Latest posts
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Barred Owl
My husband says he’s not a birder. However, he goes birding with me on a regular basis, comes with me on most of my Shorebird Steward shifts, attends a few SIB events, and carries my tripod and other gear when I’m out taking photos. And most importantly, he’s my spotter. He has a gift for…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl – Bubo virginianus Length: 18.1-24.8″.; Wingspan: 39.8-57.1″ ; Weight: 32.1-88.2 oz. “Who’s awake? Me too! Who’s awake? Me too!” My “Birding by Ear” audio training suggests these phonetic phrases to help identify the Great Horned Owl. One night, while sitting on our back deck at Seabrook, my husband and I heard this…
SIB ‘Bird of the week’ – Black and White Warbler
Black-and-white Warblers are medium-sized warblers (small songbirds). They have a fairly long, slightly downcurved bill. The head often appears somewhat flat and streamlined, with a short neck. The wings are long and the tail is short. Their names actually describe them well. You have to listen very closely to hear their song. They can be…
Hints for Feeding Hummingbirds
It’s great to learn something new, especially when it saves you time and effort. Recently I was listening to the podcast Talkin Birds. Mike O’Connor, the owner of Birdwatchers General Store on Cape Cod, contributes weekly in a segment called “Let’s Ask Mike”. A couple weeks ago his topic was on feeding the hummingbirds. I…
SIB participated in Great Backyard Bird Count
Each February, a world-wide birding event is held called the Great Backyard Bird Count. The event encourages people to get out and share their love of birds. As of Tuesday evening, with submissions still coming in, eBird reported 7,769 species reported in almost 285,000 checklists worldwide. SIB members’ checklists are among those numbers. We asked…
2023 SIB Year End Review
The eighth year for the Seabrook Island Birders was a busy year. The organization grew to 336 members. Evening programs There were 5 “quarterly” evening events with an average of 51 attendees with video available for those unable to attend in person.• January 22: A World on a Wing – Scott Wiedensaul• March 23: Red…
SIB Travels: Nearby in search of Rare Birds
In December, I started seeing reports of birds I needed for either my year list or my life list. They all seemed to be in Mount Pleasant or Sullivan’s Island. I texted friends and they quickly responded with a willingness to escape the hustle of Christmas and search for birds. Western Kingbird: This bird is…
SIB “Bird of the week “- Blue Jay
This is a common large songbird known to many people. Blue above and white below, with a prominent crest and a bold black necklace. The wings and tail are barred with black, and it has a bold white wing bar. The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue…
SIB Travels: Second Annual Family reunion in Central Florida
With 4 days warning, the Morr cousins decided to get together again in Bradenton, Florida. Last year my research resulted in a birding “wish list” of Nanday Parakeet, Monk Parakeet, Black Swan and White Winged Dove. Since I only got the Black Swan from that list, I decided on a different approach this year. I…
Did you know: Five Incredible Ways Birds Change Their Bodies for Spring and Fall Migration
After reading Moonbird, Jackie Brooks wondered if Red Knots are unique in the way their bodies are transformed for migrations. She found this fascinating article from Audubon: “Five Incredible Ways Birds Change Their Bodies for Spring and Fall Migration“. The answer is other birds also transform their bodies. “… birds radically change their bodies and their metabolism…
