Latest posts
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Ask SIB: Why is Northern Cardinal’s head bald?
Question: Is this a Northern Cardinal? If so, why does its head look so small and its beak so large? – SIB member Lesley Gore Answer: This question was also answered in Bird Watcher’s Digest. They say: Soon after nesting season ends, many birds replace their feathers. Songbirds generally lose and regrow a few feathers
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Ask SIB: What can we do about gulls?
Question: The gulls seem especially aggressive this year at Pelican’s Nest. Does SIB have any suggestions what Seabrook Island Club can do to ease the situation? – Mitchell Laskowitz, Seabrook Island Club Manager Earlier this summer, Mitchell Laskowitz reached out to Seabrook Island Birders asking for any humane ideas we had to help with the
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Ask SIB: Why are owls calling?
Question: Tonight on Jenkins Point we can hear four owls stretched in a line from Seabrook Island Road-or thereabouts-to our oak and then on out Jenkins Point with the fourth owl at the very end-I think. All were calling, sometimes solo but sometimes overlapping each other. I assume from their calls they are Great Horned
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Ask SIB: Why is Pileated Woodpecker making a hole in the fall?
Question: Yesterday a male pileated woodpecker started working on the opening to one of our owl boxes. We assumed he wanted the opening larger to get in for some bugs. He worked on it for a few hours (till dusk) and then is back this morning and has made the opening larger. He now goes
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Ask SIB: Which Hawk is This?
Linda Rogoff recently sent this beautiful hawk picture to SIB requesting assistance in identification. Identifying hawks can be confusing, so we asked our resident naturalist Bob Mercer for his opinion. Bob’s Response: A nice picture like this from Linda Rogoff makes the identification easy! When one looks at a hawk, the first task is to
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Ask SIB: Should we take feeders down due to Avian Flu?
Susan Markhum recently noted: Avian flu killed the two eaglets on Hilton Head. They suspect it happened after eating a bird that had it. I just wonder if we should take our feeders down. Sadly, the eaglets mentioned in our earlier blog did die of Avian Flu. Hilton Head Land Trust posted on their site:
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Ask SIB: “Are Red Knots at North Beach?”
Fred Whittle recently sent a question to Seabrook Island Birds. He asked, “Are Red Knots at North Beach now? Thought I saw them on Sunday afternoon.” The quick answer is yes. Mark Andrews recently reported 300 birds at the end of North Beach. That leads people who like birds to a host of other
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Ask SIB: Eastern Bluebird Winter Behavior
On January 9, 2021, Andy wrote SIB, “Today we saw maybe half dozen blue birds and one was sitting on the entry hole. Isn’t it early for them to be nesting? Has the warm weather put them off schedule?” The questions are relatively easy to answer. Yes, it is too early for them to be
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Ask SIB: What Bird of Prey is This?
Patricia’s Question: On Monday, January 31, 2022, this is the scene found by Patricia and Page Schaefer in their driveway on Seabrook Island, SC. Identifying hawks can be confusing, so we asked our resident naturalist Bob Mercer for his opinion. Bob’s Response: “I would say it is an adult female Cooper’s Hawk. Why do I
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Ask SIB: What is this Bird and How Can I Prevent Birds from Flying into Windows?
QUESTION: Hi! This beautiful bird has been visiting at regular times every day for a month. He keeps flying into the same two windows – we’ve tried using reflectors, etc., but he’s undeterred. He usually hangs out with the Northern Cardinals, but oddly, he never joins them at our nearby feeders! Thanks for any info!