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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…
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…
Bird of the Week: Common Nighthawk
We recently shared information about the Chuck-will’s-widow, a bird common to Seabrook Island, more often heard than seen. A similar bird common to Seabrook Island, but generally not heard or even seen by many, is the Common Nighthawk. Both birds are in the nightjar family and breed in this area. They are often called “goatsuckers”…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Grackles: Boat-tailed and Common
Grackles have always appealed to me due to their beautiful iridescence and graceful look in flight. They have adapted to living in close proximity to people and are abundant in our area. Although the range of the Common Grackle is large and expanding, their numbers are declining. Boat-tailed Grackles, however, are not at risk. These…
SIB “Bird of the week” – Eastern Screech Owl
Eastern Screech Owl – Megascops asioLength: 6.3-9.8 in. Weight: 4.3-8.6 oz.Wingspan: 18.9-24 in. If you find yourself in a wooded area at night, don’t be too alarmed if you hear a haunting whinny floating across the night air. No, it’s not a ghost horse, it’s likely coming from a bird no bigger than a pint…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Red-headed Woodpecker
(submitted by: Judy Morr)resubmitted by SIB Is Woody Woodpecker the only woodpecker you know you can identify for sure? There are actually 6 different woodpeckers seen on Seabrook Island: Cornell Lab states “Several species of woodpeckers have red on their heads. Only one of these is named Red-headed Woodpecker,” and we will profile them first.…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Confusing Big White Birds
This is an exciting time of year at Seabrook Island as we see many “Big White Birds” starting their courtships and nesting throughout the island. But are you still trying to figure out the difference between a Great Egret, a Snowy Egret and a White Ibis? Have you ever seen a Snowy Egret to only…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill – Platalea ajajaLength: 32″; Wingspan: 50″; Weight: 52oz. Hey everybody, did you see the flamingo in the marsh near the fire station? Fooled again! What you probably saw was the beautiful Roseate Spoonbill. Their bright pink coloring confuses many people who think they have spotted a Pink Flamingo. Flamingos are larger and have a short,…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Crows: American vs Fish
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchosLength: 17.5″; Wingspan: 39″; Weight: 16 oz. Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragusLength: 15″; Wingspan: 36″; Weight: 10 oz. Probably many people on Seabrook have no idea that there are two kinds of crows here. For most of us, a crow is a crow. Actually, there are two different species on the Island: The American Crow and the…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Piping Plover
Piping Plover – Charadrius melodusLength: 7.25″; Wingspan: 19″; Weight: 1.9 oz. The Piping Plover is a small shorebird that has gotten a lot of attention at Seabrook. It doesn’t nest here, but Seabrook is an important stop for it in migration to feed. It’s feeding habitat has seriously declined since many coastal beaches have been lost to…