Beyond Our Backyard – Charles Towne Landing Historic Site
When: Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Meet at Seabrook Island Real Estate to carpool at 8:00 am
Meet at Charles Towne Landing at 9:00 am
Lunch option after birding: Ms. Rose’s Fine Food and Cocktails
Max: 16
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation for guests
Park Admission: $12 Adult; $7.50 SC Senior
Join SIB to bird at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site sits on a marshy point, located off the Ashley River, where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what would become the birthplace of the Carolina colony. The significant features of the site include river and marsh views, majestic oaks and magnolias and 80 acres of English park gardens. Wildlife you may see at the park include the threatened wood storks, alligators and various coastal wading birds in the wild.
We will bird along the trails and marshes. After the organized walk, you can visit the Animal Forest (included in admission) to see animals that once inhabited the Charleston area such as bison, puma, black bear, otters, various shore birds, wild turkey and more.
In 2021, some SIB members did this walk and enjoyed watching a Great Horned Owl with it’s branching offspring. eBird shows 134 species seen during the spring at this hot spot. The diverse environment provides for shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, and song birds.
For the end of our morning, for those interested, we plan to make a lunch stop at the nearby Ms. Rose’s Fine Food and Cocktails.
As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats, sunscreen and bug spray. We ask that all participants wear a mask when unable to social distance.
March Movie – “Migrating Birds: Scouts of Distant Worlds”
Scientists have long wondered, why do birds go through the hardships of migration year after year? Today, they face special challenges. Billions perish every year while migrating, dying of hunger, thirst, exhaustion and environmental poisons.
When: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 4:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Location: Zoom & TBD In-person
Watch the Trailer here
Register here
Beyond our Backyard – Botany Bay and Roxbury Park
When: Saturday, March 12, 2022, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm (roundtrip from Seabrook Island)
Leave Seabrook Real Estate: 7:30 am
Botany Bay: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lunch: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Bird Roxbury Park: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Meet at Seabrook Island Real Estate parking lot at 7:30 am to carpool to Botany Bay with start time at 9:00 am with low tide approximately at 9:30 am.
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation for guests
Enjoy the diverse bird population of Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA). We will meet at the kiosk at the entrance to Botany Bay then caravan around the area. We will stop at various locations and walk to see birds not visible from the dirt roads. The event is timed to allow a walk on the boardwalk across the marsh then on to the boneyard beach near low tide. From the beach, we will be able to see shorebirds as well as Deveaux Bank and Seabrook Island across the river. Scoters and loons may be seen in this location. Please note that this is a very remote area as it is a WMA and there are no facilities such as restrooms.
You may pack a lunch to eat at either Botany Bay or Roxbury Park or you can join the group and eat at Roxbury Mercantile (http://roxburymercantile.com/). It now has both inside and outside dining offering “Lowcountry cuisine”.
In the afternoon, we will make the short trip from Roxbury Mercantile to Roxbury Park. Roxbury Park is owned and managed by the Town of Meggett, SC. What makes Roxbury Park such a special place is the diversity of it’s ecosystem. Visitors to the park can see and experience eight distinctively unique habitats that attract and support an amazing variety of wildlife. The park is open year round but only on Saturdays and Sundays. There is a portable restroom located in the parking area.
Participants may opt for only the morning at Botany Bay or both. If you wish to only do Botany Bay, we ask you just let us know and provide your own transportation.
Be sure to bring binoculars, camera, hats, sunscreen, bug repellant, snacks and water.
Register here
Learning Together at North Beach
When: Sunday, March 13, 2022, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Meet at boardwalk # 1 parking lot
Max: none
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation for guests
Join SIB to bird at Seabrook Island’s North Beach. This three mile round trip walk travels from Board Walk #1 to the tip of North Beach along Captain Sams Inlet as high tide approaches. Birders from beginners to advanced birders will enjoy the variety of birds found on North Beach. At this time, many different species of shorebirds rest and feed near the point or along the beach ridge near the beach’s pond. Along the way, we will explore the many different species that can be found in this unique area.
As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats and sunscreen. Bring a spotting scope if you have one. There should be spotting scopes available for viewing. Bring plenty to drink and a snack if desired. There are no facilities. We ask that all participants wear a mask when unable to social distance if they are not vaccinated.
Register here
Learning Together-Palmetto Lake
When: Thursday, March 17, 2022, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Meet at equestrian end of The Lake House parking lot
Max: 15
Cost: Free for members, $5 for guests
Celebrate St. Partrick’s Day by participating in a green event of bird watching! Join the Seabrook Island Birders for a leisurely walk around Palmetto Lake. We plan to walk part way along the path towards the Equestrian Center then hopefully see the “white birds” come in to roost for the evening. The path around Palmetto Lake is wheelchair navigable and for those walking, it will be approximately a quarter of a mile. As we walk along Seabrook Island Road, we hope to see some of our resident winter warblers such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers and Black and White Warblers. We also expect to see a large variety of birds including Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Herons and birds of prey. If the “white birds” get the invitation, we hope to see Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and White Ibis roosting for the evening. Hooded Mergansers, Pie-billed Grebes and Buffleheads may be seen swimming in the lake.
Dress in layers and bring your binoculars, hats, and a beverage of choice. You may also wish to bring a chair to sit and enjoy your beverage while watching the birds coming in for their evening roost.
Register here
In-person Evening Program
Rescheduled – March 22, 2022
SIB Presents the Center for Birds of Prey
When: Tuesday March 22, 2022
Registration starts 7:00 pm; Program starts 7:30 pm
Location: Live Oak Hall, The Lake House
Cost: Members $5.00
Max: Limited to 100 members
Stephen Schabel, Center for Birds of Prey Director of Education, once again brings the Center’s amazing raptors to The Lake House. We’ll witness the interesting and important world of raptors through this unique indoor program. Stephen’s engaging discussion, along with watching the birds in action, will give us a wonderful education of these majestic creatures and the significant role they play as apex avian predators.
The program is limited to 100 SIB members. SIPOA COVID protocol will be followed – masks required in Live Oak Hall, masks and physical distancing recommended while traversing other indoor space. No refreshments will be served.
Meet the speaker: Stephen Schabel, Director of Education
A native of South Carolina, Stephen joined the Center in 2003 after completing his M.S. degree in Environmental Policy at the College of Charleston. Prior to graduate school, he spent several years exploring various teaching opportunities outside the traditional classroom, as well as a career as an accomplished mandolin player and vocalist for a variety of groups in the Charleston area. Stephen’s background in education and environmental policy along with his lifelong passion for the outdoors -especially birds – offers a unique and relevant foundation for his role as Director of Education. Stephen oversees the care, husbandry, and training of the Center’s educational resident bird collection as well as the design and implementation of conservation education programs offered by the Center throughout South Carolina and beyond. Stephen particularly enjoys the aspects of “lure flying” falcons and conversing one on one with visitors about issues related to the conservation of birds and other wildlife.
Register here
Learning Together on Ocean Winds Golf Course
When: Monday Monday, March 28, 2022, 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Location: Meet at Island House (golf course parking lot next to Spinnaker Beach Houses) for ride along the golf course in golf carts
Max: 24 (If all seats in golf carts are used)
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation for guests – Priority will be given to prior waitlisted & members
The Seabrook Island Club closes one course every Monday and allows Seabrook Island Birders to use golf carts to travel the course with our members to bird. Join us for a morning of birding by riding in golf carts for at least 9-holes on Ocean Winds golf course. We expect to see a large variety of birds including Egrets, Herons and birds of prey. We will also see and hear some of the smaller birds like Tufted Titmice, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens and some of the many warbler species.
Since it is spring/summer, we can also expect to see Eastern Kingbirds, Great-crested Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Mississippi Kites and more!
As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats and sunscreen. Water will be provided. We ask that all participants wear a mask when unable to social distance if they are not vaccinated.
Register here
Learning Together-Biking and Birding on Seabrook Island
When: Thursday, March 31, 2022, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (with optional lunch at Bohicket Marina)
Location: Meet at The Lake House pool parking lot
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation for guests
Join Seabrook Island Birders for a morning of Learning Together while Biking and Birding on Seabrook Island. This will be a slow six plus mile bike ride around the north part of the island with frequent stops as we see or hear the many and varied birds on the island. We will meet at the outdoor pool end of the parking lot at the The Lake House and leisurely ride through the more quiet roads in the center of the island where there are many trees and ponds. Then, continue over to the areas around the Crab Dock to Marsh Haven Drive to check out areas around the marsh. We will then ride the Old Drake Drive loop and back to the center roads to return to The Lake House. On this route we can hope to see warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, wading birds, and hopefully ducks.
There is an option for the group to continue our ride to Bohicket Marina for lunch at Salty Dog or the Salty Dog Ice Cream shop or bring-your-own-lunch to enjoy while looking for more birds at the marina.
Bike helmets are strongly encouraged. Be sure to bring binoculars, camera, hats, sunscreen, bug repellant, snacks and water.
Register here
-Submitted by SIB
(Image credit; SIB)