Latest posts
What gift can you recommend for my 6 year-old birder?
Last week we provided some gift ideas for the birder on your list. These were geared to adult birders. A recent Facebook post asked for gift ideas for a 6 year-old that was very into birds. Responses (not SIB members) were interesting. A field guide!While a 6 year-old may not be able to read, the…
What Colors Should a Birder Wear?
Imagine you are walking along the marsh in the late fall. The Great Egrets, Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills are hunting for fish in the salty low tide. You are dressed in a green shirt, tan pants and a neutral colored hat to shield your face from the birds. Discreetly, moving slowly and carefully, you…
The Magnificent Frigatebird: A Glimpse from Seabrook Island into the Life of an Aerial Marvel
There’s something almost mystical about encountering a bird that spends the majority of its life soaring high above the ocean, rarely touching down. One of these remarkable avian species, the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), is often seen in faraway tropical regions, but every now and then, they grace the mainland with their awe-inspiring presence. Helene…
SIB members visit Kiawah Banding Station
Recently, Seabrook Island Birders participated in a Learning Together opportunity at Kiawah Island’s Banding Station. Every August through November, Aaron Given, Wildlife Biologist on Kiawah Island, sets up twenty-five 40’ mist nets on Captain Sam’s Spit where, over the next couple of months, he collects birds for banding, measuring, and weighing. We scheduled our visit…
October Big Day was BIG for SIB
On October 12, 20 SIB members participated in October Big Day otherwise known as World Migration Day. eBird reports: birders from every continent on earth came together for an extraordinary celebration of birds, nature, and the power of participatory science: October Big Day. In just 24 hours, this event united birdwatchers in 201 countries in…
Hooded Mergansers have returned
On October 25, we asked the question “When will Hooded Mergansers return?” (see below). It’s a little earlier than average but Glen Cox reported and Don Smith confirmed the Hooded Mergansers returned to Jenkins Point on November 3. Migration is definitely in full swing. Enjoy these beautiful “winter” residents. ———————————————————————————- One of the first signs…
Becoming a Martin “Landlord”.
Seabrook Island Birders are bringing an exciting new collaborative to Seabrook Island. Later this year we will be erecting Purple Martin housing through the very generous and enthusiastic support of the Equestrian center, Jennifer Tyrrell of the Charleston Natural History Society(Audubon), Seabrook Island Environment and Wildlife Committee and the Town of Seabrook Island. In early…
What’s New in Avian Taxonomy?
Most of our members love birds, and some of us might consider ourselves a “bird nerd.” In any event, we hope everyone will be interested to learn that each year, scientists review data to update the taxonomy of bird species. A major update has just completed, resulting in 3 newly-recognized species (one is newly-described), 141…
SIB Travels: The SE Arizona Birding Festival!
On August 6-9, Ed and I attended the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in Tucson, presented by Tucson Audubon Society. It was our first birding festival in 14 years, and it was first rate! Registration online opened on June 1 and most of our trips were sold out within 20 minutes. There are so many trips and activities…
Deveaux Bank Receives New Designation as Site of International Importance
When the sun goes down on Seabrook Island, residents and guests alike make their way to beach Boardwalks 8 and 9 to watch the spectacular array of colors that make up our sunsets. It’s a beautiful sight, and a beachgoer’s dream. There’s an uninhabited island just across the water, and as the sun drops lower…