Shorebird species have seen dramatic declines over the last few decades. Shorebird Stewards educate people about the significance of Seabrook Island for shorebirds and how their actions can help protect shorebirds from further declines. It is not about enforcement, but about education.
Seabrook Island sits at a critical junction for a number of shorebird species. During the spring, birds like Piping Plovers and Red Knots need our beaches to pack on weight in preparation for migration. Banding records have demonstrated that some of the Red Knots visiting Seabrook Island are stopping as part of their annual migration of 9,300 miles from South America to the Arctic. For the past few years, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) staff has attached special transmitters or satellite tags to Red Knots on Seabrook Island and other locations in South Carolina. The transmitter data documented how some Red Knots leave South Carolina and fly non-stop to the Hudson Bay in northern Canada, over 1,200 miles away, before flying even higher into the Canadian arctic to nest.
Other birds, like Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, Willets and American Oystercatchers, use the beach area for nesting and food.
If you are interested in volunteering, no special bird identification skills are required, just a willingness to interact with beachgoers to teach them about the birds and their protection. Our network of volunteers are on the beach for two-hour shifts and enjoy a flexible schedule. We welcome new volunteers to our program each year.
For more information, please email sibstewards@gmail.com or visit our website.
To learn about all of the special interest groups on Seabrook Island, go to tidelinesblog.com, click on “Do You Know” from the drop-down menu, and select “About Special Interest Groups”.
-Submitted by Seabrook Island Birders
(Image credit: Seabrook Island Birders)