Shorebird Celebration Week
March 23-29, 2025
Join us throughout the South Carolina coast to learn, celebrate, and ultimately protect our shorebirds! Various kinds of events, programs, celebrations, and outreach initiatives are taking place over the span of the week and across a mutltitude of venues. Whether you are a passionate birder or new to the world of coastal wildlife, all are welcome to join in on the events below to dive into the world of shorebirds and the critical role that South Carolina plays throughout their lifecycle.
Edisto Beach State Park Birding & Photography Outing
March 25, 2025 7:30-10:00am
Campgrounds at Edisto Beach State Park
Join professional wildlife photographer and Master Naturalist, Colin Hocking, and Cami Duquet, Outreach & Stewardship Coordinator of the Coastal Bird Program for SCDNR, for a morning of birding and photography! Whether you're a seasoned photographer/birder or just starting out, this inperson event is perfect for all skill levels. Colin will share his tips and experience on improving your bird photography and Cami will be on hand to
ID all those birds you see, so don't miss this unique opportunity to hone your photography and birding skills and enjoy the beauty of nature.
March 25, 2025 10:00-11:00am
Beach Access 37, Edisto Beach
Join community member Ken Tingman, to learn about the importance of the South Edisto River inlet for shorebirds and other wildlife. Throughout the walk, Ken will point out the different species of birds that rely on this area of the beach and its connection to the greater coastal ecosystem of South Carolina. He will recount his encounters with a variety of wildlife in this very spot and speak on his involvement with the town's wildlife committee including future plans and programs to look forward to.
Event hosted by Ken Tingman and supported by the Town of Edisto. No registration required.
Edisto Beach Shorebird Walk
Harbor Island Shorebird Walk
Event hosted by the Environmental Stewardship Committee of the Harbor Island Owners Association.
March 25, 2025 9:00-11:00am
Beach and Racket Club, Harbor Island
Join Janet Thibault, SCDNR coastal bird biologist, for a walk down the South Beach of Harbor Island where we will be looking for migrating and overwintering shorebirds. Janet will discuss the importance of Harbor Island to declining shorebird populations and point out species that are present on the island. Currently we have winter residents like the Piping Plover, long distant migrants like the Red Knots and our spring and summer nesting birds, the Wilson’s Plover.
We will meet in the Beach and Racket Club parking area at 9:00 am and then walk to Board Walk #1 where we will enter the beach. We will be walking from the beach access down to the South end of the beach. Bring binoculars if you have them.
March 25, 2025, 4:30-6:30pm
North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Learn about shorebird research and conservation and how you can help to protect shorebirds, and then practice some shorebird identification before enjoying the sunset over North Inlet marsh. We will be riding in the van down to Clambank landing and there will be some walking on dirt roads. This program is geared towards learners 15 and older.
Event hosted by the North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR and the Baruch Institute.
Shorebirds At Sunset
Bird Trivia-Shorebird Edition
March 25, 2025, 6:00-8:00pm
Holy City Brewing
Come join Audubon South Carolina for a fun evening of shorebird-themed and coastal trivia! Have fun with friends while learning some amazing new facts about the shorebirds that call South Carolina's beaches home. This event will be held in an outdoor seating area, and the rain date is April 1.
Event hosted by Audubon South Carolina.
Deveaux Bank WHSRN Designation Celebration
March 26, 2025, 11:00-2:00pm
Camp St Christopher Camp and Conference Center
SCDNR's Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary at the mouth of the North Edisto River has recently been designated a site of international importance under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Join in on this celebration by taking in beautiful sights of the property from across the estuary, and hear from the professionals involved in the management, research, and protection of shorebirds on this special island.
Shorebird photography & Birding at Folly Beach
March 27, 2025, 07:30-10:00am
Lighthouse Inlet Preserve, Folly Beach
Join professional wildlife photographer and Master Naturalist, Colin Hocking, and Jenna Stephens, Master Naturalist and Environmental Planner for the City of Folly Beach, for an exciting photography and birding outing at Folly Beach's Lighthouse Inlet Preserve! Whether you're a seasoned photographer/birder or just starting out, this in-person event is perfect for all skill levels. Colin will share his tips and experience on photographing birds and Jenna will be on hand to ID all those birds you see, so don't miss this unique opportunity to hone your photography and birding skills and enjoy the beauty of nature. See you there!
March 27, 2025, 09:30-01:00pm
Bear Island Wildlife Managment Area
Join SCDNR staff on a tour of the Bear Island Management Area, with an emphasis on birding. Wetland impoundments and various habitats exist within
Bear Island which makes this area a bird watcher's paradise. Participants will travel in hayride style as they are pulled in an open trailer with bench seating.
Possible birds to be sighted throughout the day include, but are surely not limited to, Tundra Swan, White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Glossy
Ibis, and a variety of wading birds, waterfowl, and of course, shorebirds!
Impoundment Trailer Ride at Bear Island
Event hosted by the ACE Basin NERR.
Shorebird Stroll on Kiawah
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March 28, 2025, 01:00-03:00pm
Beachfront of the Ocean Course Clubhouse
1000 Ocean Course Dr, Kiawah Island
Join the Kiawah Conservancy, along with Cami Duquet of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Bird Program, for a peaceful and educational shorebird walk along the east end of Kiawah Island. Cami will point out a variety of shorebird species as they forage for food, soar through the sky, and interact with the coastal environment. You’ll learn about the unique behaviors, migration patterns, and ecological importance of these fascinating birds.
Event hosted by the Kiawah Conservancy.
March 29, 2025, 09:00-12:00pm
Meet at the North Beach Parking Lot at Huntington Beach State Park
Come explore a nesting beach built for the birds by the US Army Corps of Engineers as part of their maintenance of the Murrells Inlet navigation channel, Huntington Beach State Park works with a variety of partners and volunteers to manage this safe sanctuary for a variety of nesting, feeding, migrating, and roosting shorebirds and seabirds at the very northern end of the park. Enjoy an invigorating 3-mile, 3 hour hike up the beach to learn more about some of these conservation efforts, and view some of the birds that rely on them. Wear good close-toed footwear and bring drinking water and sunscreen. Snacks, binoculars, cameras and field guides are optional; we will have extra binoculars and a spotting scope available for viewing the birds.
Event hosted by Ranger Mike Walker of Huntington Beach State Park. No formal registration required.
A Beach Built For Shorebirds
Shorebird Safari on Kiawah Island
March 29, 2025, 10:00-12:00pm
Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah Island
Children of all ages are invited to join the Kiawah Island Shorebird Stewards on a Shorebird safari at Beachwalker County Park. We will learn about our local shorebirds through engaging hands-on activities. Stop by anytime during the event and allow 20- 30 minutes to complete all activities. Children under the age of ten will need parent assistance. This event is free and does not require a reservation; however, Beachwalker County Park does charge a parking fee.