In April, Seabrook Island Birders welcomed Captain Chris Crolley as our guest lecturer. Chris is the leader of Coastal Expeditions and its first employee. Over 30 years, he expanded the company across several South Carolina coast locations. Since founding Coastal Expeditions Foundation in 2018, his work has focused on the foundation. To learn more about Deveaux from Chris, watch the video below.
Chris possesses a genuine commitment to coastal conservation. As reflected in his presentation, he maintains a substantial and relevant focus on assessing developments at Deveaux and understanding their implications for South Carolina’s coastal nursery banks and islands. The Seabrook Island Birders organization continues to expand its knowledge regarding Deveaux, which is a treasure to the Seabrook Island community. On April 15th and 16th, Chris and his team graciously hosted members of our leadership team on cruises to Deveaux. Jeff Davis described Chris as “a true Modern Lowcountry Renaissance Man”—highly knowledgeable in regional history, natural science, Latin, and an experienced navigator. Participants consistently gain valuable insights, observe notable phenomena, and enjoy compelling narratives during excursions with Chris; our recent experience was no exception”.
Photos by: Jeff Davis, Alan Fink and Maureen Healy
Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary is a crucial nesting and roosting site, famously hosting over 50% of the eastern North American population of Whimbrels (~20,000) during spring migration. It serves as a vital sanctuary for:
Key Bird Species on Deveaux Bank:
- Whimbrel: A major nocturnal roost for over 19,000–20,000 individuals in April/May.
- Brown Pelican: Hosts one of the largest nesting colonies in South Carolina.
- Black Skimmer: Nests in high numbers, highly susceptible to disturbance.
- Terns: Royal Tern, Least Tern, Sandwich Tern, and Common Tern.
- Shorebirds & Waders: American Oystercatcher, Willet, Wilson’s Plover, Red Knot, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Great Egret.
- Gulls: Laughing gull.
- Raptors: Bald Eagles and Osprey are observed in the area.
If you are interested in learning more about the History of Deveaux bank and its importance as a Seabird and Shorebird Sanctuary here are some links you might want to take a look at:
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