Take advantage of the warmer temperatures and lower humidity. Join SIB in learning about birds while enjoying spring in the Lowcountry. Be sure to check out the multiple activities for Global Big Day. These are great ways to learn about our local feathered friends and the growing hobby of birding.
Backyard Birding on Old Drake Drive
When: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 8:00 am-9:30 am
Location: 2908 Old Drake Dr.
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests
Join us for backyard birding at the home of Sally Macdonald. Her yard backs up to Mallard Lake. We will see a lot of shorebirds on the lake and song birds in the trees. She has a busy yard in the morning and maybe if we are lucky, the Pileated Woodpecker will show up. Spring migration has started and we may see or hear many more songbirds. There is plenty of parking in a turn around next door.
As always, be sure to bring your water, binoculars, hats and sunscreen.
Please register no later than Sunday, May 7. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Monday, May 8.
Register here.
May Movie “Bird of Prey”
When: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 4:00 pm (In Person & Zoom)
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center and Zoom
“Bird of Prey”, the multi award-winning feature-length documentary from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, weaves a remarkable story of the world’s rarest eagle species and the heroic individuals working tirelessly to save it. Since its release in 2018, “Bird of Prey” has screened to countless audiences around the world and throughout the Philippines where the film has become an invaluable tool for raising awareness and support for conservation of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle. To learn more about Philippine Eagles and how you can help support their conservation, click here. The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the critically endangered Philippine Eagle, preserving its rainforest habitat, and working with the communities that share its home. In addition to scientific research, public education, and culture-based conservation, they operate the only breeding and rehabilitation facility for the species in the world — the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Davao City. Click here to watch the trailer.
Register here.
Global Big Day – Learning Together, May 13, 2023
When: Saturday, May 13, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location:
8:00 am – 10:00 am Palmetto Lake / Equestrian Center
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Jenkins Point
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm North Beach 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Bobcat Trail / Six Ladies Trail
Max: 12 for each location
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests
On May 13, Cornell Lab and eBird will sponsor Global Big Day. Will you join more than 30,000 others and become a part of Global Big Day? You don’t have to commit to birding for 24 hours—an hour or even 10 minutes of watching birds makes you part of the team. Visit your favorite spot or search out someplace new; enjoy a solo walk or get some friends to join in the Global Big Day fun. As part of this day, Seabrook Island Birders will conduct Learning Together activities at various locations plus offer you an opportunity to request someone to bird with you at your favorite location.
The morning will start at 8:00 am with a Learning Together around Palmetto Lake. This is less than one mile of flat, paved walk around the lake. Historically in May at this location we see Great Crested Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles and Mississippi Kites in addition to the “normal” Great Egrets, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadees, etc. If time permits, we’ll continue on to the Equestrian Center to see European Starlings, Eastern Bluebirds and maybe even Cattle Egret.
At 10:30 am, we will traverse (on bike or car) down Jenkins Point to hopefully see more Egrets, Herons and Anhingas. Low tide is 9:39 am so hopefully we’ll have some shorebirds in the mud flats. Since this activity can be primarily by car, it is a good opportunity for people with mobility issues.
At 2:00 pm, we will visit North Beach which was recently showcased at the Sea Islands Shorebird Festival. We will be looking for the Red Knots that are our guests in April and May, who stop at Seabrook Island to rest and refuel on their long migration from South America to the Arctic to breed. Flocks of 1,000 knots have been seen to date, growing to 5,000 or more as in past years. Wilson’s Plovers can be seen in the critical habitat getting ready to mate and nest. Overall, we hope to spot a nice variety of shorebirds as we work our way to the North Beach inlet. We’ll meet in the Property Owners’ beach parking lot at 2:00 pm. This will get us to the beach near high tide which brings the Red Knots and other shorebirds closer to the shore. Be sure to bring binoculars, camera, hats, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Due to the timing around high tide, wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Of course, you can head back at any time.
At 4:30 pm, we will conclude our day with a walk along Bob Cat Trail with an extension to Six Ladies Trail. Along this trail we should see our local favorite Painted Bunting who likes to hang out at the end of Bob Cat Trail. Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Towhee and Gulls and Egrets should also be seen. Hopefully, we will also see some migratory warblers.
Please register no later than Thursday, May 11, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Friday, May 12.
If you have additional questions about the program, please contact us by sending an email to: SeabrookIslandBirders@gmail.com
Register here.
Learning Together on Golf Course-Crooked Oaks
When: Monday , May 22, 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 Crooked Oaks 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, 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.
Please register no later than Friday prior to the trip. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the 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.
Register here.
Learning Together – Deveaux Bank Watch
When: Thursday, May 25, 2023 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Meet on the beach at Boardwalk 9
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests – Priority will be given to prior waitlisted & members
Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary was established to protect significant roosting and nesting habitats of sea and shorebirds. Located at the mouth of the North Edisto River in Charleston County, Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary encompasses approximately 215 acres and is only accessible by boat. As Deveaux has limited access with restrictions, one of the best ways to see the birds is through a spotting scope from Pelican Beach, accessible via boardwalk 9. Sunset is the best time to see large numbers of birds returning to Deveaux for the night, so bring your beach chair, favorite sunset beverage, and join us to watch this nightly event. Birds most likely to be seen include Brown Pelicans, Least Terns, Royal Terns, Black Skimmers, Sandwich Terns, Laughing Gulls, Willet, and possibly Whimbrel.
If you want to stay and watch the sunset, be sure to bring a chair. Limited parking is available on Seabrook Island Road, beside Boardwalk 9.
Please register no later than one day prior to the trip. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day before the trip. If you need to cancel, please let us know so we can invite people on the waitlist to attend.
Register here.
-Submitted by SIB
(Image credit: SIB)