SIB – Tidelines

Shorebirds Celebration Week May 7 – May 13

Don’t forget to register for the events May 11 and 12. There are still a few spots left!

This year is quite special because this past April, Mayor Gregg announced that the Town Council for the Town of Seabrook Island has voted to proclaim May 7 – May 13, 2023, as the first ever Shorebirds Celebration Week!

Come out May 11 and 12 on Seabrook and Kiawah Islands to join conservationists, researchers, and outdoor enthusiasts to celebrate. Learn how you can make a difference in protecting these vulnerable populations.

-Submitted by Town of Seabrook Island

*For more information, see previous Tidelines post here.

(Image credit Ed Konrad via seabrookislandbirders.org)

Celebrate Shorebirds at the May 11-12 Sea Islands Shorebird Festival!

Register now for the Evening Programs and Breakfast. Registration cutoff is May 5!

American Oystercatcher

Spaces are still available for:

Birder’s Breakfast – Thursday, May 11, 9:00-10:00 am – The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island
Red Knot Reception – Thursday, May 11, 5:30-7:30 pm – The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island
*Feather Fest – Friday, May 12, 12:00-4:00 pm – Kiawah Island Municipal Center
Birds of the Inlet – Friday, May 12, 7:00-9:00 pm – The Lake House, Seabrook Island

Preregistration is required. Use the QR codes below to register for these programs and view the festival website:

When registering, look for these three programs on the menu: Birder’s Breakfast, Red Knot Reception, Birds of the Inlet. There is space available to attend each. Bypass all the bird walks on the menu that say “sold out.”

*Feather Fest is open to all – no preregistration is required.

Sea Islands Festival and Program Highlights

The first-ever Sea Islands Shorebird Festival will be held May 11 and 12, 2023, on Seabrook and Kiawah Islands. Join conservationists, researchers, and outdoor enthusiasts to celebrate our coastal birds and learn how we can make a difference in protecting their vulnerable populations. The Festival’s informative programs will highlight the amazing lives of Red Knots and other migrating and nesting shorebirds that depend on the critical habitat that our beaches provide.

The Festival kicks off Thursday with the Birder’s Breakfast, 9:00 -10:00 am at The Sandcastle on Kiawah Island. Participants will enjoy light refreshments and coffee, learn about the unique geography of Seabrook and Kiawah Islands, and our islands’ significance for the survival of shorebirds. While mingling with fellow conservationists, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the festival with exciting visuals of the area’s beautiful bird life – all from the comfort of a beachfront porch!

The Red Knot Reception, Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm at The Sandcastle on Kiawah Island, will include wine, hors d’oeuvres, and learning more about Red Knots. The evening will provide in-depth knowledge through presentations, a new short-film documentary, and a panel discussion from coastal bird experts in the southeast. The audience will be able to participate in the panel discussion and socialize with these experts.

From 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm Friday, the family-friendly Feather Fest will continue the celebration with local artists, photographers, painters, authors, and crafters showcasing the magnificent beauty of these animals through various mediums. This event will be at the Kiawah Island Municipal Center. Enjoy food from the Smokin’ Gringo’s food truck, participate in outdoor kid’s activities and revel in the creativity of the vendors as you learn more about shorebird conservation.

The finale to the Festival is the Birds of the Inlet Reception on Friday, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at The Lake House on Seabrook Island. This program will feature four different speakers, each unveiling a different aspect of the importance of the local habitat for coastal birds. Along with a wealth of ornithological knowledge and the region’s best biologists, the evening will also include after-dinner bites and refreshments.

Whimbrel

The lineup of expert speakers for the Festival and evening programs includes:

Felicia Sanders – Coastal Bird Program Coordinator, SC Department of Natural Resources
Abby Sterling – Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative Director, Manomet
Benjamin Clock – Multimedia Conservationist, Clock Conservation Multimedia
Aaron Given – Assistant Wildlife Biologist, Town of Kiawah
Janet Thibault – Wildlife Biologist, SC Department of Natural Resources
Melissa Chaplin – Endangered Species Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Maina Handmaker – PhD Candidate, University of Massachusetts- Amherst

Wilson’s Plover

Black Skimmer

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: Ed Konrad)

May SIB Activities

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB April Activities

It’s not bunnies, but birds we are hunting this month.
As spring is in the air, Seabrook Island Birders are excited
about migration and new life from our resident birds.
Join us for some fresh air and learning about our feathered friends.

Learning Together at North Beach

When: Saturday, April 1, 2023, 10:00 am – 12:00 am
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 March 30. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on March 31, the day prior to the trip.

Learning Together-Palmetto Lake

When: Thursday, April 6, 6:00 pm– 7:30 pm
Location: Meet at Equestrian end of The Lake House parking lot
Max: 15
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join the Seabrook Island Birders for a leisurely walk around Palmetto Lake. The path around Palmetto Lake is wheelchair navigable and for those walking it will be less than a half a mile. As we walk along the path going towards the Equestrian Center, we hope to see Cat Birds and Brown Thrashers hiding in the thicket. In this area we always see the Mockingbirds, Northern Cardinals, Carolina and House Wrens, Bluebirds and perhaps the last of the season Yellow Rumps and Palm Warblers. Looking into Palmetto Lake we are likely to see Anhingas, Double-crested Cormorants, terns, gulls, Night Herons and possibly Green Herons that might be beginning to nest in the shrubs around the lake. At the back side of the path we hope to see and hear vireos, early arriving spring warblers like the Northern Parula, and year round resident warblers like the Black and White Warbler and Yellow-throated Warbler. If the “white birds” get the invitation, we can expect to see Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and White Ibis roosting for the evening. There’s also the possibility of a Roseate or raptor flyover.

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. Sunset is 7:44 pm so timing will hopefully be good before the coming time change.

Please register no later than Tuesday, April 4 All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Wednesday, the day prior to the activity.

April Movie

“Bringing Nature Home: The Importance of Native Plants”

When: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center and Zoom

“Bringing Nature Home: The Importance of Native Plants”is one of a 6-session webinar series focused on the ecological roles of native plants and some of the creatures that depend on them. On this webinar, Doug Tallamy, author and professor, The University of Delaware will focus on the benefits of native plants to create a welcoming environment for the fauna it supports. This series was sponsored by The Ohio State University Department of Entomology and The Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens, and is funded in part by a USDA/NIFA Integrated Pest Management Pollinator Health grant.

Beyond our Backyard: Congaree National Park

When: Friday, April 14, 2023, 6:30 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Meet at SI Real Estate parking lot at 6:30 am to carpool or meet at Harry Hampton Visitor Center, Congaree Park 9:00 am.
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests (There are no park entrance fees)

Congaree National Park is spread across 26,276 acres of central South Carolina land, located 18 miles southeast of Columbia. The park forms the largest expanse of intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States and has incredible biodiversity. The park’s river-floodplain ecosystem is lined by lakes, creeks, and swamps, providing wildlife with adequate food and shelter. Congaree National Park is a recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). 76 species were identified there in April 2022. eBird shows “high frequency” if mid-April of Prothonotary Warblers, Hooded Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warblers and the arrival of Summer Tanagers. A personal visit in April 2021 also included a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and a Worm-eating Warbler in our list.

Expect to walk 3 to 4 miles over flat terrain with some being on boardwalks over the swamps. Bring plenty to drink, sunscreen and bug spray. Our 2021 visit found limited lunch options so a packed lunch is recommended.

Please register no later than Wednesday, April 12, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

Learning Together on Golf Course Ocean Winds

When: Monday, April 17, 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 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 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.

Learning Together on North Beach

When: Saturday, April 22, 8:00 am–10:00 am
Location: Meet at Boardwalk # 1 parking lot
Max: None
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

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, hats, water and sunscreen.

Bring plenty to drink and a snack if desired. There are no facilities.

Please register no later than Thursday, April 20, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day prior to the event.

Backyard Birding at Haulover Rookery

When: Monday, April 24, 2023, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: 2445 The Haul Over
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

We are going back! Our visit last May to Annalee Regenburg’s backyard was a witness of a bumper crop of Egret and Heron nests. We lost count at 100 nests. Annalee’s house backs up to the Great White Egret Rookery. The females sit in their nests all day and the males come into the nests in the evenings. We plan on observing this wonderful, sometimes noisy event. We will most likely see some snowy egrets and green herons, plus some Night Herons and Wood Storks too. They are all tucked in there . One year, we even saw Cattle Egrets.

Walk around back when you arrive.

As always, be sure to bring your water, binoculars, hats and sunscreen.

Please register no later than Tuesday, April 21. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Sunday, April 23.

Beyond our Backyard at Edisto Nature Trail

When: Tuesday, April 25, 7:00 am– 12:00 pm. (Walk starts at Edisto Nature Trail at 8:00 am). An optional (weather permitting) drive down Hyde Park Road is planned for the return drive.

Location: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to carpool to Edisto Nature Trail (Google maps says 50 minute drive). Edisto Nature Trail: 17038 Ace Basin Pkwy Jacksonboro, South Carolina
Max: 15
Cost: Free for members, $10 donation for guests

Come join us for spring migration, Beyond Our Backyard, at the Edisto Nature Trail. This park, within the ACE Basin on Highway 17, is both a migrant hot spot and a known nesting area for a number of sought after bird species. The park, adjacent to the Edisto River, has a variety of habitats along its one point five (1.5) mile loop trail.

Some of the bird species we hope to see, and have encountered in prior years, include such Warbler Species as Prothonotary, Worm-Eating, Black and White, Swainson’s, Kentucky, and Hooded. Other possible bird species include Veery, Scarlet Tanager, Blackburnian Warbler, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Blackpoll Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Blue-Winged Warbler, Warbling Vireos, and a variety of raptors.

This nature trail has a number of boardwalk crossovers to assist in traversing potentially wet areas. Appropriate footwear is recommended, even during dry spells.

Participants should also consider these other items to maximize their comfort and enjoyment: binoculars, bug spray, sunscreen, hats, layered clothing to adjust to the morning’s weather, field guides if print is your preference, eyeglass – lens cleaner, water, snacks, camera, and a pack or shoulder bag for your needs.

Weather permitting, for those looking to extend their day, we will drive Hyde Park Rd on our return home. Hyde is a productive corridor for spring migrants that parallels Savannah Highway.

Please register no later than Sunday, April 23. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day before the trip.

Beyond our Backyard at Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary

When: Friday, April 28, 7:30 am– 2:00 pm. (Tour starts at Beidler at 9:30 am)

Location: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to carpool to Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary. (Google maps says 1.5 hour drive)
Min: 12 Max: 15
Cost: $15 for members, $10 donation for guests

If you have never been to Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, you won’t want to miss this opportunity – it’s well worth the 70-mile one-way trip! On our last visit, we observed 32 species of birds including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed Kite, Barred Owl, and of course, Prothonotary Warbler!

As the walk ends between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm, participants may want to bring a lunch, snacks and beverages to “picnic” at the Center prior to their return to Seabrook Island as there are a limited number of restaurants 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 Wednesday, April 26. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Thursday, April 27.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

Important: Bald Eagles’ Nest

We are thrilled that so many people are excited about our nesting pair of Bald Eagles and their two young, but we must remind you that the nest is on private property. Safely walking along the street is fine, but do not trespass on private property including the empty lot and all property in the area.

Every day, throughout the day, numerous people are walking into the yards of our neighbors and into the woods to the bird’s nest tree. This is trespassing! It has also been reported that this activity is stressing the birds, the last thing any of us want to happen. Please read the blog we published two weeks ago about “Ethical Birding” to remind yourself of the proper etiquette while birding and photographing wildlife.

Thank you for respecting the property of our neighbors and your safety!

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

Red Knots in the Southeast US: Acting Locally, Thinking Globally

Speaker: Fletcher Smith, Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Date: March 23, 2023

Location: The Lake House Live Oak Hall (Max: 100)

Schedule:

7:00 pm – Registration and Refreshments

7:30 pm – Program

8:30 pm – Q&A and Program Close

Cost: Free for 2023 SIB members; $10 per guest

Program Description:

For years we’ve told the remarkable story of the 9,000 mile Red Knot migration, flying from Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America to the Arctic to breed, and making an important stop at Seabrook to rest and fatten up. But did you know that many Red Knots spend entire winters in the southeastern United States along the Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina coasts, including Seabrook Island?

Please join us to hear Fletcher Smith discuss this subspecies of Red Knots that rely on the Southeast coast’s developed beaches for most of the year before flying to the Arctic, like their more famous brethren, to breed. Fletcher has been a migratory shorebird researcher for more than 20 years, working from the high Arctic to the South American wintering grounds. He is currently a wildlife biologist with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, researching and monitoring shorebird populations along the Georgia coastal islands. Through this work, he is very familiar with the Red Knots at Seabrook and Kiawah Islands.

Fletcher will review the life cycle of Red Knots, and their breeding season and wintering ecology. His focus will be the critical linkage that Seabrook and Kiawah provide as a stopover during all Red Knot migration, and why this is so important to this threatened species.

Speaker Biography: Fletcher Smith has worked with a diversity of bird species throughout the western hemisphere, following migrants from their breeding to winter grounds. His research projects include work with Whimbrels, Red Knots, Marsh Sparrows, and neo-tropical migrants. Fletcher currently is a wildlife biologist with Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Northland College in Wisconsin, a private liberal arts college with a progressive focus on the environment and sustainability.

Also, it is not too late to join or learn more about the Seabrook Island Shorebird Steward Program! We invite you to visit the Shorebird Stewards tab on the Seabrook Island Birders webpage. Sign up with your spouse or a friend, or meet new friends. Send an email to SIBStewards@gmail.com to join the group or ask for more information. It is a rewarding experience that you will surely come to cherish.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB March Activities

Take advantage of the warmer weather and lower humidity. Join SIB in exploring the Lowcountry and its birds.

Beyond our Backyard: Bluff Unit National Wildlife Refuge

When: Sunday, March 5, 2023, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Meet at SI Real Estate parking lot at 7:00 am to carpool or meet at 2125 Fort Watson Road, Summerton, at 9:00 am at the Visitor Center
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Bluff Unit is part of the Santee National Wildlife Refuge located just north of I-95 on Lake Marion. The visitors center is closed but there is a Johnny on the Spot. After birding at the visitor’s center we will head to Wright’s Bluff Nature Trail. There is an overlook on Cantey Bay from which we may see a variety of wintering waterfowl including American Wigeon, Gadwall and Northern Pintail. During our walk through the woods we could see Black and White warblers, Orange-crowned warblers and Brown Creepers. In the large, open field we may see a variety of sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks as well as raptors. In the small ponds we should see a variety of ducks.

Expect 3 to 4 miles of walking over flat terrain. Bring lunch, plenty to drink, sunscreen and bug spray. You may also want to bring a scope.

Please register no later than Friday, March 3, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

Learning Together-Palmetto Lake

When: Wednesday, March 8, 4:00 pm– 6:00 pm
Location: Meet at Equestrian end of The Lake House parking lot
Max: 15
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

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 less than a half a mile. As we walk along Seabrook Island Road, we hope to see some of our resident winter warblers (and maybe some early arriving spring warblers) such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers and my favorite Black and White Warbler. 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, Pied-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. Sunset is 6:22 pm so timing will hopefully be good before the coming time change.

Please register no later than Monday, March 6. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Tuesday, the day prior to the activity.

March Movie

“Season of the Osprey”

When: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: Oyster Catcher Community Center and Zoom

“An osprey soars over a small saltmarsh at the delta of the Connecticut River. From somewhere along the east coast of South America, he has just flown 4,000 miles to the place that is imprinted on his memory since birth, the saltmarsh where he will rejoin his mate. Foxes, deer, and scores of migrating shorebirds bring summer’s hustle and bustle back to the saltmarsh as the reunited pair mates and broods their eggs. Other osprey parents see their eggs snatched by predators that prowl the night. But this osprey pair is battle-tested. Over the course of one summer, they fend off enemies, catch hundreds of fish, and raise their tiny chicks into the next generation of these consummate sea hawks. This blue-chip Nature special explores the life of this incredible raptor with a depth and intimacy never before attempted. Shot in and around Great Island Marsh, where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound, filmmaker Jacob Steinberg achieved unlimited access to an osprey nest and offers a rich look at this unique species known for its life-long partnerships, dynamic social interactions and masterful hunting prowess. “Osprey are beloved birds, and yet they lacked a definitive wildlife film,” said Steinberg. “The moment I began observing the family that would become the film’s iconic subjects, I knew theirs was a story that would resonate with Nature viewers.””

Learning Together at North Beach

When: Saturday, March 11, 2023, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Meet at Boardwalk # 1 parking lot
Max: None
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Please register no later than March 9. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on March 10, the day prior to the trip.

Beyond Our Backyard: Kiawah River

When: Sunday, March 12, 8:00 am–11:00 am
Location: Meet at the “bridge” entering the property
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Welcome to the time change with 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. Low tide is at 6:05 am so our chances for seeing 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, March 10, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day prior to the event.

Backyard Birding at Village of Seabrook

When: Friday, March 17, 2023, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Village of Seabrook Pool
Max: 12 – 15
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Join SIB members at the Village of Seabrook Pool on March 17, 2023. Thanks to SIB member Judy Stevens, we have gained permission to backyard bird near the pool area of Village of Seabrook. This is located on Palmetto Lake at The Lakehouse. There is a picnic table and swing to sit on, but please bring a chair. We will not be allowed in the actual pool area. We will see many egrets, herons and songbirds. The afternoon brings in many birds that are getting ready to roost for the night. Meet at the gate entrance, which is located at the path around Palmetto Lake, close to The Lakehouse pool side.

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

Learning Together on Golf Course Crooked Oaks

When: Monday, March 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 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 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.

Learning Together on Jenkins Point

When: Friday, March 24, 8:30 am– 10:00 am
Location: Meet at First Lagoon on left
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members, $10 donation for guests – Priority will be given to prior waitlisted and members

We’ll be exploring the birds seen along Jenkins Point lagoons and streets, including wading birds, shorebirds, song birds and possibly ducks. We’ll go from location to location via car or bike. Since this event can be primarily by car, it is appropriate for members with mobility issues. Meet at Jenkins Point Ct., the street after the first pond on the left.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats ,sunscreen, and water.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

Reminder: Why You Should Volunteer for Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards

If you missed our post from February 9, 2023 about why you should volunteer for Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards, please click here . If you would like a Seabrooker’s first hand perspective and experience about volunteering as a Shorebird Steward, please read the article here.

Interested in becoming a Shorebird Steward? Please click here to register for a training program to be held on February 24, 2023, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Oyster Catcher Community Center.

If you have questions about our program, please email: sibstewards@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Bob Mercer and Mark Andrews, Co-chairs, Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards

(Image credit: SIB)

Why You Should Volunteer for Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards

Since the program began two years ago, the Seabrook Island Shorebird Steward Program has shared its shorebird conservation message with over 1,500 beachgoers. Now, with the third season set to start in March, the program needs volunteers. Shorebird stewards focus on educating residents and visitors about birds like Red Knots and the remarkable habitat of Seabrook Island as a resting and nesting location for several shorebird species.

Seabrook and Kiawah Islands provide a critical stopover on a shorebird’s journey of survival. Recent studies show shocking declines in all shorebird species, especially Red Knots. With a few exceptions, shorebirds travel some of the longest migrations of any birds to get to their nesting grounds in the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic. Long migrations mean increased vulnerability at each stopover site. The weight that birds gain here is essential to provide energy for the long trip north and to cover any lag in the food supply in the harsh conditions they might face once they arrive at their nesting grounds.

“Why do we need stewards?” Every year new people come to the beach to see dolphins or turtles but don’t know the shorebird story. In 2022, 66% of the people who stopped by the Shorebird Steward Station were visitors to Seabrook Island. Stewards ask beachgoers to respect the shorebirds as they are feeding in the surf or resting at the inlet by not approaching the birds too closely and by walking around them.

Shorebird stewards are your neighbors, people like you, who love nature. All a volunteer needs is a willingness to share some time on the beach chatting with people who stop by the station. Please don’t let any concern about learning a bit about shorebird identification stop you from applying – Stewards educate people about ways to reduce human impact on birds, not bird identification!

We schedule stewards in two-hour time slots usually from 10 am -12 pm and 12 pm-2 pm each day from March 1 thru the end of May or until the nesting season finishes. Our website allows you to self-schedule your shifts and makes it very easy to complete a report of your experience after each shift. Being a steward also offers opportunities to participate in shorebird conservation and research activities when we support SCDNR & USFWS in their work.

If you are interested in becoming a Shorebird Steward, please register for a training program to be held on February 24, 2023, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Oyster Catcher Community Center. The training, provided by Allyssa Zebrowski, SC Audubon and local Seabrook Island resident Bob Mercer, focuses on the essentials for becoming a Shorebird Steward from learning about shorebird identification, behavior and conservation, to the special habitat our beach provides, and to understanding how to best teach others. We will have other times available if you cannot make the February 24 program. After the classroom training, we provide field training opportunities to familiarize stewards with our equipment and educational materials. To help get you started, your first steward sessions on the beach will be with an experienced mentor.

If you have questions about our program, please email: sibstewards@gmail.com

If you would like to register for the February 24 training session, please click here.

-Submitted by Bob Mercer and Mark Andrews, Co-chairs, Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards

(Image credit: SIB)

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

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.

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.

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

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB January Activities

Join SIB in January as we welcome the new year with many varied activities.

Backyard Birding on Loblolly

When: Thursday, January 10, 2023, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 2132 Loblolly Lane
Max: 8
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB to bird at Frank and Joleen Ardaiolo’s home on Loblolly Lane. Birders from beginners to advanced will enjoy the variety of birds found at the home of the Ardaiolo’s. Joleen maintains over 20 different bird feeders with a variety of seed. She has had some rare birds seen in her backyard. Last year, the Western Tanager showed up.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats and sunscreen. Bring plenty to drink and a snack if desired.

Please register no later than January 8. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on January 9, 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.

January Movie

A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds

When: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 4:00 pm (In Person & Zoom)
Location: Zoom & Oyster Catcher Community Center

Even as scientists make astounding discoveries about the navigational and physiological feats that enable migratory birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, go weeks without sleep or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch, humans have brought many migrants to the brink. Based on his newest book “A World on the Wing,” author and researcher Scott Weidensaul takes you around the globe — with researchers in the lab probing the limits of what migrating birds can do, to the shores of the Yellow Sea in China, the remote mountains of northeastern India where tribal villages saved the greatest gathering of falcons on the planet, and the Mediterranean, where activists and police are battling bird poachers — to learn how people are fighting to understand and save the world’s great bird migrations.

This is a recorded program hosted by the sponsors of the Space Coast Birding Festival. We hope you will also join SIB members as we encourage you to read “A World on the Wing” and join us as we host Scott Weidensaul on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Our guest will join via Zoom, and you will have a choice to be in person with other SIB members or joining on Zoom. Registration for this event coming soon!

Biking and Birding to Mingo Point

When: Thursday, January 12, 2023, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Meet at The Lakehouse parking lot
Max: none
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB for Birding and Biking to Mingo Point. This is a six mile round trip biking trip from The Lakehouse parking lot. It is very casual with many spots for birding. If you would like to meet us at Mingo Point instead of riding, just let us know. Birders from beginners to advanced will enjoy the variety of birds found on this trip. On the way back, there is the option to stop for lunch at Freshfields.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats and sunscreen. Bring plenty to drink and a snack if desired.

Please register no later than January 10. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on January 11, 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.

Learning Together on Golf Course-Crooked Oaks

When: Monday, January 16, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Location: Meet at The 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 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.

Please register no later than Friday, January 13. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Sunday, January 15, 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.

Beyond Our Backyard – Pitt Street Causeway to Watermark Lake

When: Thursday, January 19, 2023, 9:00 am– 4:00 pm
Location: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to carpool at 9:00 am
(or meet at Pitt Street Causeway at 10:00 am)

Max: 10
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

We are trying something new. Pitt Street Causeway offers a good view of saltwater marsh in Charleston Harbor where we can see shorebirds and ducks. After spending time at Pitt Street, we will go to a local restaurant near Shem Creek for lunch. After lunch, we will take a quick walk on the Shem Creek Boardwalk before heading to Watermark Lake, a great spot to find ducks of many species like Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, and Ring-necked Duck. Bring binoculars, camera and a scope, if you have one.

Please register no later than January 15, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior the event.

“A World on the Wing” Book Reading

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, we will have a short “book read.” The discussion/social hour will begin at 4:00 pm. Then, at 5:00 pm, Scott Weidensaul will join us on Zoom to talk about his enlightening book. Those who opt to attend in person will meet at the Oyster Catcher Community Center and watch the Zoom presentation together. Others can watch the Zoom at home at 5:00 pm. The book features Pulitzer Prize finalist Scott Weidensaul, author of “A World on the Wing.”

Learning Together at North Beach

When: Sunday, January 29, 2023, 12:00 pm – 2:00 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 Sam’s 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. 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.

Please register no later than January 27. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on January 28, 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.

Beyond our Backyard: Nemours Plantation and Bailey Road Tidal Impoundments

When: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, 9:00 am– 4:00 pm
Location: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to carpool at 7:00 am
or meet at Food Lion, Hwy 17 in Ravenel at 7:45 am to carpool to Nemours Plantation
Max: 18
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest; donation to Nemours Wildlife Foundation is suggested

Join SIB for a guided birding tour at Nemours Plantation followed by a picnic lunch & afternoon side trip to eBird hotspot Bailey Tidal Impoundment with a possible visit to the Old Sheldon Church ruins.

Important Note: All participants must sign the liability waiver prior to entering the Nemours Property. We will have the waiver form available for signing at our carpool meet-up locations .

The Nemours Plantation is a 10,000+ acre site in the ACE River Basin owned and managed by the Nemours Wildlife Foundation. We will ride in an open trailer through rich, diverse habitats consisting of remnant rice fields, brackish and fresh water marshes, upland and bottomland hardwood forests, pine forests, and cypress & tupelo forests. We hope to see waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds along with sparrows, wintering warblers, woodpeckers and other passerines. The Nemours Foundation has become an important center for conservation research and environmental education. We will learn more about how they achieve this mission during our guided birding tour. After visiting Nemours, we will have a picnic lunch. Following lunch, we will bird the nearby eBird hotspot, Bailey Road Tidal Impoundments, where we hope to find a variety of waders, shorebirds, terns and gulls. Here you can bird from the roadside or the dikes overlooking the tidal flats. Uneven ground and some muddy conditions are possible here. The Old Sheldon Church ruins are quite close and are worth a quick look for those interested.

As always, bring your binoculars/cameras/scopes, bird guides, hats, sunscreen and bug spray. Bring plenty to drink & a picnic lunch. If you wish to leave after visiting Nemours Plantation, plan your carpooling accordingly. Restroom facilities will be available at Nemours. We ask that you wear a mask when unable to social distance if you are not vaccinated.

Please register no later than January 29. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on January 30. If you need to cancel, please let us know so we can invite people on the waitlist to attend.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB December Activities

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season, get outside, relax with one or more of SIB’s December activities.

Backyard Birding at Cat Tail Pond

When: Thursday , December 1 at 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: 2500 Cat Tail Pond
Max: 12
Cost: None for 2022 members; $10 donation for guests

Come join us in Paula and Bob’s Adamson’s backyard. They live right on the golf course and have six feeders plus a birdbath and two bluebird boxes. They also have two owl boxes. Many birds can be seen from the deck or the yard. In addition to birds, they also have many turkeys, squirrels, bunnies, raccoons and possums.

As always, be sure to bring your water, binoculars, hats and sunscreen.

Please register no later than Monday, November 29 by 10:00 am. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Wednesday, November 30.

Register here

Beyond Our Backyard at Kiawah River

When: Sunday, December 4, 2022, 8:00 am-11:00 am
Location: Meet at the “bridge” entering the property
Cost: None for members; $10 donation for guests

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.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars, hats, water and sunscreen.

Please register no later than Friday, December 2, 2022. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on the day prior to the event.

Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and Limpkins are SC residents!

When: Wednesday, December 7, 2022. Registration starts at 7:00 pm. Program starts at 7:30 pm

Where: Live Oak Hall, The Lake House

Cost: Free for members, $10 for guests

Max: Limited to 100 members

Roseate Spoonbill, flamboyant with bright pink feathers, red eye staring from a partly bald head, giant spoon-shaped bill! Wood Stork, soaring on thermals with outstretched neck and legs, at three feet tall towering above other wetland birds! Limpkin, its long bill adapted for removing snails from shells, and unforgettable haunting cry! These fascinating birds, two that we enjoy seeing frequently on Seabrook, were once restricted to Florida. Now they all reside and nest in SC!

Craig Watson, bird guide and recent retiree from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service after 33 years of dedicated bird and habitat conservation, will be our guest. Craig will discuss these fascinating species’ decline and now subsequent increase in population, along with the reasons and implications of their range expansion to SC. Join us to hear Craig’s informative program, along with some enjoyable social time with Seabrook Island Birders’ members and guests!

December Movie – Hummingbirds

When: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 4:00 pm -5:00 pm
Location: Zoom & Oystercatcher Community Center

David Attenborough takes us into the remarkable lives of hummingbirds via stunning slow motion photography. Everything about these tiny birds is superb and extreme. They have the highest metabolism, fastest heart beat and most rapid wing beat in the avian world. They evolved to feed on flowering plants but are now a crucial part of wider ecosystems. How do they mate, raise their young, and live?

Learning Together on Crooked Oaks Golf Course

When: Monday, December 19, 2022 8:30 am – 10:30 am (original date was December 12)
Location: Meet at The 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

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.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)