Birding Beaufort

08/19/2024

Turtle 🐢 talk time! 1 in 1000 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. This is why every single thing, that every volunteer Sea Turtle Team does, is so important to the survival of this amazing species.

You play an important role too, by filling in your holes on the beach, knocking down sand castles, taking your tents & your chairs off the beach, turn off your ocean facing lights at night & if you must be on the beach at night use Red Lights only!

This is just more reason why The Lowcountry & The Sea Islands are so special. 💚🐢💚 FYI Harbor Island SC Sea Turtle activities are under SCDNR permit -1.

08/16/2024

Ohhhh shorebirds are lining the beaches again & many are returning from breeding grounds to their “wintering grounds”! Had a great walk after turtle patrol this morning 🥰🐦🌊🙌☀️

08/15/2024

Turtle patrol volunteers are early risers, so my friend Jane & I made the most of our “day off” and decided to explore Hunting Island together at sunrise. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful place here to enjoy & cherish! She’s becoming a great birder too, which makes my heart happy
☀️🌊🥰🐦🌴🦪

08/13/2024

Yes, we were there once too! We have a great passion for shorebirds & migration is going to be “heating” up come September! If you want to learn more about Shorebirds, proper ethics when viewing them, and why it’s important to “Share The Shore”…Birding Beaufort is here for you! 😎 🌊 🐦

08/11/2024

White Ibis, Wood Stork & and Roseate Spoonbill, roosting together? Do you know why this is not an odd pairing? Because they are actually all related! You’ll often see these birds together & now you’ll know why!

Birds 🐦 of a feather 🪶 we should stick together ~ Billie Eilesh

08/07/2024

Who needs a happy 🥰 story? Last year, in February of 2023, teams from Virginia Tech, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, SC Audubon and SC Audubon Shorebird Steward volunteers Peggy Lucas, Mary Beth Roy and myself (even though I ran late with a bum knee😩) and Stewards from Hunting Island were able to watch & participate in the banding & release of Piping Plovers and Sanderlings at Hunting Island State Park. Well yesterday, I photographed a returning PIPL on Harbor Island and my friend Mary Beth was SO EXCITED because she was able to release JN9 last year!!!! Think about how amazing it is, that this little bird, has found its way back to the same territory!!!!

Piping Plovers are listed as either threatened or endangered, depending on their breeding region. On the Atlantic Coast (Threatened), Northern Great Plains of U.S. & Canada (Threatened) and Great Lakes of U.S. & Canada (Endangered). Banding projects help to keep track of birds and give insight on where they go in the non breeding months. It also provides data during spring/fall migration and winter to help determine survival rates, foraging areas, and site fidelity (SC DNR).

This highlights what a critical role our beaches in The Lowcountry play in terms of the survival of shorebirds such as Piping Plovers, Wilson’s Plovers, Red Knots, Whimbrel and so many others!!! 🙌🥰🐦

08/06/2024

I got to the beach!!! We’re in a lull & I am stir crazy. And I am a bird nerd obviously!!! Our beach looked WAY better than I expected! It was a nice break & I got a life bird (Stilt Sandpiper). No flamingos 🦩🤣 things are supposed to pick up again tonight, but in a less stressful way 🙏🩵

It’s SO wonderful seeing our Piping Plovers returning!!! 🩵🥰

08/06/2024

Good Morning 😩 can’t thank you enough for the support & please keep praying. We had a few tornado warnings, the one @ 1245 & seeing The Weather Channel point out Harbor, Hunting Island & Fripp as it was off Fripp definitely scared me. By some miracle we still have power, praying it stays that way. Our one downstairs back door slider is leaking bad (it’s 2 years old 🤬) & it’s leaking from the top & the molding. A tornado did hit Edisto and Edisto is across the sound from us 😢 So far, we’re good. Very little sleep, but good & at least two more days to go. But I had Spoonbills hunkering down in my yard. I feel so bad for our birds & wildlife & of course our turtles nests 😢💔🙏

08/04/2024

Photo dump & story time. So we are forecasted to receive 12-30 inches of rain possibly. I can’t wrap my head around it honestly. As a birder & Lowcountry Master Naturalist, I often keep places that I see birds to myself or I don’t disclose publicly. Not because I’m selfish, but because humans have a tendency to ruin special things. Bad behavior to get a photo, isn’t ethical & I won’t be a part of it. The 1st priority is nature & keeping it safe.

These were taken over a two day period this week on Hunting Island State Park, which is next where I live. This area will be completely flooded & the birds won’t return there for a while if at all to that spot this season. Pray for everyone in Debby’s path; 🙏🩷 hope you guys enjoy these, as much as I enjoyed taking them. Stay safe!

08/03/2024

“How was it possible for the world to be so beautiful & so cruel at the same time?”
~Lian Hearn🩷 Roseate Spoonbill preening that beautiful, ballerina 🩰 tutu

08/02/2024

Representing team Wading Bird, on balance beam in The Avian Olympics, is The Roseate Spoonbill 🩷🙌

08/01/2024

When your morning starts like this, you know it’s about as perfect as it can be 🩷🩷🩷🩷

07/31/2024

We have been working on trying to secure a “Balloon Release Ban” for nearly 2 YEARS here in The Lowcountry. To make things clear; we’re NOT asking to ban balloons or retail sales, etc, that’s silly. We need a call for action on legislation regarding RELEASES into the air. Plain & simple, this is litter. We pride ourselves here in The Lowcountry on our beautiful landscape, our waterways & the wildlife we share our space with.

Can you believe that the State of Florida just enacted a balloon release ban as of July 1??? Clemson stopped the tradition of balloon releases! This really should be a no brainer for us in South Carolina and The Lowcountry!!!

We’ve spent a lot of time researching & pulling together data with the help of our friends from The South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. Part of what we as Birding Beaufort want to do, is partner with schools & the public to help educate people and provide alternatives to releasing balloons. 🎈

Balloons are litter, they end up in the trees, the waterways, and are deadly to fish, turtles, birds, dolphins, and livestock. I hate seeing our majestic pines & live oaks littered & I’m sure you do too. Your volunteer turtle teams sure dislike picking them up on our beaches!

Help us make this happen!!! If you’re interested in signing a pledge or helping out, please send us a message, comment below or email us at [email protected]

Let’s take the next steps to help keep The Lowcountry beautiful for everyone!!!

Remember, balloons DON’T go to heaven 🙏!!!! They end up littering our landscape & waterways! 💔
🎈💔 🐦 🐢 🌳 🐊 🐟 🐬 🐋 🦈 🌾

07/30/2024

Our hearts are so happy 🫶🏻

Last week, Birding Beaufort hosted our teens at the Cypress Wetlands to see nature's majesty right here in our backyard. The kids had a terrific time seeing birds, an alligator, and even some snapping turtles. Connecting with the outdoors helps heal trauma and we appreciate Birding Beaufort for having us!

07/29/2024

The health benefits of birding & being outdoors are numerous!!! Studies show that birding can help to reduce stress, raise serotonin levels, increase mental acuity & lower blood pressure. Being outside can bring joy & help you live a happier/healthier life! We loved seeing beautiful Painted Buntings & a few Ruby Throated Hummingbirds yesterday & we sure felt good afterwards! Let’s get outside together!! 😊🙌🐦📸

07/25/2024

It’s a true gift to be able to give back through nature. We are so honored to have taken some children from CAPA Beaufort for a tour at Cypress Wetlands this morning. This is why we do what we do!!! And this is our mission as Lowcountry Master Naturalists.

What a perfect way for us to announce that Birding Beaufort will also be forming a nonprofit arm of “Birding Beaufort ~ Birding for a Cause”. Our goal is to provide tours for children, seniors and those with special needs, where we can help people connect with nature to benefit their overall health.

We are always available for speaking engagements as well, for groups who are interested in learning more about nature & The Lowcountry.

🩵📸🐦🙏

07/24/2024

Morning preening is very important 🤣🩷 Have you seen any of these beautiful birds? They were late in arriving, but it’s always worth the wait to see them.

Roseate Spoonbills 🩷 get their pink coloration from the foods they eat. Crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates contain pigments called carotenoids that help turn their feathers pink.

We tell people all the time, that we will never NOT get excited whenever we encounter a beautiful Roseate Spoonbill!
🩷📸🙌

07/21/2024

How lucky are we? One of the most beautiful places in The Beaufort area to visit is Hunting Island State Park. We captured the stately lighthouse in the glow of the sunrise yesterday. Perfect skies & beautiful sea oats gracefully swaying. 💙🌊📸☀️🌾

It’s a sweet, sweet life…living by the salty sea 🌊 ~ Zac Brown/Jimmy Buffett

07/20/2024

The early mornings are worth it, when you’re rewarded with moments like this. A sunrise, golden hour Roseate Spoonbill 🩷📸🩷📸🩷

07/19/2024

We’ll call this a VERY good birding day! Painted & Indigo Buntings! A pair of Common Ground Doves too! If you look closely, the Indigo Bunting is banded. There is SO much beauty & grace here in The Lowcountry.
🫶🏻🐦📸💙🙌🌈

07/18/2024

It’s truly a gift, being able to see so many juveniles growing up, as they now socialize with adult birds. Beaufort, Port Royal & The Sea Islands are truly the gift that keeps on giving for birders!!! Really enjoyed this tour with some new birders!!! 🙌

07/14/2024

Anyone else 🤣🤣🤣🤣

But in all seriousness, please don’t feed birds on the beach. This is a learned behavior and is damaging to them. Trust me, they really don’t want your Cheetos.

07/13/2024

We want to send & ask for lots of healing prayers & strength to our good friend Rick Smith as he’s facing some difficult times right now with his health. Rick was a neighbor & is one of our biggest supporters. He loved to text his “favorite bird nerd” with jokes or photos of birds. Rick is known as “Rick’s Rocks” and delighted many with his designs that were placed around Beaufort & Hunting Island. We love you Rick & we’re thinking of your beautiful wife & family. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

07/10/2024

My dear friend Kim understands me 🤣 and yes, our Hummingbirds on Harbor Island have returned in full force over the past two weeks!!! 🌺

Remember that if you want to make your own Hummingbird nectar like we do, NEVER use artificial sugars, brown sugars or maple syrups/honey! Only pure white cane sugar & water!

07/08/2024

Northern Cardinals are often symbolic & meaningful to many. The most common example is that a departed loved one is near, and the Cardinal appears. In order for this beautiful red to develop, they need to eat seeds or fruit containing pigment molecules called yellow carotenoids. Their bodies then change those pigments from yellow to red. This is why planting native species is so important!

What do you think of when you see a Northern Cardinal? ❤️❤️❤️

07/07/2024

This is truly heartbreaking 💔 please think before you lay out any poisons! Our raptors eat rats, snakes or other animals that may have ingested poisons. This makes us so sad 💔💔💔💔

Raptor CAM Update - https://mailchi.mp/hhilandtrust/lets-make-a-difference