Audubon South Carolina’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary, near Aiken, SC, has managed stork feeding ponds that provide vital foraging and resting habitat for Wood Storks after the breeding season, and before their annual migration.
To honor conservation success of Wood Storks, Silver Bluff holds an annual “Storks and Corks” event in late summer. This year, some of our members attended and one had this to say. “There were about 200 Wood Storks feeding in the pond, as well as White Ibis, Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons, and various egrets – including about 40 at a rookery on an adjoining pond. Anhingas, Killdeer, and gulls were also in the ponds.”
Tickets for this event are sold in advance but are limited and sell out quickly. Tickets include:
- A guided tour of the sanctuary
- Light food and refreshments
- A selection of wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks
- Access to exclusive, event-only Silver Bluff merchandise
While the event has already been held for 2025, the Wood Storks will be hanging out for a while longer if anyone has an interest in seeing them. According to the sanctuary, they forage all day – not just in the evening. Before making the 2.5 hour drive from Seabrook Island, it’s advised to check with them to ensure the birds are still there and haven’t left on their migration to the Gulf Coast.
If you’re not able to get there this year, mark your calendars for next year and plan in advance to attend. What a wonderful way to recognize these amazing birds, and support the sanctuary’s miles of trails, conservation programs, and longleaf pine restoration efforts.
For more information on Audubon’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary, click here.
Photo Credit: Alan Fink
Submitted by: Claudia Porter and Gina Sanders