SIB – Tidelines

SIB December Activities

Santa Claus is coming to town, and our winter birds will help Rudolph lead the way. Join Seabrook Island Birders for some December fun!

Beyond Our Backyard: Lighthouse Inlet

When: Thursday, December 7, 2023, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Meet at Seabrook Island Real Estate to carpool at 8:30 am or
meet at meet at Lighthouse Inlet at 9:30 am
Max: 10
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Join SIB for a “Beyond our Backyard” visit to the incredibly diverse northeast end of Folly Island at Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve. Once the home of a Coast Guard station, this Heritage Preserve protects maritime forest, beach, dune, and marsh habitats for wildlife. This is a flat and easy 0.8-mile out-and-back walk that leads to the Morris Island Lighthouse. We will also be exploring the inlet area beach and marsh for a further 1.0 mile along a beach path and beach. At this time of year, we hope to see Savannah Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Sedge Wren, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Eastern phoebe, Northern Harrier, dabbling ducks such as Red Breasted Merganser off shore, and a variety of sea birds and shorebirds.

Note there are no bathrooms at this location. Parking is along East Ashley Avenue.

A lunch option at one of Folly’s many restaurants will be determined later.

Travel details:

From Center Street, turn left onto East Ashley Avenue and follow this road to where it ends at a cul-de-sac.

Address:
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
1750 East Ashley Ave.
Folly Beach

Please register no later than December 5, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the trip

Learning Together on Ocean Winds Golf Course

When: Monday, December 11, 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 and members

The Seabrook Island Club closes one course a day, each week and allows SIB to use golf carts to travel the course 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.

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.

December Movie, “Wild America – Season Two – Bird Watching”

(Episodes 7 and 8)

When: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: In person at Oyster Catcher Community Center (if there are at least five people) and virtually via Zoom

Wild America | S2 E3 Birds of Prey | Full Episode HD - YouTube

Birdwatching is one very popular way in which many people enjoy the wonder and fascination of our great American outdoors. More so than any other creatures, birds have captured the imagination of humans as they float on the wind, soar to great heights and make the world a more wonderful place.

Episode 7: “Owls: Lords of Darkness” – The Owl’s incredible sight and hearing are second to none in the animal world, and its ability to fly with utter soundlessness is nothing short of remarkable. Its life history is endlessly intriguing. The eighteen species of North American Owls are creatures of mystery. Owls are undisputed champions of the Birds of Prey. They reign — as they have for ages — lords of darkness.

Episode 8: “Wild Wings”- America’s birds come in all shapes and sizes, and they range from homely to breathtaking. But they share one thing in common — the awesome power of flight. The airborne freedom which sets birds apart from other creatures has been envied by man for centuries. All the diverse bird types are seen — powerful predators, melodious songbirds, and graceful water birds.”

Backyard Birding at the Boat Ramp/Crab Dock

When: Monday, December 18, 2023, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: 1201 Creekwatch Trace
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB members near the home of Melanie and Robert Jerome at the boat ramp on Creek Watch Trace on Seabrook Island on Monday, December 18 at 8:00 am -10:00 am. Yes, we are starting that early. You will have views of the marsh and river, with many shore birds, Spotted Sandpipers, Egrets, Herons, Marsh Wrens, and many songbirds. There is a lot to see at the SIPOA boat ramp and crab dock. Low tide will be 5:52 am. 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. Just start out by walking back to the Jerome’s backyard.

Bring binoculars and bug spray.

Please register no later than December 15, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Sunday December 17.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB, Wild America)

SIB November Activities

Fall migration, arrival of winter residents and much more to be thankful for. Join SIB for activities on Seabrook or beyond our backyard.

Beyond Our Backyard: Santee Coastal WMA

When: Sunday, November 5, 2023, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Meet at Seabrook Island Real Estate to carpool at 6:30 am or
meet at Sewee Outpost at 4853 Hwy 17, Awendaw, SC to buy breakfast, lunch and to use restrooms before proceeding to the reserve.
Dinner option after birding: Location TBD
Max: 16 for the morning half-day portion, eight for the whole-day afternoon option
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Join SIB to bird at Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a 24,000 acre tract, operated by the SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), rich in different habitats including long-leaf pine, bottomland swamp, upland hardwoods and former rice impoundments. The area was originally inhabited by the Sewee and the Winyah tribes. Then, several rice plantations were established here in the 1700’s. Today, you can still see the brick ruins of the Eldorado plantation house on a hike through the upland hardwoods. In 1898, Captain Hugh Garden established the Santee Gun Club upon his acquisition of these rice plantations. Finally in 1974, the Santee Gun Club donated the property to TNC who then transferred most of it to the state of SC for management by DNR.

Of course, a variety of habitats translates to a variety of birdlife. On this trip, we will focus our efforts on two habitats. In the morning, we will bird the long-leaf pine forest to find the federally-listed endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and, hopefully, Bachman’s Sparrow and then, in the afternoon, we will bird the entrance to the impoundments to observe multiple early arriving duck species.

The long entrance road runs through the middle of the long-leaf pine forest in which we will find the RCWs. Our birding here will be roadside. In addition to the RCWs, we will listen for owls. Other species we may see this time of year are the Blue-headed vireo, Brown-headed Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, raptors, Pine Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, and possibly all of the other seven species of woodpeckers in SC. Other possibilities include Yellow-throated Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, , House Wren, Sedge Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, if we are lucky.

The Cape Trail impoundments are closed to the public from November 1 to February 9 every year. When a group visited in May, we were able to see a number of species as we walked the entrance to this area. The mosquitoes should not be a problem this time of year making for pleasant birding. In May, when all the ducks were gone, we were still able to report 53 species.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats, sunscreen and bug spray. Bring plenty to drink and a picnic lunch to eat on the property. There are no facilities on the property.

Please register no later than November 3, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on November 4, the day prior to the trip

Evening Program: Learn How to Catch a Kiwi and so Much More

Speaker: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Associate Professor, Vertebrate Biology, University of South Carolina Aiken

When: November 10, 2023, 7:00 pm
Location: The Lake House, Live Oak Hall
Cost: Free for members, $10 for guests

7:00 pm, Registration and refreshments
7:30 pm, Program
8:45 pm, Program ends

Program Description:

The geologic history of New Zealand has given rise to a myriad of unusual species that are found nowhere else on Earth. In this talk, Dr Ramstad will tell you about the historical and current ecology of New Zealand and the flightless endemic kiwi. She will present her research into inbreeding and sex-biased dispersal in the two rarest kiwi species and answer the age old question….How do you catch a kiwi?

Speaker Biography:

Dr Ramstad is a conservation geneticist. Her work draws on genomic techniques and field based ecological studies to improve our understanding and management of at-risk species.

After studying sockeye salmon in Alaska for both her MSc (University of Washington) and PhD (University of Montana) research, Dr Ramstad moved to New Zealand and spent eight years studying conservation genetics of kiwi. She took up her current role at USCA in 2015 and will tell you that her current research obsession is with the wood storks of the steamy and mysterious swamps of the US South.

November Movie, “Wild America – Season Two – Bird Watching ”

(Episodes 5 and 6)

When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: In person at Oyster Catcher Community Center (if there are at least five people) and virtually via Zoom

Episode 5: Feathered Jewels – The fifteen species of hummingbirds that nest north of Mexico are exquisitely beautiful in their multi-colored iridescence. All are unique to the New World. European explorers were astounded by these tiny, glittering birds that zipped up and down, backwards and sideways, with wings humming and blurred. Here they are seen as never before, and we savor every last little wingbeat.

Episode 6: A Nest is Best – A bird does not need a house to make itself a happy home. They can be cup-shaped, or long and hollow, like gourds. They can be coarsely made of sticks and mud, or exquisitely woven of spider web and down. They can be found anywhere, deftly hidden or dangerously exposed. Even the eggs that fill them are not always egg-shaped. This program shows that birds do not need a house to make a home.”

Learning Together on Ocean Winds Golf Course

When: Monday, November 13, 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 and members

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 – Walk to Freshfields

When: Monday, November 20, 2023, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Meet at The Lake House parking lot close to the lake
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB for birding and a walk to Freshfields. Everyone may have not noticed yet, but the path to Freshfields has been spruced up a bit. There are new benches and flowers planted along the way. There are plenty of trees and birding opportunities. Birders from beginners to advanced will enjoy the variety of birds found along the way. You never know what bird will show up. We will look for our winter residents. We could see the ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-bellied sapsucker and more.

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 is a possibility that we may hit the construction going on at Freshfields, so we will just turn around and walk on the other side of the road.

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

Learning Together: Walk off the Bird at Camp St. Christopher

When: Friday, November 24, 2023, 8:00 am-11:00 am
Location: Meet at the bus parking lot at St. Christopher
Max: 10
Cost: Voluntary donation to Camp St.Christopher

Come walk off the bird by doing some birding!!! Explore the lakes, lagoons, paths and slough at St. Christopher. This event will have one to two miles of walking over uneven terrain. We should see all the usual suspects but will also hopefully see some of our winter friends-Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler and sparrows.

Bring sun block, bug spray, a hat, water and binoculars. We are asking our attendees to make a voluntary contribution to Camp St. Christopher to help support their efforts after a few trying years.

Please register no later than Wednesday, November 22, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Thursday, November 23, 2023. If you need to cancel, please let us know.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB, Wild America)

Join SIB to Learn How to Catch a Kiwi and so Much More…

Speaker: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Associate Professor, Vertebrate Biology, University of South Carolina Aiken
Date: November 10, 2023, 7:00 pm
Location: The Lake House, Live Oak Hall
Admission: Free for Members; $10 for Guests

7:00 pm – Registration and refreshments
7:30 pm – Program
8:45 pm – Program ends

Program Description:

The geologic history of New Zealand has given rise to a myriad of unusual species that are found nowhere else on Earth. In this talk, Dr Ramstad will tell you about the historical and current ecology of New Zealand and the flightless endemic kiwi. She will present her research into inbreeding and sex-biased dispersal in the two rarest kiwi species and answer the age old question….How do you catch a kiwi?

Speaker Biography:

Dr Ramstad is a conservation geneticist. Her work draws on genomic techniques and field based ecological studies to improve our understanding and management of at-risk species.

After studying sockeye salmon in Alaska for both her MSc (University of Washington) and PhD (University of Montana) research, Dr Ramstad moved to New Zealand and spent eight years studying conservation genetics of kiwi. She took up her current role at USCA in 2015 and will tell you that her current research obsession is with the wood storks of the steamy and mysterious swamps of the US South.

Be sure to register so you won’t miss this exciting event!

-Submitted by Judy Morr

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB October Activities

Don’t be spooked by the new adventures! Join SIB for more fall fun. Note the evening golf course birding, October Big Day and several off island trips.

Beyond Our Backyard – Ft. Moultrie

When: Wednesday October 04, 2023 8:00 am -10:00 am
Location: Meet at SI real estate office to carpool (6:45 am) or meet us at the fort (1214 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC. Park at Poe Avenue in the sand parking lot between Battery Jasper and Battery McCorkle)
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members, $10 per guest

Join us on a trip to Ft. Moultrie. This is a well known birding hotspot among birders and fall migration will be in full swing. We may see many migrant birds passing through. It has many different habitats, including meadow/field, forest and shoreline. We are fortunate to have Craig Watson lead this activity. Craig is a retired migratory bird biologist at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and lives in Mt. Pleasant.

Ft. Moultrie is the first fort on Sullivan’s Island. It has been rebuilt three times since 1776 and played a significant role in the Civil War. Today, Ft. Moultrie has been restored to portray the major periods of its history. A visitor to the fort moves steadily backwards in time from the World War II harbor entrance control post to the site of the Palmetto-log fort of 1776. A tour of Ft. Moultrie will not be part of our birding activity, but if you drive there yourself, you are welcome to stay and also tour the fort. It is open 9:00 am-5:00 pm. You will need to go to the Visitor Center and purchase a $10 ticket. We will be birding the perimeter of the fort before opening hours.

Be sure to bring sunblock, bug spray, a hat, binoculars, camera and a scope, if you have one.

Please register no later than Monday, October 02, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

Learning Together, Palmetto Lake

When: Monday, October 9, 2023, 7:30 am-10:00 am
Location: Meet at the pool end of The Lake House parking lot
Max: 15
Cost: Free for members, $10 for guests

Celebrate fall migration by walking and bird watching around Palmetto Lake located behind The Lake House! Join SIB in search of some warblers who are short term visitors on the island during the fall migration season. The path around Palmetto Lake is wheelchair navigable and for those who will be walking, it is flat and will be at a leisurely pace. We hope to see some of our resident warblers such as Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, and the Black and White Warbler. In addition, it is highly likely that we will see a few American Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, and possibly Black-throated Blue Warbler, and the Common Yellow Throat. Naturally, there should be Bluebirds, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, different woodpeckers, and raptors in the area.

Bring your binoculars, hats, bug spray and a beverage of choice.

Please register no later than Saturday, October 7. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Sunday, the day prior to the trip.

October Movie, “Wild America – Season Two- Bird Watching”

(Episodes 3 and 4)

When: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: In person at Oyster Catcher Community Center (if there are at least five people) and virtually via Zoom

Episode 3: Birds of Prey Symbols of noble power and unsurpassed freedom –Falcons, hawks and eagles still arouse in us a centuries-old mystique. From the tiny shrike to the majestic eagle, they come in all sizes, populate every habitat and are each specifically designed for the prey they hunt. Some of the most impressive animals on earth are these expert, legendary hunters — aristocrats of the air.

Episode 4: Call to Courtship – As spring unfolds, the sweet melodies of birds provide a welcome break from the stillness of winter. The trills and eye-catching displays of courting males actually serve a dual purpose — to intimidate rivals as well as to attract prospective mates. The song and dance rituals are all orchestrated toward a single goal — to ensure the most fit pass on genes for future generations.

October Big Day

When: Saturday, October 14, 2023, 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Location: Various locations around Seabrook Island
Max: 10 at any location Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members

Join us in participating in eBird’s October Big Day. The eBird site describes the event with “Wherever you are on October 14, take a few minutes to join the world of birding on October Big Day. Participate from anywhere—even home! By taking part in October Big Day you’re also celebrating Global Bird Weekend and World Migratory Bird Day. Be a part of the global team and help set a new record for October birding.”

On Seabrook Island, the event 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. You can participate in the “Bird my Backyard” to record your observations even if you are not on Seabrook Island.

We have included a “virtual” activity again this year where people can bird in the comfort of their own homes and share their findings with the group.

Bird my backyard – Bird your own property for as long as you want, as many times as you want throughout the day. Keep a list (in eBird or in a form we will provide) and share your findings with SIB. “Your own property” can be a golf course, a camp ground or an interstate highway….wherever you happen to see birds, share your observations.

North Beach (high tide 8:42 am), 7:30 am – 9:30 am
The group will walk the two miles to Captain Sam’s Inlet (tides permitting). Those unable to walk the entire distance may turn around at any time. The group will work together to identify those hard to distinguish plovers and sandpipers. The walk is scheduled around high tide so the birds will be clustered closer for easier viewing. We recommend you wear shoes that can get wet. Meet at the owners beach access parking lot at Boardwalk 1.

Maintenance Area, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Walk around the water treatment area to possibly see egrets, wood storks, and even fall migrating warblers. If time permits, we will also venture into the club boat / camper storage area in search of early arriving sparrows. This activity is limited to 10 people and requires signature of a release form for the water treatment facility.

Jenkins Point, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

We will be exploring the birds seen along Jenkins Point lagoons and streets, including ducks, wading birds and shorebirds. We will 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.

Palmetto Lake, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Join us to explore the birds around The Lake House. This is less than one mile of flat, paved walk around the lake. Recently, White Ibis, Cattle Egret, Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets have come in to roost in late afternoon so we hope they continue to provide a show. Meet at the equestrian end of The Lake House parking lot.

Equestrian Center, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (sunset, 6:48 pm)

Join us for happy hour at the equestrian center. Bring your drink / snacks of choice while we recap our day while observing the resident European Starlings, Eastern Bluebirds, plus many other species. Our plan is to bird from the comfort of our chairs with occasional “excursions” to a fence or tree to see a particular bird.

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

Please register no later than Thursday, October 12, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Friday, October 13, 2023.

Learning Together on Crooked Oaks Golf Course

When: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm *** Note – This will be an afternoon event.
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 and members

The Seabrook Island Club closes one course a day, each week and allows SIB to use golf carts to travel the course to bird. Join us for our first afternoon 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 fall, 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.

Beyond Our Backyard – College of Charleston’s Stono Preserve

When: Thursday, October 19, 2023, 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Meet at Seabrook Island real estate to carpool at 6:30 am. Meet at Publix on Main Road and Hwy 17 at 7:05 am to carpool to Stono Preserve
Max: 14
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB to bird at the Stono Preserve of the College of Charleston. This beautiful 981-acre property along the Stono River and the Intracoastal Waterway provides a natural, outdoor laboratory for a variety of disciplines at the College of Charleston. For more information on this property, be sure to visit the link above. In the morning, we will walk along lowland forest bordering the Stono River, passing open marsh and both brackish and freshwater ponds; depending on time, we may also walk along open fields. We should see a variety of wading and shorebirds (depending on water depth in the brackish pond), raptors (Osprey and Bald Eagles both nest on the site; American Kestrels are also common and both Great-horned and Barred Owls have been spotted during the day by following the commotion of crow and jays), woodpeckers (the site hosts all SC species except the red-cockaded) and wintering warblers and sparrows.

As always, be sure to bring your binoculars/cameras, hats, sunscreen and bug spray. Bring plenty to drink and a picnic lunch to eat on the property. There is water on the property but we have been advised that it may not taste very good because the pipes are infrequently in use. We have also been warned that the Dixie Plantation Road leading to the site is a dirt road that may not be in great shape so drive with caution. We will have access to bathroom facilities at the beginning of our tour and during lunch.

Please register no later than Tuesday, October 17, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event.

Backyard Birding at Inlet Cove on Kiawah

When: Monday, October 23, 2023, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Sundown Bend/ Inlet Cove cabana and dock
Max: 10
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for guests

Join SIB to bird at the home of Paula Feldman on Kiawah. She has a cabana and a dock that she can reserve for our backyard birding activity. We plan on making this a sunset birding event. Please bring a snack and drink of your choice. Birders from beginners to advanced will enjoy the variety of birds found at this great spot on Kiawah. Paula has seen dolphins stranding and a large variety of birds. No need for a Kiawah gate pass. You will turn right before the gate.

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 October 20. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on October 22, 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-Bear Island and Donnelly WMA

When: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 6:00 am– 4:00 pm (sunrise, 7:34 am)
Location: Meet at SI real estate office to carpool.
Max: 12
Cost: Free for members, $10 for guests

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 the 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 through February 9 each year, so this is the last chance to visit before spring. We hope the winter waterfowl will have returned, including the Tundra Swan. Each person should bring their own lunch, snacks and beverages, as there are no 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 Thursday, October 26, 2023. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter the day prior to the event. Please let us know if you need to cancel.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: Wild America)

SIB Activities for August

Even the birds need some relief from the summer heat. Have you noticed more activity in your bird baths? Our August activity list is short, but fun. Our monthly movie is back after a month’s vacation. Grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy. We had a good response to our TBA Sit, Sip, and See in July, so we are trying another one this month. Be sure to register so you can be informed about the date/time.

Learning Together on Golf Course-Crooked Oaks

When: Monday, August 7, 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 SIB to use golf carts to travel the course 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 summer, we can also expect to see Painted Buntings, 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.

August Movie

“Wild America – Season Two – Bird Watching” (Episodes One & Two)

When: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Location: In Person at Oystercatcher Community Center (if there are at least five people) and virtually via Zoom

The joy of birdwatching is one very popular way in which many people enjoy the wonder and fascination of our great American outdoors. More so than any other creatures, birds have captured the imagination of humans as they float on the wind, soar to great heights and make the world a more wonderful place. Episode One: The Bill makes the Bird – Whether it chisels, pecks or cracks, a bird’s bill plays a big part in what unique ecological niche it will fill. With sturdy conical bills, a Grosbeak crushes the hardest seeds. Using the notch on a hooked beak, a Falcon snaps the neck of prey. Limpkins slide their long curved bills into snail shells and, with spatula-shaped mandibles, Spoonbills seine southern waters. Episode Two: Birds of a Feather – Birds are distinguished from other animals by their feathers. Few of nature’s creations surpass the feather’s function, beauty and design. These delicate, yet complex, structures insulate, waterproof, camouflage, and adorn but the most notable function of feathers is flight. Join Marty Stouffer as we learn how feathers give birds a powerful edge in the struggle to survive.

Sit, Sip and See at Palmetto Lake

When: Monday, August 28 at 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 does not cooperate on this evening, we will reschedule later in the week so if you are unavailable on Monday, register anyway and put a note in the comment that you wish to be notified if it needs to be rescheduled.

Please join SIB 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 now favorite roosting area. 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 may also 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 and 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.

Please register no later than Sunday, August 27. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Monday morning, August 28.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

Seabrook Island Birders Presentation, July 11

To the Lowcountry and Beyond: Tracking Painted Buntings using Technology

Aaron Given, Assistant Wildlife Biologist for the Town of Kiawah Island

When: July 11, 2023, 7:00 pm
Location: The Lake House, Live Oak Hall
Admission: Free for members; $10 for guests
Please bring check or correct cash if paying at event

7:00 pm: Registration & refreshments
7:30 pm: Program
8:45 pm: Program ends

Stunning, vivid, and spectacular are a few of the adjectives that come to mind when we describe the Painted Bunting. In Louisiana, the Painted Bunting is called “nonpareil”, French for “without equal”. In Mexico, it’s commonly known as “siete colores”, or “seven colors”. Fitting terms for this gorgeous bird. At our Seabrook backyard feeders, or greeting us on Boardwalk 1, it’s always a treat to view one.

Join us for Aaron Given’s informative talk on Painted Buntings. Aaron will provide an overview of the species and their life history. He will discuss his research on Kiawah Island tracking Painted Buntings using the Motus Network, and the collaborative research of tracking Painted Buntings using geolocator technology across the southeast.

Aaron has been the Assistant Wildlife Biologist for the Town of Kiawah Island since 2008. In his role, he manages one of the largest bird banding stations in the southeast focusing on fall migration, wintering marsh sparrows, Painted Buntings, and Wilson’s Plovers.

Speaker Biography:

Aaron has been the Assistant Wildlife Biologist for the Town of Kiawah Island since 2008. He grew up in Oswego, IL (a far suburb of Chicago) and graduated with a B.S. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University in 2000. Aaron went on to attend Southeast Missouri State University where he received a M.S. in Wildlife Biology in 2005. In graduate school, he studied the wintering ecology of yellow rails in coastal Texas. This is where he got his first exposure to bird banding and was fascinated with being able to study and observe the birds in such fine detail. His primary research interest is in ornithology with a special focus on avian ecology and management, passerine migration ecology, and secretive marshbird ecology. Aaron currently manages one of the largest bird banding stations in the southeast focusing on fall migration, wintering marsh sparrows, Painted Buntings, and Wilson’s Plovers. He is also a statewide eBird data reviewer for South Carolina but mainly focuses on Charleston, Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry Counties. Aaron also serves on the South Carolina Bird Records Committee and is the second vice president of the Eastern Bird Banding Association.

Be sure to register so you won’t miss this exciting event!

-Submitted by Judy Morr

(Image credit: SIB)

SIB July Activities

The weather is heating up so we are limiting our activities. The ones we have, however, are super hot.

Due to our great program on painted buntings with Aaron Given, Kiawah biologist, we will not be having a movie this month. Never fear, they will return. Stay tuned for future showings.

With the weather being so unpredictable, especially summer afternoons and evenings, we are doing a Sit, Sip, and See at Lee Hurd’s beautiful and tranquil garden. The catch is we don’t know when it will take place. Rather than schedule and have to cancel, we are going to notify you the day before when hopefully the weather is stable. So, if you have an interest, be sure to register so we can notify you. You are under no obligation if the chosen day is not convenient for you.

Sit, Sip and See at Hurd’s Garden

When: July date *TBD at 7:00 pm
Location: Hurd’s garden and dock at 2116 Loblolly Lane
Max: 20
Cost: Free for members; $10 donation to SIB for guests

*Extended weather forecasts for July evenings are always questionable so we will determine the date the day prior to the event. You can sign up now to express your interest. An announcement will go out the day prior.

Please join SIB for an evening of birding and socializing with your favorite beverage in a beautiful garden with feeders and lagoon views. 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. There are places to sit in the garden and on the dock, but you can also bring your own chair. Birds that we might see or hear are Great-crested Flycatcher, Mississippi Kite, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and more.

This is a BYOB and BYO snacks event. If you are not an experienced birder, this is the perfect opportunity to get some tips on using binoculars and phone apps and identifying species and bird calls.

Lee and Doug Hurd acquired the adjoining lot next to their home many years ago and have been working on making it into a garden for all to enjoy. In recent years, Lee removed some of the non-native invasive plants to convert the area into a pollinator garden. It is a beautiful place to spend an evening.

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 here to express your interest and you will receive a confirmation notice the day prior to the event at which time you can respond with your availability.

To the Lowcountry and Beyond: Tracking Painted Buntings Using Technology

Learning Together on Crooked Oaks Golf Course

When: Sunday, July 16, 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 and members

The Seabrook Island Club will be closing Crooked Oaks for aeration allowing SIB to use golf carts to travel the course 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 summer, 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 Thursday prior to the trip. All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Saturday, 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.

-Submitted by SIB

(Image credit: SIB)

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.

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.

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)