Latest posts
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher –Toxostoma rufum L 11.5” WS 13” WT 2.4 oz In the family of Mimidae, they are related to other frequent visitors to Seabrook Island, the Northern Mockingbird and Gray Catbird. Brown Thrashers are fairly large, slender songbirds with long proportions—the legs are long and sturdy, and the bill is long and slightly downcurved.…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Least Tern
Least Tern – Sternula antillarumLength: 9″; Wingspan: 20″; Weight: 1.5 oz. The Least Tern arrives on Seabrook Island in mid-April each year. It is the smallest tern in North America. Look for a small, graceful tern with a black cap, white forehead, and yellow bill. Their legs are yellow. Like most other terns, they plunge dive for small fish. You…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Prothonotary Warbler
If you’ve visited any swampy woodland habitats recently you may have seen a flash of yellow darting around the trees. Prothonotary Warblers are unique among warblers as they’re one of two that build their nests in holes in standing dead trees. Often called a “swamp warbler” in the southeast, they’re also the officially designated State…
Memorial Day: Honoring the Carrier Pigeon
Today is Memorial Day. And on this special day we honor and mourn the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. In addition to human soldiers, millions of animals have been pressed into military service throughout history, serving as beasts of burden, scouts, messengers, and combatants. The heaviest losses occurred during…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Yellow-breasted Chat
This week we look at a bird that can be hard to find, the Yellow-breasted Chat. Even though it’s widespread throughout our area during spring/summer breeding season, their habit of skulking in dense thickets makes it a challenge to locate. You’ll have the most success looking (or listening) for them when the male performs his…
SIB’s “Bird of the Week” – Yellow-throated Warbler
The Yellow-throated Warbler, Setophaga Dominica, is a common warbler in this area year round and breeds west to Texas and north as far as Illinois. They are part of the family of Wood Warblers, or Parulidae. If you are lucky enough to spot this stunning warbler, it is an easy bird to identify. It has…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Summer Tanager
The only completely red bird in North America, the strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is an eye-catching sight against the green leaves of the forest canopy. Females, pictured at top, are bright yellow-green—yellower on the head and underparts and slightly greener on the back and wings. Molting immature males can be patchy yellow and red. Summer…
SIB Bird of the Week – Chuck-will’s widow
If you’re looking for a Chuck-will’s widow, go outside after dark this spring and simply listen. If you hear birdsong that sounds like the name “Chuck-will’s Widow” repeating itself, with short pauses in between, you have most likely found our bird of the week. At least by sound. Sometimes mistaken for the similar sounding Eastern…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichasLength: 4.3–5.1”; Wingspan: 5.9 – 7.9″; Weight: 0.3–0.4 oz The Common Yellowthroat is one of the most easy-to-spot warblers during spring and summer on Seabrook Island, and in much of North America. These songbirds dwell in open habitats such as marshes, wetland edges and brushy fields. The male’s “witchety-witchety-witchety” song is…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Green Heron
Look along the banks of ponds and lagoons between April and October and you’ll most likely find this dark colored heron tucked into the vegetation along the bank, intently focused on the shallow water. Green Herons usually forage day and night among thick vegetation in water that’s less than 4 inches deep, avoiding the deeper…
