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    <title>Hilton Head Audubon upcoming events</title>
    <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/Events</link>
    <description>Hilton Head Audubon upcoming events</description>
    <dc:creator>Hilton Head Audubon</dc:creator>
    <generator>Wild Apricot - membership management software and more</generator>
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    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:08:26 GMT</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:08:26 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class:Wildlife Photography (09/19/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers 8/9)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 20 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/Tartler.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="141.75" height="112"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Mary Alice Tartler&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6775129</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6775129</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Little Tybee Island Birding by Boat (10/03/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;(&lt;font face="Noto Serif"&gt;Member registration opens 8/2; Nonmembers 8/9. Adults only.)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cost is $78.00 for members and $88.00 for Nonmembers which includes tips. Capacity limited to 11 people in two boats&lt;/strong&gt;. Please note HHA refund policy and rain date below.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px; line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Join Expert Birder Patty Kappmeyer and Shorebird Biologist Allie Hauser (Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative&lt;/font&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font color="#1155CC" style="font-size: 11px;"&gt;)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;for an exciting birding trip to Little Tybee Island, Georgia through Georgia Coast Charters.&amp;nbsp; Accessible only by boat, Little Tybee Island is an unspoiled, uninhabited nature preserve.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Departure location:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Tybee Island Marina&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;font face="Noto Serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" style=""&gt;Boat and Mobility Information:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" style=""&gt;&amp;nbsp;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Trip Details:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;span&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Noto Serif"&gt;Rain date is Friday October 9 either 7:00a-10a or 4:30p-7:30pm.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px; line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6783051</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6783051</guid>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Fall Shorebird Walk and Wildlife Beach Area Tour at Fish Haul (10/07/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. EVENT IS FULL.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p style="font-size: 12pt;"&gt;&lt;strong style="font-size: 12pt;"&gt;Where to Meet/Park:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"&gt;Fish Haul Beach Park, 124 Mitchelville Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Meet near the beach access at the end of the parking lot. Parking is available onsite. For current parking information, visit the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a shape="rect" href="https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/our_island/beach/parking.php" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/our_island/beach/parking.php&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1787843455769000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw0_u9PM3oeZr3EE-jL3CNqB" style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;Town of Hilton Head Island’s parking page&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What to Expect:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-08-25%20at%201.02.44%20PM.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="141.75" height="106"&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/Manomet_Logo_Circular.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="141.75" height="143"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br clear="none"&gt;
  Join Allie Hayser, shorebird biologist with Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, to learn why Fish Haul Beach and Port Royal Sound are so important to shorebirds throughout the year. These areas provide critical places for migrating birds to rest and refuel, as well as habitat for species that spend the winter along our coast.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  The walk will highlight the creation of Fish Haul’s new Wildlife Beach Area and the partnerships working to protect this habitat while keeping the surrounding shoreline open for the community to enjoy. This small section of shoreline, about the size of two football fields, was created to provide shorebirds with a safer and quieter place to feed and roost. Visitors and their dogs can continue to enjoy the rest of the shoreline while helping protect this important area for threatened and endangered species. Participants will learn how to be good hosts and neighbors to migrating and wintering birds and how to get involved in local shorebird conservation.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  Endangered Piping Plovers winter on Hilton Head Island from late summer through early spring. Birds from all three breeding populations use Fish Haul Beach Park and the Mitchellville mudflats, relying on quiet beaches to rest and feed before returning north to nest. Threatened shorebirds such as Red Knots also use this area to feed at lower tides during spring and fall migration as they travel between South America and the Arctic.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  Birders of all experience levels are welcome! Open to public, but please register!&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;Distance:&lt;/strong&gt; Up to 1.5 miles. We will be walking on sand and may encounter muddy or wet areas, so please wear comfortable shoes that can get sandy or wet.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;What to Bring:&lt;/strong&gt; Water, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a notebook if you would like one. We will provide a spotting scope for the group to use.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;Biography:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br clear="none"&gt;
  Allie Hayser is a shorebird biologist with Manomet Conservation Science’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, where she works along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts to support shorebird conservation through research, outreach, and community partnerships. Her work focuses on reducing disturbance to migrating shorebirds, understanding the connection between shorebirds and horseshoe crab populations, supporting ecotourism through science-based education, and developing stewardship programs that build local pride and engagement.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  She leads monitoring and disturbance surveys at key coastal sites, including Fish Haul Beach, collaborates with researchers studying Red Knots, Whimbrels, and other migrants, and creates educational materials and signage to help communities better understand the birds that rely on these beaches. Allie also coordinates volunteer programs and partners with schools, nonprofits, and ecotourism guides to strengthen awareness and support for coastal conservation.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  A Tybee Island native, she has worked with sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, and coastal wildlife programs across the United States and is passionate about helping communities feel connected to shorebirds and the habitats we all share.
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6816696</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6816696</guid>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Event: Lantern Making Workshop (10/09/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;font color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 19px;"&gt;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!&amp;nbsp; Our lantern theme is horseshoe crabs.&amp;nbsp; Lanterns and supplies will be provided.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif" style=""&gt;Come to the workshop and prepare your lantern for the parade on Saturday, November 14, 2026!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif" style=""&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777380</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777380</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip:Mindful Birding at Mid Island Park with Kathy Byrd (10/18/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 9/6; Nonmembers 9/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Join Master Birder and Mindful Birding advocate Kathy Byrd for a slow walk around the park, immersing ourselves in the natural world.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;If coming from the north (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;from Bluffton&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;If coming from the south on Rte 278 Business (e.g.&lt;/font&gt; &lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;from Sea Pines&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;), go past Port Royal Plantation entrance, and take the next right onto Union Cemetery Rd.&amp;nbsp; 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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777358</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777358</guid>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Presentation: Origin and Lore of Bird Names (10/22/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;EVENT IS FREE BUT PLEASE RSVP!&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;font color="#1D1D1D" face="Noto Serif" style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785237</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785237</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Introduction to Lowcountry Bird Identification with Kay Grinnell (10/24/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 9/6; Nonmembers on 9/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 20 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;A separate field trip is recommended but not required&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;.&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/Grinnell.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="120" height="160"&gt;&amp;nbsp; Instructor Kay Grinnell&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777369</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6777369</guid>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Fall Shorebird Walk and Wildlife Beach Area Tour at Fish Haul (10/26/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;REGISTRATION CLOSED: EVENT IS FULL.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p style="font-size: 12pt;"&gt;&lt;strong style="font-size: 12pt;"&gt;Where to Meet/Park:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"&gt;Fish Haul Beach Park, 124 Mitchelville Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Meet near the beach access at the end of the parking lot. Parking is available onsite. For current parking information, visit the&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a shape="rect" href="https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/our_island/beach/parking.php" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/our_island/beach/parking.php&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1787843455769000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw0_u9PM3oeZr3EE-jL3CNqB" style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;Town of Hilton Head Island’s parking page&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What to Expect:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-08-25%20at%201.02.44%20PM.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="141.75" height="106"&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/Manomet_Logo_Circular.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="141.75" height="143"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br clear="none"&gt;
  Join Allie Hayser, shorebird biologist with Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, to learn why Fish Haul Beach and Port Royal Sound are so important to shorebirds throughout the year. These areas provide critical places for migrating birds to rest and refuel, as well as habitat for species that spend the winter along our coast.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  The walk will highlight the creation of Fish Haul’s new Wildlife Beach Area and the partnerships working to protect this habitat while keeping the surrounding shoreline open for the community to enjoy. This small section of shoreline, about the size of two football fields, was created to provide shorebirds with a safer and quieter place to feed and roost. Visitors and their dogs can continue to enjoy the rest of the shoreline while helping protect this important area for threatened and endangered species. Participants will learn how to be good hosts and neighbors to migrating and wintering birds and how to get involved in local shorebird conservation.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  Endangered Piping Plovers winter on Hilton Head Island from late summer through early spring. Birds from all three breeding populations use Fish Haul Beach Park and the Mitchellville mudflats, relying on quiet beaches to rest and feed before returning north to nest. Threatened shorebirds such as Red Knots also use this area to feed at lower tides during spring and fall migration as they travel between South America and the Arctic.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  Birders of all experience levels are welcome! Open to public, but please register!&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;Distance:&lt;/strong&gt; Up to 1.5 miles. We will be walking on sand and may encounter muddy or wet areas, so please wear comfortable shoes that can get sandy or wet.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;What to Bring:&lt;/strong&gt; Water, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a notebook if you would like one. We will provide a spotting scope for the group to use.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  &lt;strong&gt;Biography:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br clear="none"&gt;
  Allie Hayser is a shorebird biologist with Manomet Conservation Science’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, where she works along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts to support shorebird conservation through research, outreach, and community partnerships. Her work focuses on reducing disturbance to migrating shorebirds, understanding the connection between shorebirds and horseshoe crab populations, supporting ecotourism through science-based education, and developing stewardship programs that build local pride and engagement.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  She leads monitoring and disturbance surveys at key coastal sites, including Fish Haul Beach, collaborates with researchers studying Red Knots, Whimbrels, and other migrants, and creates educational materials and signage to help communities better understand the birds that rely on these beaches. Allie also coordinates volunteer programs and partners with schools, nonprofits, and ecotourism guides to strengthen awareness and support for coastal conservation.
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;
  A Tybee Island native, she has worked with sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, and coastal wildlife programs across the United States and is passionate about helping communities feel connected to shorebirds and the habitats we all share.
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6816705</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6816705</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Laurel Hill Drive, SavNatWildlife Refuge (11/01/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 10/4; Nonmembers 10/11)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Meet at the entrance on Rte 170, for car-pooling. More eyes looking from fewer cars generally mean more birds spotted!&amp;nbsp; 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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions: Take Rte 170 (Okatie Hwy) west from Bluffton toward Savannah (about 6 miles or so). &amp;nbsp; 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. &amp;nbsp; In about 2 more miles, you will see the entrance to the Laurel Hill Drive on your left, on a curve.&amp;nbsp; Signal your turn well ahead of time and be CAREFUL.&amp;nbsp; 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.]&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785168</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785168</guid>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Member Mtg and Presentation: Life on the Edge: Shorebirds and the Rhythm of the Tides (11/19/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Event is FREE but please RSVP!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;" color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;" color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;" color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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&amp;nbsp;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;" color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 19px;" color="#1D1D1D" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785175</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6785175</guid>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Christmas Bird Count Meeting (12/07/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;(Event is free but please RSVP!)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 29px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;7:00pm Social; 7:30pm Presentation&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;P&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Noto Serif"&gt;re-count meeting with social and presentation. Speaker is Andy Jones, Executive Director, Spring Island Trust and Lowcountry Institute.&amp;nbsp; He will discuss the principles of bird identification and review our local birds to help with accurate CBC bird identifications and bird counts.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 18px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Noto Serif" style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;font&gt;Dr. Andy Jones is a lifelong naturalist, with a passion for the biodiversity of the southeastern United States.&amp;nbsp;He has been the&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font&gt;Executive Director of the Spring Island Trust and Lowcountry Institute since 2022. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font&gt;From 2006 until early 2022, he worked as curator of ornithology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.&amp;nbsp; He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society for his contributions to ornithology.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" style=""&gt;We invite you to b&lt;/font&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"&gt;ring cookies for the snack table; coffee will be provided&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/AJones.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 19.3619px; font-family: &amp;quot;Source Sans 3&amp;quot;, sans-serif;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; Dr Andy Jones&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794969</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794969</guid>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>2026 Christmas Bird Count! (12/14/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Details:&amp;nbsp; Area Captains will contact their team members. Contact&lt;/font&gt; &lt;a href="mailto:HHICBC@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;HHICBC@gmail.com&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;if you are new to the count.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794973</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794973</guid>
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    <item>
      <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: New Years Birds and Nature Walk with Ken Adams (01/02/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;( Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 19.3619px;"&gt;Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;Join Ken Adams, Emeritus Professor of Biology and expert birder for&amp;nbsp;&lt;font color="#000000" style="" face="Noto Serif"&gt;This one-mile walk will include a salt marsh, open field, and the Nan LLoyd Nature Trail through a maritime forest.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" style="" face="Noto Serif"&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/KAdams.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="169" height="159.5"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Ken Adams&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794985</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794985</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2027 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Presentation: African Oystercatchers (01/07/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Event is Free but please RSVP!)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794988</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794988</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2027 14:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Introduction to Merlin Bird ID App with Ken Adams (01/20/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 12 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Prior to class, please download the free Merlin Bird ID by Cornell App&amp;nbsp;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;to your phone and under the app settings, install the US: Southeast Bird Pack. Note: This class is for iPhone users.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/KAdams.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="169" height="159.5"&gt;&amp;nbsp; Ken Adams&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794998</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6794998</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Member Meeting &amp; Presentation: Effective Land Stewardship and the Audubon Newhall Preserve (01/21/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Event is Free but please RSVP!)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#202020" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Folk Land Management will discuss effective stewardship and forest management plans for the Audubon Newhall Preserve&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795005</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795005</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2027 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Sterling Creek Park Field Trip with Pam Smith (01/23/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmember $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Come explore this relatively undeveloped park with Ogeechee Audubon Master Birder, Pam Smith.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Meet Pam at the end of the gravel driveway leading into the park.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;The area of the park which we will explore consists mostly of&amp;nbsp; 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!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions:&amp;nbsp; 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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795008</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795008</guid>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2027 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Onslow Island with Pam Smith (01/27/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $12.00; Nonmembers $14.00. Capacity limited to 15 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Join Ogeechee Audubon Master Birder Pam Smith for a field trip to Onslow Island.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp; This is a hike of 2 -3 miles, to and around the impoundments. &amp;nbsp; No facilities. Footing is uneven on the only occasionally mowed grassy dikes.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions:&amp;nbsp; From north of Bluffton take Rte 170 west (Okatie Hwy).&amp;nbsp; Follow Rte 170 the WHOLE way. It turns here and there, so you have to pay attention.&amp;nbsp; 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).&amp;nbsp; If you cross the river into Port Wentworth, turn around!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/PVS_ARCHES%20PIC-1-De%20(002).jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="135.75" height="168"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Pam Snmith&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795012</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795012</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2027 14:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Introduction to eBird Mobile App with Ken Adams (01/27/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 12/6; Nonmembers 12/13)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Member tickets: $20.00; Nonmembers $35.00. Capacity limited to 12 people.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;img src="https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/resources/Pictures/KAdams.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="169" height="159.5"&gt;&amp;nbsp; Ken Adams&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795022</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795022</guid>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2027 15:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Presentation: Meet Your Backyard Neighbors: The Joys of Backyard Birding (01/28/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Event is Free but please RSVP!)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 23px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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&amp;nbsp;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795025</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6795025</guid>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2027 14:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Exploring the Power of eBird Website with Ken Adams (02/03/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 1/2/2027; Nonmembers 1/10)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;In addition to submitting observations to an eBird checklist, the eBird website is the resource to explore species and regions; review your species observed and completed checklists; manage your checklists and locations; see your Sightings Lists (Life Lists); and learn how eBird science is used for research and conservation.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812040</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812040</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2027 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Bear Island with Karen Penale (02/06/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 1/3/2027; Nonmembers 1/10.)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;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&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;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&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#111111" face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;consists of 12,021 acres of brackish water marshes, maritime forests, bottomland hardwoods, upland fields, and water-controlled impoundments,&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;lagoons, etc.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt; &lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;From the Bear Island WMA website&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;: “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.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;nbsp; From Savannah or Bluffton, take either 170 or I-95&lt;/font&gt; &lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;to&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Hwy 17 heading east toward Charleston. Turn right onto Bennett’s Point Rd (if familiar with Donnelly, this turn-off is a few miles beyond it). Continue on Bennett’s Point Rd&lt;/font&gt; &lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;13 miles.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Entrance is on the left, on Titi Rd, about a mile after crossing the Ashepoo River.&amp;nbsp; 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!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 22px;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Optional Extension:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;nbsp; 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!&amp;nbsp; And plan to keep busy until 3 or later.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812035</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812035</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2027 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip:Palmetto Bluff Woods Tour with Aaron Palmieri (03/08/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 2/7; Nonmembers 2/14)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Aaron Palmieri, Outreach &amp;amp; Education Manager for the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, will lead us on a two-and-a-half-hour stroll through River Road Preserve located in Palmetto Bluff. We will explore roughly 3 miles of trails in the Preserve in search of residential and seasonal songbirds.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Meet at the Conservancy Classroom located in Moreland Village (655 Old Moreland Road). Parking available along the edge of the facility and in a small parking lot located past the classroom.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Located in Palmetto Bluff, River Road Preserve is a 133-acre tract of land that is owned and managed by the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. 5.2 miles of trails weave through this maritime forest ecosystem nestled between saltmarsh and the freshwater Inland Waterway. Restrooms are located at the northern end of the Preserve and near the Conservancy classroom where people are encouraged to park.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812045</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812045</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Sat, 13 Mar 2027 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Introduction to Bird Photography with Patty Kappmeyer (03/13/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 2/7; Nonmembers 2/14)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Join 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 composition, lighting, and how to ethically photograph birds without disturbing them. Based on the principles of&lt;/font&gt; &lt;em&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Flight Through the Seasons&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;, this session will emphasize finding birds, understanding their behavior, and capturing their beauty–no technical jargon, just&amp;nbsp;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;practical tips to help you take better bird photos. Perfect for anyone who loves birds and wants to capture the moment!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812048</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812048</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2027 12:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Field Trip: Nemours Plantation Tour with Heather Krauss (03/23/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 2/7; Nonmembers 2/14)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Nemours Wildlife Foundation is an action-focused conservation organization. They conduct scientific research, carry out sound land management, provide experiential education, and empower conservationists throughout our region and beyond. Please join Nemours’ Education Coordinator Heather Krauss for a tour of the woods and impoundments of this former rice plantation now under conservation management. After a brief introduction, we will all pile into their open-air trailer with cushioned bench seats, which allows for many eyes looking in all directions and allows us to keep spotting scopes at the ready.&amp;nbsp; We will stop to look and listen in key locations. Please do not wander around on your own before or after the tour. But also ask Heather lots of questions!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Bring the usual: binoculars, water, snack. Dress in layers as it may be chilly on the trailer and will be exposed to the wind.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 26px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Directions:&amp;nbsp; Take I-95 North to exit 33 Charleston/Beaufort, onto Rte 17 east.&amp;nbsp; OR, take Rte 170 east from Bluffton and Rte 21 north from Beaufort then exit onto Rte 17 at Gardens Corner. &amp;nbsp; Nemours will be on your right about 5.5 – 6 miles east of Gardens Corner intersection of 17 &amp;amp; 21.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Special note:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; If you register for this Hilton Head Audubon field trip to Nemours, you must ALSO register yourself (no additional charge) on the Nemours site. That url will be provided upon your HHA registration.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1D2228" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812051</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812051</guid>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2027 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Class: Backyard Birding by Ear- Chip Walker and Lucia Rosenblatt (03/27/2027)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;(Member registration opens 2/7; Nonmembers 2/14)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;Topics include: Why birds vocalize; How birds vocalize; Bird calls vs bird songs; How to interpret sonograms; Techniques for memorizing bird songs; Mobile apps for learning bird songs. This class is a prerequisite for “How to Record High-quality Bird Sounds.” A separate field trip is recommended but not required.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812059</link>
      <guid>https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/event-6812059</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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