilton Head Island
Passion: Being with family and observing and capturing the beauty of God’s gifts of nature.

You are the president of the Hilton Head Island Land Trust,
tell us about the organization.
The land trust was organized in 1987 with a mission to preserve and protect the natural habitat and significant historical parcels of land on Hilton Head Island for future generations to come. We own or have conservation easements on more than 300 acres of land on Hilton Head.

The HHI Land Trust started the live “eagle cam” of the famous eagle duo, Harriet and Mitch and now, George and Gracie. How did that come about, and what was your role and vision? The opportunity for our first “eagle cam” was brought to us by local Russell Patterson. The idea was to share and educate viewers worldwide about bald eagles, Hilton Head Island, and the importance of how conserving and protecting natural habitats align with the Land Trust mission. Now, who was actually going to be responsible for this project, which includes moderating the website, operating the cameras, creating videos showing highlights and sharing the news of the nesting season? This project was aligned with everything I love to do and an easy answer—me! Our first nest lasted a few years highlighting bald eagles, ospreys and great horned owls but was ultimately destroyed by a couple of tropical storms, so I searched for another nest and coordinated the installation of new cameras. The result is now we enjoy watching George and Gracie’s family.

How many people have viewed the eagle and raptor CAMs as they come back to their same nest on Hilton Head year after year?
Over 2 million people worldwide have viewed the nesting seasons of our raptors.

How can people get involved in the Hilton Head Island Land Trust?
We are a 100 percent volunteer operated organization with members and sponsorships available. People can visit www.hhilandtrust.org to learn more.

You’ve retired twice and are back in corporate America once again.
What do you plan to do when you retire for the third time?
Travel, capture the beauty of nature through photography, paint what’s captured by my camera, and lots of beach time.

It’s such a natural fit for conservation to be important to you because of your love for nature. From where did your “great outdoors” spirit originate?
I have always gravitated to the beach, as I have fond memories of going to my grandparents’ and going to the beach. After being an empty nester, leaving corporate life, and moving to Hilton Head, I bought a camera and have been outside enjoying nature ever since.

You love nature photography.
What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever captured on film?
There are times when I’m so focused on one object, which for me is often a bird, that I get surprised when I look back at the photos. Once, I captured a wonderful shot of a Great Blue Heron, which was my focus, but also captured an alligator with his mouth wide open going after the Great Blue Heron. Another amazing capture was loggerhead hatchlings leaving the nest and heading to the sea.

There is lots of sunshine ahead. Describe your perfect beach day.
A perfect beach day is either right before sunrise or late afternoon on a quiet beach with my husband, a camera, seabirds, and a great book.

You have been married 44 years and have three sons.
Do you and your family have any fun traditions?
We have been blessed to have our grandchildren spend a couple of weeks with us every summer. We also gather at Thanksgiving, and every few years, we have family vacations in new adventurous places.

Your youngest son, Andrew, has special needs and has been able to thrive and be independent. How proud are you of him? What about your other two?
Moving to Hilton Head Island was ideal for Andrew! Living here offers him an independent life, great community support and an easy way to get around. We are so very proud of what he has accomplished! We are equally proud of our other two sons, who both live in Texas. Both are graduates of the University of South Carolina and have excelled in the corporate world. Twenty years ago, we gained a daughter-in-law and are so grateful to have her in our family. We are also proud of our grandchildren, with one attending Ole Miss and one a sophomore in high school.

We’ve heard you’re a reader. What’s your favorite book ever? Do you have a favorite genre?
My favorite book ever is the Bible. For my fun reading, I love an escape with happy endings, romance, and comedy—basically beach reads!

You can Hear Me Roar about…Being kind to one another and being the best steward of our natural habitats, including wildlife, land, and waters, ensuring sustainable use for current and future generations.

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Come Treasure the Island With Us!
All are welcome! If you’re interested in conservancy or the Hilton Head Island Land Trust, please come to the Hilton Head Island Land Trust’s annual fundraiser dinner on April 24, 2026, to be held at the Country Club of Hilton Head. You will learn more about the HHI Land Trust, enjoy a delicious dinner and curated live auction event, and get to meet and hear from our keynote speaker, Aaron Palmieri, Manager of Science and Education at Palmetto Bluff. For more information, please visit www.hhilandtrust.org