SIB February Activities

Celebrate Valentine’s Day and the coming of spring with one or more of SIB’s many activities.

Beyond our Backyard: Hollings ACE Basin and Roxbury Park

When: Saturday, February 4, 2023, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm (roundtrip from Seabrook Island)
Leave Seabrook Real Estate: 7:30 am
Hollings Ace Basin: 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Lunch: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Bird Roxbury Park: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Location: Meet at Real Estate parking lot at 7:30 am to carpool to Hollings ACE Basin
Max: 12
Cost: None for members; $10 donation for guests

The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is a 11,815-acre portion of the larger ACE Basin area, and the only portions that are federally protected. The wildlife refuge is divided into two units: the Edisto River unit and the Combahee River unit. We will be visiting the Edisto River unit which has portions closed in the winter to provide a safe resting area for the ducks during the hunt season. Therefore, the ducks may be at a distance. Although it was closed when we visited in November, 44 species were seen including Blue Winged Teals, Gadwalls and Shovelers. A pair of nesting American Eagles are also on a nest at the facility in the open area. Expect to walk approximately three miles on flat terrain. There are restrooms on the property but it is uncertain whether or not they will be open.

You may pack a lunch to eat at either Hollings ACE Basin or Roxbury Park or you can join the group and eat at Roxbury Mercantile. This previous country store 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. The diversity of its ecosystem makes Roxbury Park a special place to visit. 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 participate in either the morning at Hollings ACE Basin or both. If you wish to only do Hollings Ace Basin, please let us know as you will have to provide your own transportation.

Be sure to bring binoculars, camera, hats, sunscreen, bug repellant, snacks and water.

Please register no later than Thursday, February 2, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

SIB Shorebird Steward Field Training

When: Wednesday, Feb. 8, 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: Boardwalk 1 parking lot
Max: None
Cost: Free to members and guests

Previously trained Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards need to participate in a “Field Training” session prior to serving as a Steward this year. The training will update past Stewards on the changes to the website, beach rules, and equipment available for use while on the beach.

February Movie

Scott Weidensaul, “A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds“

When: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: Zoom Only

Watch the replay of the Zoom event featuring Scott Weidensaul, a renowned bird migration expert, and author of more than two dozen books on natural history. These include New York Times bestseller “A World on the Wing,” and Pulitzer Prize finalist “Living on the Wind.” He’s a contributing editor for Audubon and is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society. An active field researcher, his studies of migration have taken him all around the world.

Learning Together at North Beach

When: Wednesday February 15, 2023, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Meet at Boardwalk # 1 parking lot
Max: None
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB to bird at Seabrook Island’s North Beach. This three-mile round trip walk travels from Boardwalk #1 to the tip of North Beach along Captain Sams Inlet as high tide approaches. Birders from beginners to advanced 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. However, there should be spotting scopes available for viewing if you don’t have one. Bring plenty to drink and a snack if desired. There are no facilities.

Please register no later than February 13. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on February 14, the day prior to the trip.

Beyond Our Backyard: Bear Island/Donnelly WMA

When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30 am– 4:00 pm
Location: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to carpool at 5:30 am
(or meet at Mary’s Pond at 7:00 am)
Max: 10
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

If you have never been to Bear Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) or to Donnelly WMA, you won’t want to miss this opportunity – it’s well worth the 60-mile one-way trip! Part of the ACE Basin, this area is perfect habitat for birds with ponds, rivers, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, mudflats, mixed pine-hardwood forest and farmland. Most of the birding is done by car with stops to get out and take short walks for viewing. Bear Island closes for hunting from November 1 – February 9 each year, so this is an early chance to visit. We hope the winter waterfowl will still be present including the Tundra Swan.

Each person should bring their own lunch, snacks and beverages, as there are no restaurants (nor restrooms) in the area. Also, be sure to bring sunblock, bug spray, a hat, binoculars, camera and a scope if you have one.

Please register no later than February 14, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

Backyard Birding at the Boat Ramp

Join SIB members near the home of Melanie and Robert Jerome at the boat ramp on Creek Watch Trace on Seabrook Island on Friday, Feb 17, 2023 at 8:00 am. You will have views of the marsh and river, with many shore birds, Spotted Sandpipers, Egrets, Herons, Marsh Wrens, and many songbirds. We may possibly see the otters that like to come out at high tide. The marsh by the fire station may have some additional birds. There will be seats available to sit and bird or a group can go walking. Bring binoculars and bug spray. The limit is 12-15 people.

Please register no later than February 15. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Thursday, February 16.

Great Backyard Bird Count

When: Sunday, February 19, 2023, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Various locations around Seabrook Island
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Connect with birds, nature, and each other! Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join Audubon and SIB, February 17–20, 2023, when the world comes together for the love of birds. SIB’s organized GBBC activities will be on Sunday.

You can also do your own birding and submit your findings. This birding can be any time (and as many times) between 12:01 am, February 17 through 11:59 pm, February 20. Follow the steps below:

Step 1 – Decide where you will watch birds.
Step 2 – Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 17-20, 2023.
Step 3 – Count all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings (either Merlin or eBird). If you use eBird, “share” your eBird list with SIBeBird so we can compile a list for all of Seabrook.

Join us in participating in Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count. The day will involve walks at various locations throughout the day. The schedule below allows for individuals to sign up for a portion of the day if the whole day is not of interest. We request you register for all sections you will be attending so we know if we should wait for you at any individual location.

Between locations listed below and as time permits, we’ll stop by members’ yards to see what they have at their feeders. Unfortunately, these will be unscheduled visits since duration of each location below needs to be somewhat flexible based upon what’s being seen. We do provide you with an opportunity to enter your address if you’d like us to include you on our list.

– Maintenance Area /Equestrian Center, 8:00 am -9:30 am
We’ll start at the Garden parking lot. We will walk through the Club Maintenance area and look over the fence to the retention ponds of the Water Treatment Facility. In this area we hope to see Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, songbirds and sparrows. From there, we will walk along the horse trail (or drive) to the Equestrian Center to see Starlings and Cowbirds plus numerous other birds that can be expected there.

– Palmetto Lake, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Join us to explore the birds around The Lake House and the walks of Palmetto Lake. This is less than one mile of flat, paved walk around the lake.

– Boardwalk 8 with views to Deveaux Bank, 1:00 pm -2:00 pm
We will meet at the viewing area at Boardwalk 8 to extend our backyard to the beach and Deveaux Bank. Low tide is at 1:28 pm so we hope to see shorebirds without having the longer walk of North Beach. With scopes, we’ll look towards Deveaux Bank to hopefully see White Pelicans and other birds that roost there.

– Jenkin’s Point, 3:00 pm -5:00 pm
We will be exploring the birds seen along Jenkins Point lagoons and streets, including ducks, wading birds and shorebirds. Since this event will be primarily by car, it is appropriate for members with mobility issues. You may also join us on your bicycle, if you wish.

For all events, bring sun block, bug spray, a hat, water, snacks and binoculars.

Please register and let us know which portions you plan to attend no later than Thursday, February 16, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Friday, February 17, 2023.

Learning Together on Golf Course Ocean Winds

When: Monday, February 20, 2023, 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; $10 donation for guests – Priority will be given to prior waitlisted & members

The Seabrook Island Club closes one course a day, each week 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 fall/winter, we can also expect to see Eastern Phoebes, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Belted Kingfishers, Double-crested Cormorants, Bald Eagles, 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.

Please register no later than Friday prior to the trip. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Sunday, the day prior to the trip. If you need to cancel, please let us know so we can invite people on the waitlist to attend.

SIB Shorebird Steward Training: Part One

When: Friday, Feb. 24, 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center. Note: this training will be followed with a light lunch and then field training on the beach.
Max: None
Cost: Free for members and guests

The Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards perform a significant service to the shorebirds that visit or nest on Seabrook Island. No special skills are needed to be a Shorebird Steward, just a willingness to spend time on the beach interacting with beach walkers. Volunteers spend two-hour shifts on the beach greeting beachgoers and educating them about the shorebirds and how to protect shorebirds from disturbance. The Stewards can be on the beach any day between March 1 and May 25. If shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, or Wilson’s Plover nest on Seabrook Island, the season may extend through around July 4. Stewards schedule as many or as few two-hour shifts as they are willing to work. Each shift can have two people. The training is for new and returning Shorebird Stewards and is in two parts. The session on Friday, February 24 is indoors and provided by the South Carolina Audubon. It focuses on why Stewards are so essential and valuable. Participants will learn how to interact with people, be introduced to the educational material available to use while on the beach and discover information about the birds they might see. After the morning session, people are invited to enjoy a light lunch and then participate in field training.

Additional field training will occur on North Beach on the following day, February 25, 2023, from 10 am to 12 pm and any additional days when people can participate.

Please register no later than February 21, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

SIB Shorebird Steward Training: Part Two

When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center
Max: None
Cost: Free for members and guests

The Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards perform a significant service to the shorebirds that visit or nest on Seabrook Island. No special skills are needed to be a Shorebird Steward, just a willingness to spend time on the beach interacting with beach walkers. Volunteers spend two-hour shifts on the beach greeting beachgoers and educating them about the shorebirds and how to protect shorebirds from disturbance. The Stewards can be on the beach any day between March 1 and May 25. If shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, or Wilson’s Plover nest on Seabrook Island, the season may extend through around July 4. Stewards schedule as many as or as few as two-hour shifts as they are willing to work. Each shift can have two people.