As the days of summer approach with vacations and visitors, save some time to get outside with your friends, both human and feathered.
We have a new activity for those with visiting youngsters. Check out our 1/2 day camp for 8-15 years old. Pass on your interesting hobby to another generation.
Continue reading for all the activities planned for June – If you are not yet a 2024 SIB member, you must first become a member for only $15 by following the instructions on our website: seabrookislandbirders.org. You may bring the form and your dues to the event, or you may pay the guest fee of $10.
Backyard Birding at Clear Marsh
When: Friday, June 7, 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: 2565 Clear Marsh Road
Max: 20
Cost: Free for 2024 members; $10 donation for guests
Join SIB members at the home of Patricia and Page Schaefer at 2565 Clear Marsh on Seabrook Island on Friday June 7, 5:00-6:30 pm. Their home is on a beautiful wooded lot that has frequent songbird visitors. The Schaefers have a certified Audubon Garden with many bird feeders that attract a large variety of songbirds. As always, be sure to bring your water, binoculars, hats and sunscreen.
Please register no later than Wednesday June 5. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Thursday, June 6. REGISTER: Backyard Birding at Clear Marsh
Beyond Our Backyard at Kiawah River
When: Sunday, June 9, 8:00-11:00 am
Location: Meet at the “bridge” entering the property
Max: 12 people
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests
Learning together at Kiawah River – Join us for another chance to check out birds that can be found on this varied habitat property. We expect to see a large variety of birds including Double-crested Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Osprey and other birds of prey. If we are lucky, we will see an eagle and osprey duel over a fish. As we enter the property, we hope to catch a glimpse of the resident American Coots and Loggerhead Shrikes. We should also see and hear some of the smaller birds like Tufted Titmice, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Cardinals. We will drive to various locations on the property and then walk for better birding observations. Of course, this also gives us a chance to see this neighboring development. High tide is at 11:13 am so our chance for shorebirds along the Kiawah River are limited….but we can hope. As always, be sure to bring your binoculars, hats, water and sunscreen.
Please register no later than Friday, June 7. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day prior to the event. REGISTER: Learning Together – Kiawah River
Learning Together on Golf Course –
Ocean Winds Golf Course
When: Monday June 17, 8:30–10:30 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 summer we can also expect to see Eastern Kingbirds, Great-crested Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Mississippi Kites and more! It’s possible we’ll still be able to see nest activity at the rookery, as well as the chance to see Osprey nests! As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats and sunscreen.
Please register no later than Friday, June 15. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the Sunday, June 16. If you need to cancel, please let us know so we can invite people on the waitlist to attend. REGISTER: Learning Together at Ocean Winds
Sit, Sip and See at Palmetto Lake
When: Monday, June 24, 7:00 pm
Location: Picnic Table at the back of Palmetto Lake near the Playground
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation to SIB for guests
Note: If weather doesn’t cooperate on this evening, we’ll reschedule later in the week so if you are unavailable on Monday, register anyway and put note in comment you wish to be notified if it needs to be rescheduled.
Please join Seabrook Island Birders for an evening of birding and socializing with your favorite beverage at Palmetto Lake. During the hot summer months birds are more active in the early morning and early evening. We thought that this would be a great location to gather and sit and let the birds come to us. At this location, near the playground, we can relax and watch the herons and egrets fly into their favorite roosting area (at least in 2023). It is mesmerizing to observe the different groups fly into the lake area and then maneuver into their spot. There are a few places to sit at the picnic table, but you will probably want to bring a chair in order to get the best view. There will be SIB members available to carry your chair to our location. Birds that we should see coming into the rookery are Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, and White Ibis. We could additionally hear or see woodpeckers, hawks, and passerines.
This is a BYOB and BYOSnacks event. If you are not an experienced birder, this is the perfect opportunity to get some tips on using binoculars, phone apps, and identifying species and bird calls. As always bring your binoculars and hats. No sunscreen required at this event, but you might want to bring bug repellent just in case.
Register no later than Saturday, June 22. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Monday morning, June 24. REGISTER: Sit, Sip and See at Palmetto Lake
Seabrook Island Birders: Half-Day summer camps for kids on feathers and their owners
When: Wednesday June 26 (Note Date Correction from Prior Announcement)
Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center (2241 Oyster Catcher Ct, Seabrook Island, SC 29455)
Max: 12 (If over subscribed a waitlist will be started)
Age: 8 to 15
Cost: No charge for 2024 SIB members children/grandchildren; $10 donation for guest of non-members
This summer Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) is offering something new! Will you have a child or a grandchild between the ages of 8-15 with you on Seabrook Island this summer who might like to learn more about feathers AND BIRDS?? Jane Settle, a retired marine biologist and teacher, avid naturalist, and SIB Shorebird Steward will be offering a fun and informative one-morning camp experience!
This fun time will be filled with activities, inside and outside (subject to no rain). Participants will learn about both feathers ( structure and function) and the birds that “wear them”! Participants will investigate preserved feathers (collected with USFWS permit) with hand magnifiers, draw and color their own pictures of them, play word games, as well as take a walk about and make observations outside along our nearby boardwalks.
This half-day camp will be repeated on Wednesday, July 17 and Wednesday, July 24. Registration for these events will be available on or before June 17, 2024.
Participants in this workshop will do a variety of fun activities to help them learn more about feathers and what they do for their owners!
These include:
* Investigating a variety of feathers, using hand magnifiers
* Identifying parts of different types of feathers and learning the different jobs that they do
* Playing some related word games
* Making a small piece of artwork to take home
* Going on a short birding walk to explore any birds in the surrounding area and pondering what types of feathers they have
WHAT TO BRING:
* Water bottle
* Hat recommended
* WEAR sunscreen
* Binoculars if you have them (there will be a few pairs to share)
* A cooperative attitude
* No Cell Phones Please
A SNACK (including FEATHERS) will be provided!!!
Please register no later than June 21. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the two days prior to the event. If you need to cancel, please let us know so we can invite people on the waitlist to attend. REGISTER: Feathers and Structures
-Submitted by Seabrook Island Birders