Latest posts
Did you know: Birds Beaks Adapt to food
Every bird course I’ve taken tells you to look at the bird’s beak to help in the identification. After researching how birds eat large items, beak shape became more interesting….so a study in beaks…. The beak – also known as the bill – has two parts: the upper mandible and the lower mandible. The upper…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer – Rynchops nigerLength: 18″; Wingspan: 44″; Weight: 11 oz. We are among a lucky few to have the Black Skimmer along our beaches. As you can see from the map below, this dramatic and beautiful bird populates only a very small portion of the United States. Aside from its striking black and white…
Satellite Tagged Red Knots Are Headed Back From the High Canadian Arctic
On August ninth, Felicia Sanders, lead Coastal Bird Biologist with SCDNR, sent word that two of the Red Knots tagged with satellite transmitters were headed back south after spending the summer nesting in the Arctic islands of Canada’s far-north. Felicia has been sending updates with maps since early May, when the birds were first captured…
Take the “Plirding” Pledge
During our birding tour last month, we noticed trash along the mile long stretch of dirt road we were birding. That’s when I introduced my two nieces and the group to “plirding.” What is “plirding” you ask? “Plirding” is picking up litter while birding, and was inspired by “plogging” (picking up litter while jogging). I…
Missouri bald eagle that incubated rock now cares for eaglet
In April, many of you may have seen on Facebook or other websites that a Bald Eagle (Murphy) was incubating a rock. This week, SIB member George Haskins sent us an update he saw in his local newspaper. The 31-year-old eagle is now fostering an eaglet. It seems to be an appropriate Father’s Day update.…
SIB Travels: 10 days in the Northeast – a graduation & birding!
On May 10 we set out for Boston and the graduation of our granddaughter from Emerson College. What a great time to travel north, the peak of warbler migration! And what a great way to combine family and birds. Our first stop was in Lebanon County, PA and a rare Common Shelduck which is native to…
SIB Travels: Birding for Warblers
On April 22 2023, while eating dinner with friends at the Seabrook Island Club where we talked about our great trip to Panama, the question was asked, “What’s next?” Eileen popped up with conviction, “Magee Marsh in Ohio.” Magee Marsh hosted the annual Greatest Week of Birding festival from May 5 to May 14, 2023.…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Gulls vs. Terns
If you guessed GULLS vs. TERNS, you are correct! All those birds on the beach – it’s very confusing. To make things a bit clearer, let’s discuss two very common and very similar groups: terns and gulls. What they are NOT are those little birds that run along the edge of the water, or the…
Best Bird Dads – Happy Father’s Day from SIB!
As I sit in my favorite “office” writing this (which is our screened porch, overlooking our back yard and feeders), I can’t help but notice a male Eastern Bluebird. He’s flying back and forth, from the trees to the nest box we added this year. He’s definitely working overtime, delivering food to his hungry family.…
Ask SIB: Can birds choke on large food?
Question: I recently encountered a dead Laughing Gull on the beach with a fish in it’s mouth. Could have he choked on this? I’ve seen birds eating extremely large items without any apparent problem. Response: A Google search didn’t result in many responses. When humans choke, it’s because food (often poorly chewed) gets lodged in…