The Seabrook Island Birders, SIB, is an organization that began in late 2015 when a few Seabrook Island residents pulled together like-minded birders. A group of volunteers was active monitoring bluebird boxes and represented one example of an emerging group of folks, on Seabrook Island, with a significant interest in all bird populations. The need for an organization focused on birds was driven by both the diversity of species on the island and the wide range of migratory species that were dependent on Seabrook Island and the surrounding area during migration. The goal was to support and promote watching, learning, and protecting birds everywhere, particularly on this amazing island.
The planning meeting, a committee of about 12 people, was held in November of 2015. Soon after the website and blogs were launched and approximately 100 people attended that first in-person gathering, a talk given by the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited of West Ashley, in January 2016. By the end of 2016, Seabrook Island Birders was up and running with Programs, Activities, Hospitality, Bluebird Society, and Communications committees all chaired and active. This all took hold within a year of the initial concept being floated. Relationships with SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources), USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Services), and SC Audubon were strengthened and the young SIB organization partnered with them and the Town of Seabrook to protect the habitat areas used by the Piping Plover, Red Knot and other shorebird species.