Latest posts
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SIB Bird of the Week – Summer Tanager
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of a flame-red bird flitting through the treetops in South Carolina’s warmer months, chances are you’ve seen the stunning Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). This migratory songbird brings color and melody to the southeastern U.S. each spring and summer. Characteristics The male Summer Tanager is North America’s only entirely red
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Painted Bunting
Painted Bunting – Passerina cirisLength: 5.5″; Wingspan: 8.75″; Weight: 0.54 oz. Without a doubt, this bird is one of the most beautiful and colorful birds on Seabrook Island or anywhere else. Look for this small to medium sized multicolored finch at your bird feeder and around the edges of dense brush (such as wax myrtles) and thick
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalisLength: 8.75″; Wingspan: 12″; Weight: 1.6 oz. We know many of our readers may be traveling and busy with family , so we thought when you have time you’d enjoy learning more about one of the favorite backyard visitors throughout eastern North America. Among other things, the Northern Cardinal is said to symbolize
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Help Track the Red Knots!
On March 31st, Shorebird Stewards from Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island assisted SC DNR and Georgia DNR with banding Red Knots on Kiawah. In addition to traditional numbered bands, several birds were fitted with Satellite trackers, giving scientists real-time date on their location, migration patterns and routes. We’re excited to announce that SCDNR has made
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July 4th Challenge – find American Birds
Join SIB in celebrating our nation and its birds by searching for state birds and birds with states or America in their name. Last year we had our inaugural July 4th Challenge after I found an article from 2017 from Nemesis Bird by Steve Brenner. For years he had a challenge to see who could
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“Bird of the Week” – Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalisLength: 51″; Wingspan: 79″; Weight: 131.2 oz. Brown Pelicans are a very common site on Seabrook Island all year long. This large bird is commonly found on our island flying over the dunes and beaches in V-formations or single file, flapping and gliding in unison. Sometimes you even see them coasting just inches
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SIB Member Profile: Claudia Porter
Claudia Porter was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. After graduating from Occidental College with a degree in French Literature, she began working at Bullock’s, a division of Federated Department Stores. Claudia met Stuart Hotchkiss at Bullock’s and they took their first international trip together to London, with Frommer’s “Europe on $5
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Ask SIB: Where did all the birds go?
Question: Up until recently our feeders have been busy, with birds coming and going all day. Now we see only a few regulars, but not the number we had a couple of weeks ago. What changed? Response: There are many reasons, but since this question was posed in June, let’s concentrate on potential reasons you
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – American Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher – Haematopus palliatusLength: 17.5″; Wingspan: 32″; Weight: 22.4 oz. The American Oystercatcher is a large, boldly patterned bird we see at our beach and in salt marshes. It doesn’t appear in large groups, but is often seen in solitary pairs. As indicated by it’s name, it feeds on oysters, clams, mussels and uses it
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Welcome Summer and our Summer Birds
Happy Summer! Like us, many birds avoid the summer sun by limiting daytime activity. These birds will forage in the early morning, evening or throughout the night so they can conserve energy and rest during the warmest times of day. You can plan your birding activities to coincide with the birds schedules. SIB’s “Sit, Sip