Hilton Head Audubon upcoming events

Field Trip: Onslow Island with Pam Smith (09/09/2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers on 8/9)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00.

Capacity limited to 15 people.

Join Ogeechee Audubon Master Birder Pam Smith for a field trip to Onslow Island.

Onslow Island is a section of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of an elevated area of dikes and water impoundments immediately adjacent to the Savannah River. For several years its impoundments have been nearly dry and so rarely used that many now have shrubs and small trees in them. However, in October 2024, some were being used as dredge spoils sites. So we hope there will be more nutrients and water, which we also hope will attract our wintering ducks and shorebirds. Join Expert Birder Pam Vercellone for a hike of 2 -3 miles, to and around the impoundments. No facilities. Footing is uneven on the only occasionally mowed grassy dikes.

Onslow is only open on Wednesdays. This property is very exposed, with no protection from the weather. If the weather looks really nasty, especially if very windy, we will postpone until Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Directions: From north of Bluffton take Rte 170 west (Okatie Hwy). Follow Rte 170 the WHOLE way. It turns here and there, so you have to pay attention. At one point it joins Rte 17, then in about a mile, exits right. Follow Rte 170 right, pass the entrance to the Laurel Hill Drive (which your GPS can probably find). Cross over 1 bridge, then look for a small dirt parking lot on the left. At that turn, you will be able to see the Savannah River bridge ahead of you (which has been under construction and may still be so). If you cross the river into Port Wentworth, turn around!

Pam Vercellone Smith

Field Trip: Ft. Pulaski Nat Monument with Pam Smith (09/12/2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers 8/9)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Note additional fee: National Park Entrance fee: $10.00 per person. (unless you have a Ft. Pulaski annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass).

Join Pam and (Co-leader TBD) at historic Fort Pulaski, a 5400-acre National Monument situated on the Savannah River. Fort Pulaski is a great place to find a wide diversity of shorebirds, wading birds, gulls, terns and early migrants. Pam will bring a spotting scope.

Trip rigor: Moderate with approximately 2 miles of walking on mostly level grassy or gravel surfaces. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and bug spray. Restrooms are available.

Meet Pam in the Visitor Center parking lot at 9:30 AM. Note: The fort opens at 9 AM but the meeting time has been set for 9:30 AM to give birders time to pay the park fees at entry gate and travel to the Visitor Center parking lot.

Directions: From Interstate I-95, take Exit 99 onto Interstate I-16 East (James L Gillis Memorial Hwy) for 7 miles. Take Exit 164A onto Interstate I-516 East toward US-80 East. Take Exit 3 (US-17 S/US-80 E) toward US-80 East. Turn left onto Ocean Highway, Ogeechee Rd (US-17 N, US-80 East). Bear right onto West Victory Drive (US-80 East .Continue on US-80 East for 13 miles.Fort Pulaski National Monument entrance will be on the left hand side of US-80; the entrance is just after a turn in the highway.

Pam Vercellone Smith

Season Kickoff! Coffee and Birding at Jarvis Creek Park (09/15/2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP !!

Join Hilton Head Audubon Board and Members for our season kickoff at Jarvis Creek Park on Tuesday Sept 15th 9:00am. Come hear about all the great upcoming events including field trips, classes and member meetings!

We will enjoy coffee and donuts and take a bird walk around the Park, so bring your binoculars!

Class:Wildlife Photography (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers 8/9)

Member tickets $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 20 people.

This class will describe the essential technical, artistic, and behavioral tools to make beautiful wildlife images. Learn the creative techniques that will enhance your wildlife photography skills as well as improve your knowledge of wildlife subjects in their environments. Experienced wildlife photographer, Mary Alice Tartler, will guide you through understanding your camera, necessary camera equipment, the importance of composition, animal behaviors and environments, and finding wildlife in the Lowcountry. No matter what level of expertise you possess, this class will help you take your photography to the next level. All nature and wildlife enthusiasts and all levels of photography are welcome to attend. Please bring your camera!

Mary Alice Tartler

Field Trip: Little Tybee Island Birding by Boat (10/03/2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers 8/9. Adults only.)

Cost is $78.00 for members and $88.00 for Nonmembers which includes tips. Capacity limited to 11 people in two boats. Please note HHA refund policy and rain date below.

Join Expert Birder Patty Kappmeyer and Shorebird Biologist Allie Hauser (Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative) for an exciting birding trip to Little Tybee Island, Georgia through Georgia Coast Charters. Accessible only by boat, Little Tybee Island is an unspoiled, uninhabited nature preserve.

Departure location: Tybee Island Marina

Boat and Mobility Information: Transportation will be aboard 22-foot center-console boats. Both boats are open, with no cabin or restroom facilities. Boarding and disembarking will involve stepping into and out of the boat and making a beach landing rather than using a dock. This field trip may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility, balance concerns, or difficulty entering and exiting a boat. Please contact the trip leader in advance with any questions about accessibility.

Trip Details: The three hour trip will take us through the marshes and out to the beaches of Little Tybee. We will spend about 30 to 45 minutes aboard the boat looking for birds in the marshes and hammocks of Little Tybee. When we arrive at the beach, the group will disembark and Allie will lead a program on shorebirds from the sand. This usually includes a short hike on the sand and will last approximately 1.5 hours. Upon completion of the beach portion of the program, we will re-board the boats for the return trip, continuing to bird from the boat until back at the marina. The boat is equipped with all required safety gear including life jackets. Guest over the age of 13 will not be required to wear a life jacket but are welcome to do so if they choose. If a guest wishes to bring and wear a life jacket of their own, that is not a problem.

Rain date is Friday October 9 either 7:00a-10a or 4:30p-7:30pm.

Event: Lantern Making Workshop (10/09/2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!

Join Hilton Head Audubon in this year’s Lantern Parade. We will be walking with a very large Red Knot as our featured bird lantern. Anyone who would like to walk with us and carry a small lantern is welcome! Our lantern theme is horse shoe crabs. Lanterns and supplies will be provided.

Come to the workshop and prepare your lantern for the parade on Saturday, November 14, 2026!

Field Trip:Mindful Birding at Mid Island Park with Kathy Byrd (10/18/2026)

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 9/6; Nonmembers 9/13)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Join Master Birder and Mindful Birding advocate Kathy Byrd for a slow walk around the park, immersing ourselves in the natural world.

The scientific data is in! Relief from the daily pressures we face in life is critical to our mental and physical well-being. What better way is there to get away from it all than to spend a couple of hours on a woodland amble with the birds? Unlike our usual bird walks which focus on identification, counts and an eBird list, this “Mindful Bird Walk” will instead encourage us to use all our senses to fully experience the wonder of nature. We will walk slowly and stop often.

The Mid-island Community Park, formerly the Planters Row Golf Course, is a recently established park that is another terrific birding location on Hilton Head Island. It boasts a mix of open grass fields, a variety of trees and shrubs, and freshwater ponds and lagoons -all wonderful habitats for an impressive number of birds at any time of the year. Great-horned owls have nested there, and it's one of only a couple places on the Island with nesting red-headed woodpeckers. The ponds are home to common gallinule, wood ducks, kingfisher and a number of herons and egrets.

Directions: The parking lot is about 100 yds off of Rte 278, on Union Cemetery Rd, Hilton Head, SC, which begins one block south of the Dillon Rd traffic Light, on the left. If coming from the north (from Bluffton or the Cross Island Expressway), take 278 Business east. Go past Mathews Rd, then past the Dillon Rd intersection (McDonald's) -- both of which have traffic lights. The next left (no traffic light) is Union Cemetery Rd. If coming from the south on Rte 278 Business (e.g. from Sea Pines), go past Port Royal Plantation entrance, and take the next right onto Union Cemetery Rd. If you make the turn onto Union Cemetery Rd, but miss the parking lot, you will soon see the Union Cemetery itself, and need to turn around.

Presentation: Origin and Lore of Bird Names (10/22/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!

This presentation by Chip Walker explores the history, origins, and evolution of bird names, including the influence of Old World and New World species on modern bird nomenclature. It also examines how bird names have become woven into popular culture through sports teams, literature, cartoons, and everyday language.

Class: Introduction to Lowcountry Bird Identification with Kay Grinnell (10/24/2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 9/6; Nonmembers on 9/13)

Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 20 people.

This beginner-friendly class introduces simple bird identification techniques and helps you put them into practice with many of our Lowcountry birds. Learn how to notice field marks, behavior, shape, habitat and more so you can start identifying birds with confidence. A separate field trip is recommended but not required

. Instructor Kay Grinnell

Field Trip: Laurel Hill Drive, SavNatWildlife Refuge (11/01/2026)

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 10/4; Nonmembers 10/11)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Join Master Birders Rachel Green and Karen Seminary for an exciting morning on the 4 mile Laurel Hill Drive at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

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 Mtg and Presentation: Life on the Edge: Shorebirds and the Rhythm of the Tides (11/19/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Event is FREE but please RSVP!

Discover the extraordinary lives of the birds that inhabit the ever-changing boundary between land and sea with Mary Alice Tartler, an accomplished wildlife photographer, Audubon Master Birder and a Member of the International Shorebird Survey Team. This presentation takes you on a journey to the water’s edge to meet the diverse array of shorebirds—from the iconic American Oystercatcher to the delicate Piping Plover—that rely on our coastal beaches and mudflats for survival. You will explore the incredible stamina and specialized adaptations that allow these birds to navigate thousands of miles along the Atlantic Flyway, making Hilton Head a vital sanctuary for their rest and refueling.

Central to this exploration is an understanding of the powerful influence of the tides, the true heartbeat of the Lowcountry coastline. Mary Alice will reveal how the daily ebb and flow dictates the lives of shorebirds, creating a high-stakes race for survival as they follow the retreating waterline to uncover hidden treasures. From the high energy of low-tide foraging to the strategic huddling at high-tide roosts, you will gain a new perspective on how these birds synchronize their entire existence with the lunar cycle.

Through the lens of Mary Alice’s stunning photography, you will witness the fascinating "dance" of the shoreline and learn to identify often-confusing species by their silhouettes and rhythmic movements. She will also share expert insights into the hidden challenges shorebirds face in our dynamic coastal environment and the critical importance of protecting their habitat. Whether you are a casual beachgoer or a seasoned enthusiast, this session offers an enlightening and memorable experience, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for the resilient masters of the coast and the rhythmic tides that sustain them.

Christmas Bird Count Meeting (12/07/2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

(Event is free but please RSVP!)

7:00pm Social; 7:30pm Presentation

Pre-count meeting with social and presentation. Speaker is Andy Jones, Executive Director, Spring Island Trust and Lowcountry Institute. He will discuss the principles of bird identification and review our local birds to help with accurate CBC bird identifications and bird counts.

Dr. Andy Jones is a lifelong naturalist, with a passion for the biodiversity of the southeastern United States. From 2006 until early 2022, he worked as curator of ornithology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society for his contributions to ornithology.

We invite you to bring cookies for the snack table; coffee will be provided.

Dr Andy Jones

2026 Christmas Bird Count! (12/14/2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Details: Area Captains will contact their team members. Contact HHICBC@gmail.com if you are new to the count.

Field Trip: New Years Birds and Nature Walk with Ken Adams (01/02/2027)

Sat, 02 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT

( Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Join Ken Adams, Emeritus Professor of Biology and expert birder for This one-mile walk will include a salt marsh, open field, and the Nan LLoyd Nature Trail through a maritime forest.

Ken Adams

Presentation: African Oystercatchers (01/07/2027)

Thu, 07 Jan 2027 22:00:00 GMT

(Event is Free but please RSVP!)

Class: Introduction to Merlin Bird ID App with Ken Adams (01/20/2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 14:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)

Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 12 people.

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 for identifying birds by sight and sound. Birds identified using the Merlin app can be saved to your Life List. The “Explore” option is very useful for getting bird descriptions. Handouts will be provided with step-by-step procedures for making full use of the Merlin app. The class will end with a practice session.

Prior to class, please download the free Merlin Bird ID by Cornell App to your phone and under the app settings, install the US: Southeast Bird Pack. Note: This class is for iPhone users.

Ken Adams

Member Meeting & Presentation: Effective Land Stewardship and the Audubon Newhall Preserve (01/21/2027)

Thu, 21 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

(Event is Free but please RSVP!)

Folk Land Management will discuss effective stewardship and forest management plans for the Audubon Newhall Preserve

Field Trip: Sterling Creek Park Field Trip with Pam Smith (01/23/2027)

Sat, 23 Jan 2027 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmember $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Come explore this relatively undeveloped park with Ogeechee Audubon Master Birder, Pam Smith.

Meet Pam at the end of the gravel driveway leading into the park.

The area of the park which we will explore consists mostly of impoundments which were once part of a sewage treatment operation, but are now left to birds and wildlife. In winter, we should find several species of sparrows and possibly up to 4 resident wrens (including Sedge wren) and raptors. Sometimes we see snipes, too!

We plan to walk the 3-mile mowed trail around and through the impoundments. There is a restroom in the parking lot. Most of the walk is open to the weather, so dress accordingly.

Directions: Sterling Creek Park is at 1700 Elbow Swamp Road Richmond Hill, GA 31324. The entrance is off Harris Trail in the back of the Sterling Creek Park Subdivision, adjacent to the water treatment facility.

Field Trip: Onslow Island with Pam Smith (01/27/2027)

Wed, 27 Jan 2027 13:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)

Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.

Join Ogeechee Audubon Master Birder Pam Smith for a field trip to Onslow Island.

Onslow Island is a section of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of an elevated area of dikes and water impoundments immediately adjacent to the Savannah River. For several years its impoundments have been nearly dry and so rarely used that many now have shrubs and small trees in them. However, in October 2024, some were being used as dredge spoils sites. So we hope there will be more nutrients and water, which we also hope will attract our wintering ducks and shorebirds. This is a hike of 2 -3 miles, to and around the impoundments. No facilities. Footing is uneven on the only occasionally mowed grassy dikes.

Onslow is only open on Wednesdays. This property is very exposed, with no protection from the weather. If the weather looks really nasty, especially if very windy, we will postpone until

Pam Snmith

Class: Introduction to eBird Mobile App with Ken Adams (01/27/2027)

Wed, 27 Jan 2027 14:30:00 GMT

(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)

Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 12 people.

This class is for novice birders who want to learn how to use the eBird Mobile App. The eBird app will help you explore nearby hotspots, submit species you have identified, review your checklists, and organize your Life List of birds. Handouts will be provided with step-by-step procedures for making full use of the app. A separate field trip is recommended but not required.

Prior to the class, please download the free eBird Mobile by Cornell App to your phone and in the app settings install the South Carolina Bird Pack. Note: this class is for iPhone users.

Ken Adams

Presentation: Meet Your Backyard Neighbors: The Joys of Backyard Birding (01/28/2027)

Thu, 28 Jan 2027 15:30:00 GMT

(Event is Free but please RSVP!)

Discover the delight of transforming your own outdoor space into a thriving bird sanctuary with Mary Alice Tartler, an experienced Hilton Head Island wildlife photographer and Audubon Master Birder. This immersive presentation invites you to unlock the many rewards of birding right from your doorstep—from the immediate benefits of relaxation and stress relief to the deeper fulfillment of connecting with the natural world and contributing to vital citizen science efforts. By observing the vibrant life in your own backyard, you gain a unique vantage point to witness the beauty and complexity of the avian species that share our local environment.

Throughout this engaging session, Mary Alice draws upon her dual expertise as an Audubon Master Birder and photographer to introduce you to your feathered neighbors, sharing expert advice on how to identify the diverse birds that frequent Lowcountry feeders. Whether you are a newcomer eager to hang your first feeder or a seasoned enthusiast looking to sharpen your observational skills, this informative presentation offers a wealth of inspiration. Join Mary Alice for a memorable journey that turns your backyard into a living classroom, providing you with the tools and confidence to fully appreciate the remarkable wildlife just outside your window.