Category: Shorebird Stewards

In 2022, we had 19 volunteers to be Shorebird Stewards on Seabrook Island. These people spent a total of 170 hours on the beach and most importantly, interacted with 746 people. We are planning an even better year this year. If you want to be part of the fun, send an email to SIBStewards@gmail.com.

Some myths/concerns were heard from earlier communications. We wanted to address these concerns:

Myth: You have to know a lot about shorebirds to participate.
Response: Stewards educate people about ways to reduce human impact on birds, not bird identification!

Myth: Shorebird Stewards will be talking to people who already know all about shorebirds.
Response: Every year new people come to the beach to see dolphins or turtles
but don’t know the shorebird story. In 2022, 66% of the people who stopped by the Shorebird Steward Station were visitors to Seabrook Island. Stewards ask beachgoers to respect the shorebirds as they are feeding in the surf or resting at the inlet by not approaching the birds too closely and by walking around them. The message- “Share the Beach-Give The Birds Space”

Myth: I need to approach people to tell them about shorebirds
Response: Shorebird Stewards are trained to respond to people who approach them rather than approaching people who are not interested.

Myth: Shorebird Stewards must enforce the Seabrook Island beach rules.
Response: The stewards program asks you to be a volunteer to help educate people about the importance of our tiny piece of the world to the shorebirds that visit. This is not an enforcement effort, but an educational effort. Contact numbers for Beach Patrol and Seabrook Island Security are available to be contacted if a need arises.

Myth: Everyone knows the yellow “sanctuary” area on North Beach is to protect the sea turtles. Why do the Shorebird Stewards set up near that area?
Response: The area within the signs varies by season and the fluctuating tides. This is a “critical habitat area”. In winter, it is a shorebird roosting area where the birds may rest and conserve energy. In summer, the area may move and is where endangered species nest on scrapes in the sand. Shorebird Stewards help educate people about these uses. Loggerhead Turtles may go into the area to nest and Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol works with the Shorebird Stewards to minimize impact to the birds while also protecting the turtle nests.

Myth: I’d have to be on the beach every day, all day
Response: Shifts are in 2 hour blocks. Each person signs up for as many (or as few) shifts as they wish.

Myth: I have to complete a lot of paperwork regarding my time as a steward
Response: Our website allows you to self-schedule your shifts and makes it very easy to complete a report of your experience after each shift.

Myth: I’d have to be by myself for my shift
Response: Usually 2 people are on the beach together. You can find your own partner or you can register as a single and another single can register to join you.

Myth: People are abrasive to the Stewards
Response: The Shorebird Stewards report that 98% of the interactions are positive. Training includes how to respond to negative people.

Myth: Only children want to talk to Shorebird Stewards
Response: 89% of the interactions were with adults but often, children bring their adults so they can all hear about the birds.

Myth: I have to have a scope to participate
Response: A scope is proved to the volunteers who wish to use it.

Myth: I have to lug a scope, signs and other equipment to the inlet to complete my shift
Response: A wagon is provided for the shorebird stewards to get their equipment to the beach. Stewards do not need to walk all the way to the inlet, they can set up anywhere between Boadwalk#1 and the inlet. The provided equipment includes signs, the scope and even a chair with an umbrella. Stewards are asked to provide their own water and sun screen.

Myth: I can’t participate as I’m only on Seabrook for part of the season
Response: Although the season is from March through May (with possibility for expansion through nesting season), you schedule to volunteer based upon your availability and when you are on Seabrook.

Myth: The Shorebird Stewards are on the beach all summer in the mid-day heat
Response: The peak season is in the spring when the Red Knots are migrating through. Therefore, the season is over before the real South Carolina heat begins.

Myth: I was unavailable on February 24 for training so I can’t be a Steward
Response: If you are still interested in becoming a Shorebird Steward, send us an email (SIBStewards@gmail.com) and we’ll schedule personalized training that works for you.

The registration for the inaugural Sea Islands Shorebird festival is now open. Visit the web page for all the wonderful details. Space is limited for many of the activities so register early.

Like most of us, I spent much of my 40 year professional career inside, behind a computer screen. Retiring to Seabrook Island in 2020 was an epiphany for me and my husband, Doug. There is a whole world our here! There are no lions and tigers and bears, but plenty of alligators, dolphins, and, of course, BIRDS! I will stay clear of the alligators; the dolphins never cease to amaze me, but much of their time is spent where I can’t see them. But BIRDS? Who knew? Well, thankfully, many Seabrookers know, and are willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.

Moving to Seabrook during the middle of the COVID pandemic proved a difficult time for meeting new friends and neighbors. My desire to get out and meet people was my first incentive to become a Shorebird Steward. While precautions were paramount, I was still able to be outside, safely at a distance from visitors, and experience the wonders of the many migratory birds that are our part-time guests. Little did I know at the time, this Shorebird Steward experience would become a very important part of my life on Seabrook.

Being a SS means having a reason to put “beach time” on my calendar. Life can get in the way of enjoying so many of our natural wonders, but signing up for a shift causes me to get beach time “set in stone”. I never regret time spent on the beach. Even if there are few others on the beach with me, I can experience the awesome power of the ocean and the wildlife dependent on it.

I enjoy meeting people! Many of those I encounter on my SS shifts are residents of SI, either full-timers out on their regular beach walk, or part-timers taking in the changes that have occurred on North Beach since their last time there. And the visitors! They are here because they love this island! Many visitors I have met have been visiting SI longer than I have been living here, and they love it! They, too, marvel at the changes, and are always intrigued at the migratory birds. Visitors who are here for the first time are mesmerized by the array of wildlife, especially birds, that have found their way to our island home. For many, it is their first time to encounter Red Knots, Skimmers, Oyster Catchers, and Least Terns. And always, those newcomers ask “Do you live here? What is it like?” And I get to share how much I love it here, and appreciate how lucky I am, as indicated by their envy!

How do I know what I am seeing? How do I answer the questions thrown my way? Honestly, I can’t always! Shorebird Stewards are given thorough training by our birding enthusiasts, headed by Mark Andrews and Bob Mercer. We have refresher courses late each winter, in preparation for the upcoming season. Remember, we haven’t seen our migratory birds since last spring, so a refresher course is quite helpful! At first, I found it helpful to sign up with a more experienced birder, so that I could observe and listen to their interactions. I soon realized that one doesn’t have to be a birding expert to create a meaningful experience for our curious visitors. The Shorebird Steward leadership team provides excellent visual aids that accompany us on our shifts, and we always encourage those with whom we come in contact to visit our website for more photos and information. It is there that one can look at the photos up close (there is usually a sun glare on our phone screen) and can get more info on migratory patterns of our traveling birds.

I have never heard of Red Knots before my involvement with the Shorebird Stewards. Since, when they arrive here, they are not red, I was a bit confused about them. But as I have learned about their notably long migration and Seabrook Island’s importance in their ability to make it to their nesting area in the far north, I have been compelled to learn more about other migratory birds. I have had the opportunity to see whimbrels occasionally on our island, and to learn about how important Deveaux Bank is to their survival. I have been amazed at our resident Oyster Catcher U5 and his mate, and got to see them take care of their eggs, watch their chicks fledge, and to have my heart broken with Least Tern eggs that have been stolen by a predator. I am curious about how the changes to our dunes from the recent flood tides and storms will impact the upcoming spring nesting season.

Lastly, being a Shorebird Steward provides me with an opportunity to increase awareness of the fragility of our shoreline habitat. While we welcome new neighbors and visitors, our very presence creates challenges for the natural world and its inhabitants. I try to kindly and with grace show others that it is possible to enjoy our wonderful island while respecting our bird inhabitants and their needs.

If any of my experiences seems like something you might be interested in, I would invite you to visit the Seabrook Island Birders webpage (www.seabrookislandbirders.org) and visit the Shorebird Stewards tab. Sign up with your spouse or a friend, or meet new friends during the upcoming training sessions. Send an email to SIBStewards@gmail.com to join the group or ask for more information. It is a rewarding experience that you will surely come to cherish.

Submitted by: Sally Boudinot

Since the program began two years ago, the Seabrook Island Shorebird Steward Program has shared its shorebird conservation message with over 1500 beachgoers.​ Now with the third season set to start in March, the program needs volunteers.  Shorebird stewards focus on educating residents and visitors about birds like Red Knots and the remarkable habitat of Seabrook Island as a resting and nesting location for several shorebird species.

Seabrook and Kiawah Islands provide a critical stopover on a shorebird’s journey of survival. Recent studies show shocking declines in all shorebird species especially Red Knots. With a few exceptions, shorebirds travel some of the longest migrations of any birds to get to their nesting grounds in the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic. Long migrations mean increased vulnerability at each stopover site. The weight that birds gain here is essential to provide energy for the long trip north and to cover any lag in the food supply in the harsh conditions they might face once they arrive at their nesting grounds.

“Why do we need stewards?” Every year new people come to the beach to see dolphins or turtles but don’t know the shorebird story. In 2022, 66% of the people who stopped by the Shorebird Steward Station were visitors to Seabrook Island. Stewards ask beachgoers to respect the shorebirds as they are feeding in the surf or resting at the inlet by not approaching the birds too closely and by walking around them. The message-  “Share the Beach-Give The Birds Space”

Shorebird stewards are your neighbors, people like you, who love nature. All a volunteer needs is a willingness to share some time on the beach chatting with people who stop by the station. Please don’t let any concern about learning a bit about shorebird identification stop you from applying – Stewards educate people about ways to reduce human impact on birds, not bird identification!

We schedule stewards in two hour time slots usually from 10am -12  and 12 -2pm each day from March 1 thru the end of May or until the nesting season finishes. Our website allows you to self-schedule your shifts and makes it very easy to complete a report of your experience after each shift. Being a steward also offers opportunities to participate in shorebird conservation and research activities when we support SCDNR & USFWS in their work.

If you are interested in becoming a Shorebird Steward, please register for a training program to be held on February 24 from 10am to 12noon at the Oyster Catcher Community Center. The training, provided by Allyssa Zebrowski, SC Audubon and local Seabrook Island resident Bob Mercer, focuses on the essentials for becoming a Shorebird Steward from learning about shorebird identification, behavior and conservation, to the special habitat our beach provides, and on to understanding how to best teach others. We will have other times available if you cannot make the February 24 program. After the classroom training, we provide field training opportunities to familiarize stewards with our equipment and educational materials. To help get you started, your first steward sessions on the beach will be with an experienced mentor.

If you have questions about our program, please email: sibstewards@gmail.com

If you would like to register for the February 24 training session, please use this​ link or​ QR code:

-submitted by Bob Mercer and Mark Andrews, Co-chairs, Seabrook Island Shorebird Stewards

For today’s blog, Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) spoke with Mark Andrews, one of the founders of Seabrook’s Shorebird Steward Program and current co-chair along with Bob Mercer. We asked Mark to share his knowledge and experience with our SIB followers. We have many new residents on Seabrook who might be interested in learning more about this program and volunteering their time and talents.

SIB: What is the Shorebird Steward Program?

Mark: The Shorebird Steward Program is a special program of the Seabrook Island Birders with an interesting history. It began in 2020, but after just a few days of operations, the program was cancelled because of Covid. I still remember Marcia Hider and Charley Moore enthusiastically towing the sign cart and scope down the beach to greet new folks. All of my efforts to get them to socially distance were for naught but neither of them had ever met a stranger!

More to your question, from March to the end of nesting season in June or July, stewards volunteer for two hour shifts on the beach each day to educate visitors and residents alike about shorebirds. Seabrook Island is a critical stopover for many migrating shorebird species like the federally threatened Red Knot. Our beach is also nesting habitat for threatened Least Terns and Wilson’s Plovers and wintering habitat for endangered/threatened Piping Plovers. The shorebird stewards teach beachgoers to respect the shorebirds by giving the birds space to forage and to rest. Even small disturbances to their routine can sap the birds of the energy that they need to migrate, nest or survive the winter. The message is simple: If you see shorebirds, walk around and please keep your dog on a leash when near birds.

SIB: After getting the green light to proceed in 2021, what has been the volunteer response?

Mark: This program has grown because of the enthusiastic legacy of Seabrook Island Birders. The strong tradition of community service, of not just planning birding activities but communicating with Seabrook to educate and draw others into the fold, has carried over to the Shorebird Steward Program. We have trained 37 people to be stewards. While most are members of Seabrook Island Birders, one does not need to be a serious “birder” to enjoy stewarding. We encourage both residents and non-residents to join our program

SIB: How is the Shorebird Steward Program funded?

Mark: We are very grateful that our costs from the very beginning have been covered by grants from the Town of Seabrook Island (TOSI), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA). These grants have covered speakers for our shorebird programs and our equipment. Our training has been provided by Audubon South Carolina. SIB has stepped in to insure the replacement cost of our scope and tripod.

SIB: How many hours have the Shorebird Stewards volunteered in the last 2 years?

Mark: The Shorebird Stewards volunteered 240 hours in 2021 and educated 768 beachgoers. This year the stewards worked 170 hours in a shorter season but still interacted with 748 people. Upwards of 60% of these interactions were with visitors in both years. This underscores that in-person stewarding a very effective method of teaching beachgoers about shorebirds.

SIB: Is the Shorebird Steward Program engaged in other projects?

Mark: Yes. Stewards have contributed to research projects being conducted on Seabrook beaches by SCDNR and United States Federal Wildlife Services (USFWS). We provided support for SCDNR’s Red Knot banding in April, a coastal Georgia to North Carolina Red Knot Survey, the US Fish and Wildlife Prey Surveys and Red Knot resighting, to name a few. In fact, the SIB Shorebird Steward Program’s operating endorsement from TOSI includes special provisions to support our research component. We are also active in an organization of other Audubon South Carolina steward programs with whom we share training resources and statistics.

SIB: Does that include coordinating with the Kiawah Shorebird Stewards?

Mark: Yes. We share the birds of Captain Sam’s Inlet with the Kiawah Shorebird Stewards who organized a series of four shorebird lectures which can be found on the SIB website. Our association with Kiawah has also resulted in an invitation for us to participate in the first ever Sea Island Shorebird Festival scheduled for May 2023. This is going to be an exceptional event. We think this is an incredible opportunity to promote shorebird conservation to our communities.

SIB: If you can dust off your crystal ball, what do you think the future might look like for Shorebird Stewards?

Mark: The Shorebird Steward Program has evolved to be a major activity on Seabrook Island. Shorebird Stewards is much like Turtle Patrol or Dolphin Watch in that we provide a material service to the community and interact directly with regulatory agencies. As shown by the number of interactions we have with visitors, Seabrook Island is prime destination for eco-tourism. The service our members provide help to make their experience enjoyable & educational while contributing to the conservation of shorebirds.

SIB: Thank you, Mark. You have provided a lot of good information to long term and new residents alike. For those of you who wish more information about the Seabrook Shorebird Stewards, please visit the SIB website.

https://seabrookislandbirders.org