On January 3, 2024, 21 SIB members contributed to the 2023-2024 Sea Island Christmas Bird Count (CBC). We had 5 teams of birders hitting Seabrook Island “hotspots” of Jenkins Point, Palmetto Lake, North Beach, the Lake District, Camp St Christopher, Bohicket Marina, SIPOA/Club horse pasture and maintenance area, Crooked Oaks and Ocean Winds golf courses, and Bobcat/Six Ladies Trail. These teams saw 101 species and 2,074 individual birds. We walked 21.4 miles, drove in a car 3.3 miles and rode in golf carts 13.8 miles for 53 people hours of effort! Amazing!
In addition, our team consisted of ten feeder watch homes sighting 70 species and 347 individual birds during 24.6 people hours of watching. Our feeder watch observers saw 4 species missed by the field team so the total species on Seabrook Island was 105.
The temperature ranged from a low of 35 and a high of 55 degrees.
Thank you to all our volunteers who provided this valuable data! We hope more people will join for next year’s count, likely on Friday January 3, 2025!
Photos from the Day
Backyard Birding
Photos by Dean Morr & Patricia Schaeffer
Birding on North Beach
Photos by Gina Sanders
Birding at Camp St Christopher
Photos by Bob Mercer
Report from Aaron Given
SEA ISLANDS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2023-2024
The 13thSea Islands Christmas Bird Count occurred on 3 January 2024. The weather during the day of the count was mostly clear in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. The winds were light and temperatures ranging from 31° F in the morning to 55°F in the afternoon. Rain began just after 9:00pm but did not have any direct effect on the count.
Participation was lower this year with only 55 total participants. All sections within the count circle were covered except for Section 13C (Little Bear) on Kiawah Island. We had 15 participants in 7 parties on Kiawah Island, 11 participants in 6 parties on Seabrook Island, 9 participants in 5 parties on John’s Island, 6 participants in 3 parties on Wadmalaw Island, and 3 participants in 1 party on Deveaux Bank. In addition to field parties, we had good participation with feeder watchers too. There were 2 participants at 1 location on Kiawah, 12 participants at 11 locations on Seabrook, 1 participant at 1 location on John’s Island, and 4 participants at 2 locations on Wadmalaw Island.
The Sea Islands Christmas Bird Count team recorded 26,729 individual birds and 153 different species. Kiawah Island recorded 14,164 individuals of the 127 species. Seabrook Island (including the Freshfields territory) reported 3,162 individuals of 114 species. John’s Island documented 4,964 individuals of 103 species, Wadmalaw Island had 3,332 individuals of 100 species, and Deveaux Bank noted 1,107 individuals of 40 species.
Overall bird numbers were a little above average, however that number can vary wildly from year to year. The ocean off Kiawah was full of ducks and loons but most were too far to be identified. Almost 5,000 unidentified ducks and loons were counted. Species diversity has been consistent over the years ranging between 154-159 in most years. After a record year of 162 species last year, we came back down to earth this year recording our lowest number of species since 2013 (not including the 2018 count which was hampered by snow and ice). Compared to the last 5 years, we spent less time and travelled fewer miles during this year’s count. Since 2012, we have recorded 194 species.
YEAR | # PARTICIPANTS | PARTY HOURS | PARTY MILES | # INDIVIDUALS | # SPECIES |
| 2024 | 55 | 168.9 | 270.7 | 26,729 | 153 |
| 2023 | 68 | 198.8 | 314.0 | 22,919 | 162 |
| 2022 | 60 | 190.9 | 288.3 | 18,908 | 158 |
| 2021 | 68 | 200.8 | 312.7 | 44,026 | 157 |
| 2020 | 70 | 168.3 | 304.7 | 23,127 | 156 |
| 2019 | 74 | 155.7 | 274.2 | 16,571 | 155 |
| 2018* | 35 | 37.8 | 84.5 | 17,157 | 144 |
| 2017 | 73 | 152.6 | 324.1 | 38,630 | 158 |
| 2016 | 55 | 143.5 | 384.3 | 21,528 | 158 |
| 2015 | 45 | 156.1 | 363.3 | 41,096 | 159 |
| 2014 | 51 | 121.0 | 335.1 | 24,067 | 154 |
| 2013 | 47 | 106.8 | 321.0 | 22,652 | 146 |
| 2012** | 23 | 27.0 | 73.0 | 19,029 | 132 |
**unofficial – practice run
No new species were added to the count this year.
Some species highlights this year include Greater Scaup, Whimbrel, American Woodcock, Parasitic Jaeger, Western Cattle Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, and Rusty Blackbird. The Bar-tailed Godwit that we had to fortune to include the last two years, did return to Kiawah again this fall but left several weeks prior to the count.
Notable misses: Surf Scoter, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Prairie Warbler.
I’d would like to thank all the participants and volunteers for continuing to make this event a success. Not only is the bird count fun and educational for participants, but it also contributes valuable scientific data to aid in bird conservation across the country. Looking ahead to next year, the count will most likely be on Friday, January 3, 2025.