Join SIB: Global Big Day

Global Big Day – Learning Together at various locations
Location:  
    8:00 am – 10:00 am Palmetto Lake / Equestrian Center
    10:30 am – 12:00 pm Jenkins Point
    2:00 pm – 4:00 pm North Beach
    4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Bobcat Trail / Six Ladies Trail  
Max:  12 for each location 
Cost: None for members; $10 donation for guests

On May 13, Cornell Lab and eBird sponsor Global Big Day.  Will you join more than 30,000 others and become a part of Global Big Day? You don’t have to commit to birding for 24 hours—an hour or even 10 minutes of watching birds makes you part of the team. Visit your favorite spot or search out someplace new; enjoy a solo walk or get some friends to join in the Global Big Day fun.  As part of this day, Seabrook Island Birders will conduct Learning Together activities at various locations plus offer you an opportunity to request someone to bird with you at your favorite location.  The registration form below allows you to select which locations you wish  to bird.

The morning will start at 8:00 am with a Learning Together around Palmetto Lake. This is less than one mile of flat, paved walk around the lake.  Historically in May at this location we see Great Crested Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles and Mississippi Kites in addition to the “normal” Great Egrets, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadees, etc.  If time permits, we’ll continue on to the Equestrian Center to see European Starlings, Eastern Bluebirds and maybe even Cattle Egret.

At 10:30 am we will traverse (on bike or car) down Jenkins Point to hopefully see more Egrets, Herons and Anhingas.  Low tide is 9:39 am so hopefully we’ll have some shorebirds in the mud flats.  Since this activity can be primarily by car, it is a good opportunity for people with mobility issues.

At 2:00 pm we will visit North Beach which was recently showcased at the Sea Islands Shorebird Festival.  We will be looking for the Red Knots that are our guests in April and May, stopping at Seabrook Island to rest and refuel on their long migration from South America to the Arctic to breed. Flocks of 1000 knots have been seen to date, growing to 5000 or more as in past years. Wilson’s Plovers are being seen in the critical habitat getting ready to mate and nest. Overall, we hope to spot a nice variety of shorebirds as we work our way to the North Beach inlet. We’ll meet in the Property Owners’ beach parking lot at 2:00pm. This will get us to the beach near high tide which brings the Red Knots and other shorebirds closer to the shore. Be sure to bring binoculars, camera, hats, sunscreen, water, and snacks.  Due to the timing around high tide, wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.   Of course, you can head back at any time.

At 4:30 pm we will conclude our day with a walk along Bob Cat Trail with an extension to Six Ladies Trail.  Along this trail we should see our local favorite Painted Bunting who likes to hang out at the end of Bob Cat Trail.  Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Towhee and Gulls and Egrets should also be seen.  I’m still hoping to see some migratory warblers.  

This form can also be used to suggest another location and time you would like to have a friend (old or new) to join you to bird.  SIB will send and email to the Google Group of all these suggested times and places for people to gather.

As always, bring binocular/camera, hat, sunscreen, snacks and water.

If you are not yet a 2023 SIB member, you must first become a member by following the instructions on our website: https://seabrookislandbirders.org/contact/join-sib/ or we request a $10 donation to SIB.

Once you are a member, please register no later than Thursday May 11 , 2023.  All registrants will receive a confirmation letter on Friday May 12.

If you have additional questions about the program, please contact us by sending an email to: SeabrookIslandBirders@gmail.com