Register now for our March 28th, 2018 event!
Contact us if you have questions: SeabrookIslandBirders@gmail. com
-Submitted by Nancy Brown
Category: SIB
Birds of Seabrook Island Checklist
The Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) had a table at the annual meeting with wonderful pictures of birds we can find on Seabrook Island.
In addition, they gave out a brochure with a checklist of the birds 
you can find on our island. Not only are the birds categorized by type, but they are denoted by the following:
Common – seen in suitable habitat.
Fairly common – here, not certain to be seen.
Uncommon – seen a few times during the season.
Rare – seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years.
To download the brochure, click here. For more information about SIB, their activities, and birds in general, go to SeabrookIslandBirders.org.
–Tidelines Editors
Join SIB for the Great Backyard Bird Count
The 21st Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place February 16 to 19—in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies, and beaches. This global event provides an opportunity for bird enthusiasts to contribute important bird population data that help scientists see changes over the past 21 years. To participate, bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org.
The Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) has scheduled five events over two of the days to support the GBBC efforts. Please register to join us! The “walks” are free for SIB members and children 12 and under. (You may join SIB for $10 per person per year or pay a $5 per person per event guest fee.)
Sunday February 18, 2018: Great Backyard Bird Count (http://tinyurl.com/y7b5y8z5)
– Equestrian Center / Maintenance Area – 8:00 AM
– North Beach – (High Tide 9:46am) – 10:00 AM
– Palmetto Lake – 2:00 PM
– Jenkin’s Point – 3:30 PM
Monday February 19, 2018: Great Backyard Bird Count on the Golf Course (http://tinyurl.com/ybraugdc)
– Golf Course – 9:00 AM
See our website for more information.
-Submitted by Nancy Brown, SIB Communications
SIB Presents: The Center of Birds of Prey on January 31!
Join Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) for an exciting and informative evening with the Center of Birds of Prey!
Date: Wednesday January 31, 2018
Registration & Social: 7:00 pm
Program Starts: 7:30 pm
Location: Live Oak Hall at the Lake House on Seabrook Island
Fee: Members $5 and Guests $10
SIB will provide beverages including wine and coffee. We ask everyone to RSVP no later than January 28, 2018 so we will know how much wine to purchase and how many chairs to set up. Click here to RSVP
For only $10, you may join or renew your 2018 SIB membership the night of the event.
Don’t miss this chance to have another fun filled evening with our flock of Seabrook Island Birders!
http://seabrookislandbirders.org
–Submitted by Nancy Brown, SIB Communications
Seabrook Island Birders “Bird Brain Game Night ” – November 30
“Bird Brain Game Night”
Did you know new studies report birds are smarter than you think? Are YOU as smart as a bird?!?!
Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) invites members and guests to join us to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary at our “Bird Brain Game Night.” We will socialize as we eat, drink and be merry playing Bingo and trivia games during a fun-for-all evening!
Date: Wednesday November 30, 2017
Registration & Social: 5:30 pm
Program Starts: 6:00 pm
Location: Live Oak Hall at the Lake House on Seabrook Island
SIB will provide the beverages including wine, soda and coffee. Just sign up to bring a hors d’oeuvre or dessert. We ask everyone to RSVP no later than November 27, so we know how much wine to purchase and tables to set. (https://seabrookislandbirders.org/sib-evening-programs-2017/)
You may renew your SIB membership for 2018 at the door. Not a member of SIB yet? Join that evening and your $10 membership will not expire until the end of 2018. Guests are welcome for a $5 donation.
Don’t miss this chance to have a fun filled evening with our flock of Seabrook Island Birders!
If you have questions, please email us at: seabrookislandbirders@gmail.com
-Submitted by Nancy Brown
Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux at SIB’s Evening Program on Wed., Sept. 27
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 –Sidney Gauthreaux: New Ways of Studying Bird Migration
Registration & Social: 7:00 pm
Program Starts: 7:30 pm
Location: Live Oak Hall at the Lake House
Members FREE and Guests $5 Donation to SIB
Purchase raffle tickets to win a new bird feeder for your home!
To help us plan for the number of chairs, snacks and wine, please register now!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScissDaeGfr3ztvXFHskKD4WcXkkk_6bfV-vejOmp4qS0tqrw/viewform
“New Technology for Studying Bird Migration”
Satellite tracking of large migratory birds has been around for a few decades, but within the last decade new technological advancements have enabled the tracking of small migratory birds. In this presentation I will review results of migration studies using the new technology to track individual birds (miniature GIS devices, light measuring geolocators, Avian NanoTags and the MOTUS network) as well as the detection of large scale movements of migrating birds with recent technological upgrades to Doppler weather surveillance radar.
About Dr. Gauthreaux …
Dr. Gauthreaux retired from Clemson University where he was a faculty member from 1970-2006 and taught ornithology, animal behavior, and behavioral ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences. He still maintains a research presence at Clemson. He was a part-time employee of GeoMarine, Inc. (Plano, Texas) as Senior Scientist in the area of Remote Sensing and Technology from 2006-2012, and currently works as an independent consultant. He is also a part-time faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he works on the assessment of avian radars with Dr. Edwin E. Herricks’s group.
Continue reading “Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux at SIB’s Evening Program on Wed., Sept. 27”
Protecting Seabrook Island’s Migrating Shorebirds
Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) hosted a program featuring Felicia Sanders from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC-DNR) on Wednesday evening June 28, for a group of 70 SIB members and guests.
Felicia captivated the audience as she narrated photos of the fabulous shorebirds that spend time on our beaches either in the 
winter (Piping Plovers, Semi-palmated Plovers, Sanderlings), spring nesting (Wilson’s Plovers), during migration (Red Knots, Dunlin, Whimbrel), and year round (American Oystercatchers, Willets). As an example, Red Knots, a Federally Threatened shorebird species, use our beach during spring migration as a stopping point on their 18,000 mile roundtrip journey from their winter home on the southern tip of South American to the Arctic Circle where they nest. This spring, the largest known flock with 4,000 Red Knots enjoyed our beautiful and bountiful beaches to rest and feed before their 3-day direct 1,400 mile flight to James Bay in Canada. This is pretty amazing considering there are only an estimated 25,000 Red Knots remaining on the planet! Felicia emphasized the significance of our Seabrook flock, and the partnership with Seabrook Island Birders as we assisted SC DNR in April in tagging Red Knots and placing transmitters for important tracking on their journey.
Continue reading “Protecting Seabrook Island’s Migrating Shorebirds”
Reminder -SIB Presents Migratory Birds at Seabrook Island on June 28
Join us for an informative evening with Felicia Sanders, lead of the Shorebird Program at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), who will speak on Migratory Shorebirds at Seabrook Island.
To help us plan for the number of chairs, snacks and wine, please register now!
For more information on our evening programs read here.
-Submitted by Nancy Brown, SIB Communications Chair
SIB Presents – Migratory Birds at Seabrook Island on June 28, 2017
Join us for an informative evening with Felicia Sanders, lead of the Shorebird Program at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), who will speak on Migratory Shorebirds at Seabrook Island.
To help us plan for the number of chairs, snacks and wine, please register now!
For more information on our evening programs read here.
-Submitted by Nancy Brown, SIB Communications Chair
CCPRC: Master Naturalist Course by Clemson – Registration Opens July 1
The Charleston Master Naturalist course is for adults of all ages who want to better understand and protect the rich natural resources of South Carolina. While focusing on the coastal environments in and surrounding Charleston County, participants will sharpen their identification skills, learn to “read” landscapes, and develop an understanding of ecological relationships and issues across the SC Lowcountry. Graduates have the opportunity to participate in the Coastal Master Naturalist Association which continues the learning process through coordinated field trips, outings with professional naturalists, and volunteer opportunities.
The Charleston Master Naturalist course consists of an evening orientation on the first course date followed by 12 full days of classes on Tuesdays during the Spring and Fall of each year. Organized and conducted by our Interpretation Department, the course begins with explorations of the Caw Caw Interpretive Center, a nearly 1,000 acre site that has many distinct habitats rich in natural and cultural history. Other potential target sites include the Francis Marion National Forest, Bonneau Ferry WMA, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, and Bennett’s Point Field Station. Through visiting sites such as these and hearing from specialists such as Drs. Richard Porcher, Joel Gramling, Al Segars, and Joe Kelley, participants will discover the importance and complexity of topics such as watersheds, estuaries, barrier island ecology, Carolina Bays, and Hammock Islands.
The only prerequisite for this course is curiosity and a desire to learn about the natural world! Registration begins July 1 for the Fall course and January 1 for the Spring Course.
Registration & Upcoming Dates
View upcoming programs and register.
(Photo credit: CCPR website)
-Tidelines Editor
Feeding Hummingbirds
Many of our Seabrook Island residents enjoy watching and feeding the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that spend the summers on our island. Making food for these incredible creatures is easy – just use these directions below!
Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water and bring to a boil to kill any bacteria or mold present.
Cool and fill feeder.
Extra sugar water may be stored in a refrigerator.
No other products, including red dye, should ever be added.
It is suggested to place feeders in the shade and thoroughly clean and replace the food every 3-4 days. Do not use soap – but you may use a solution of 10% bleach and then rinse thoroughly. It is important to clean every 3-4 days as soon as the temperature reaches into the 80’s.
Thanks to Sheila Quigley & David Gardner for sharing this information.
-Submitted by Nancy Brown, SIB Communications Chair
Reminder – Register for SIB’s Rudy Mancke Presentation, April 26, 7:00pm
Registration & Social: 7:00pm
Program Starts: 7:30pm
Live Oak Hall at the Lake House on Seabrook Island
Bring your birding questions for an interactive discussion about the Natural History of Barrier Islands. Please help us know how much wine, snacks and chairs we will need by letting us know you plan to join us! Just click here! ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3JN4weQ-6Gp1dh8dBCDr8FuLsyG7Iw9MBGECvA9Pd-Nj2HA/viewform)
Continue reading “Reminder – Register for SIB’s Rudy Mancke Presentation, April 26, 7:00pm”