(Member registration opens 12/7; Nonmembers on 12/14)

Please note that all registrants entering Shipyard MUST REQUEST A BEACH CLUB PARKING PASS. A Sonesta pass will not work.

Join Mary Alice Tartler, a distinguished wildlife photographer and Audubon Master Birder, on a captivating journey into the heart of Hilton Head Island's aviary breeding season.  

Through her stunning photography, you will be a front-row observer as she unveils the beautiful courtship rituals and drama in the everyday world of an avian rookery. Focusing on our wading birds, discover how they form bonds, prepare to parent, nurture their young and adapt to harsh surroundings. Please join Mary Alice for a memorable and informative presentation that will help prepare you to observe the heart of breeding season on Hilton Head Island in a refreshing and unique way.

   Mary Alice Tartler

(Member registration opens 12/7; Nonmember on 12/14)

We all know that Pinckney Island is a “happening place” for birds in spring, but it is surprising how many bird species winter there. Join Lucia Rosenblatt to find them on this trip. . We will bird the parking lot for woodpeckers, then proceed to Ibis Pond and vicinity for gallinules, coots, visiting ducks, etc. We will then proceed to Starr Pond, which has fewer birds, but surprises us sometimes. 

Dress for the weather and wear shoes/boots for a walk of about 3 miles. There are no facilities at Pinckney. Definitely bring water and binoculars, and perhaps a snack. There are picnic tables at Ibis Pond, if you want to stop for lunch on your way back to the parking lot.

(Member registration opens 12/7; Nonmembers on 12/14)

 Expert birder and photographer Patty Kappmeyer will lead us for a relaxed, hands-on bird photography workshop designed specifically for beginners! Whether you have a cell phone, point-and shoot camera, or entry-level DSLR, this class will help you get started with bird photography in a fun and supportive environment. We’ll meet at a local birding spot and focus on the basics of composition, lighting, and how to ethically photograph birds without disturbing them. Based on the principles of Flight Through the Seasons, this session will emphasize finding birds, understanding their behavior, and capturing their beauty–no technical jargon, just practical tips to help you take better bird photos. Perfect for anyone who loves birds and wants to capture the moment!

 (Member registration opens 12/7; nonmembers on 12/14)

This 74 acre multi-use park has ball fields, restrooms, etc, but also some nice wooded trails and a largish meadow. It is perfect for a winter amble relatively protected from the weather, looking for birds. While not spectacular for diversity, we should see most of our resident bird species and possibly some interesting visitors. Ken Adams birds there frequently and can show us all the cool places we might not discover on our own.  Directions: If coming from Sea Pines direction, take Rte 278 toward the Cross-Island Expressway. Just before that, take a right at the stoplight for Arrow Rd. If coming from north island or Bluffton, take the Cross-Island Expressway then left at the first traffic light, Arrow Rd. From either direction, once on Arrow, take a quick left onto Helmsman, then right to 4 Haig Point Rd. Crossings Park is next to the Haig Point ferry parking. Meet in the parking lot by the restrooms.  

(Member registration opens 1/4; Nonmember opens 1/11)

Join Master Birders Rachel Green and Karen Seminary for an exciting morning on the 4 mile Laurel Hill Drive. Meet at the entrance on Rte 170, for car-pooling. More eyes looking from fewer cars generally mean more birds spotted!  Cars will drive slowly with frequent stops in favorite places to get out and look into the impoundments, along the dikes, and in the hammocks. Most of the drive is open, so prepare for windy, chilly weather. 

Directions: Take Rte 170 (Okatie Hwy) west from Bluffton toward Savannah (about 6 miles or so).   Rte 170 curves and turns, but Just stay on it! It will eventually join Rte 17, then in about a mile split off again, so keep right to stay on Rte 170.   In about 2 more miles, you will see the entrance to the Laurel Hill Drive on your left, on a curve.  Signal your turn well ahead of time and be CAREFUL.  Rte 170 can be dangerous with logging and other large trucks. [Note that the Visitor Center is on Rte 17, so do not use that in your GPS.]

(Member registration opens 1/4; Nonmembers on 1/11)

EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!

(Member registration opens 1/3; Nonmembers on 1/11)

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, Green Pond, SC. 8:30 - noon

Bear is always one of the highlights of the Lowcountry year. We gather at the entrance, on Titi Road, which faces Mary’s House Pond, where we will set up spotting scopes. Depending on water levels, this pond may have lots of waders and/or ducks, and possibly White Pelicans or Tundra Swans. Then we will drive into the WMA, stopping frequently to look and listen. Bear Island consists of 12,021 acres of brackish water marshes, maritime forests, bottomland hardwoods, upland fields, and water-controlled impoundments, lagoons, etc.  From the Bear Island WMA website: “Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, owned by the SC Department of Natural Resources, is managed to provide quality habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wetland wildlife including threatened and endangered species such as wood storks and bald eagles; to provide habitat for upland game and nongame species; and to provide recreational opportunities for the hunting and nonhunting public.

Entrance is on the left, on Titi Rd, about a mile after crossing the Ashepoo River.  No facilities once you turn onto Bennett’s Point Road. The last chance for gas, snacks, bathrooms is a small gas station/store on Rte 17, shortly after the Donnelley entrance. And once at Bear, we often lose cell service, so warn Folks who might worry about you!

Optional Extension:  Karen Penale will lead this trip, and afterwards expects to continue for an unofficial afternoon of birding in Donnelley WMA. Participants are welcome to follow along. If interested, bring lunch!  And plan to keep busy until 3 or later.

(Member registration opens 1/4; Nonmembers on 1/11)

This class is for novice birders who want to learn how to use the Merlin ID app. The Merlin app is your personal, digital field guide to learning birds by sight and sound. Birds identified using the Merlin app can be saved to your Life List. Your Life List is a list of all the birds you’ve confidently identified. Prior to class, please download the free Merlin Bird ID by Cornell App to your phone and under settings,install the US: Southeast Bird Pack. Merlin and eBird use the same username and password. Note: this class is for iPhone users.

Follow-up practice Field Trip Tuesday, February 24th, at Mid-island Park.

(Member registration opens 1/4; Nonmembers on 1/11)

This class is for novice birders who want to learn how to use the eBird mobile app. eBird has become the world’s largest citizen science biodiversity project. The eBird app will help you explore hotspots, submit species you have observed, review your checklists, and organize your Life List of birds. The eBird science team analyzes submitted checklists with statistical models to better understand bird migration, abundance, and range boundaries. Prior to class, please download the free eBird Mobile by Cornell App to your phone and under settings, install the South Carolina Bird Pack. Merlin and eBird use the same username and password. Note: this class is for iPhone users.

Follow-up practice Field Trip Tuesday, February 24th, at Mid-island Park.

(Member registration opens 1/4; Nonmembers on 1/11)

Birds of a Feather and The Magic of Molt

This class explains many aspects of feathers: how feathers grow; types of feathers; feather colors; patterns of feather replacement, and how understanding molting patterns can assist bird identification.

    Expert birder, Kay Grinnell will lead this class

EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!

A great opportunity to get your children, tweens and teens interested in nature!

Join Charlotte Rios, HHAudubon Youth Chair at Jarvis Park on Hilton Head at noon for a walk around Jarvis Creek lake looking at birds. 

Bring binoculars if you have them. Basic beginner binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. Dress for “standing around in the weather”. We will probably walk up to 1 1/2 miles, and spend about 2 hours. Meet at the fishing pier, near the restrooms. If the weather is cooperative, you might wish to bring a picnic lunch. There are several pavilions with picnic tables. If the weather is really awful, our rain date is March 1.

Directions:  If coming from off-island, stay on William Hilton Parkway (Rte 278 Business). Pass GumTree Rd, then turn right at the next traffic light. If you are on the island coming from the south end via Cross-Island Expy, right on Gum Tree then right at next light. If coming from south on 278, Jarvis Rd is the next left after Pembroke (Wendy’s).