2016 ACE Basin - S.C. Wildlife Federation Pro Birder Program

Three Northern Shovelers fly in formation

A flurry of birding-related opportunities are coming to the Lowcountry with some help from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. Based in Columbia, this group is trying to establish activities around the Palmetto State called the Pro Birder program. A group of birders from a local area are led in the field by a birdwatching veteran in order to educate and advocate for habitat conservation efforts.

The calendar of birding events gets underway with an oyster roast at Bowen’s Island near Folly Beach on Friday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m. The cost for the oysters, chicken bog, sweet tea, beer and wine is $25 per person and you also get to watch the sun set over the spartina marsh and winding tidal creeks. Speaker Drew Lanham will share his two cents on what attendees can do in their everyday lives to have a positive impact on wildlife conservation, and he will lead the birding tour to the ACE Basin on February 20 and 21 that is a part of the Pro Birding program. To register for the oyster roast of and Pro Birding trip visit the Internet at SC Wildlife Federation.

The interactions of Red Knots on our coast is part of the reason that the SCWF will partner with other local birding groups to present speaker Deborah Cramer on February 24 at Sun City in Hilton Head. Cramer has written a book entitled The Narrow Edge and shares her knowledge about the relationship between red knots and horseshoe crabs, which she views each year at her home in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Cramer’s love for science, nature and the environment will help detail how the fate of both of these species might be intertwined.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about SCWF click on Conservation Awards - Wild Summer Night

To view my most recent Lowcountry Birding Journal Observations click Nov. / Dec. 2015