In the Field: August Eye to the Sky

July was a hot month at Palmetto Bluff, and I am not surprised that bird sightings were few and far between. The cool temperatures of an air-conditioned building were too enticing for many people, including me! However, those who were brave enough to venture outdoors spent a lot of time on or around the water, which gave us lots of wading bird sightings. Roseate Spoonbills were one of the unique sightings for this month. These pink birds are becoming more common every year, but I will continue treating them as unique sightings until we either officially have them at the Bluff year-round or we have photographic or eBird reports of nesting pairs in Bluffton.

The birds most often reported to me during the summer were the wading birds seen around the pond leading into Moreland Village. Wood storks, great egrets, snowy egrets, little blue herons, white ibis, and spoonbills are the main species seen in this large flock. The sightings would often arrive in my inbox along with the question, “Where did they go? I saw them all here yesterday and now they are gone!” My first response to this concern is typically, “What was the tide doing?”

Beaufort County experiences a roughly nine-foot tidal change twice a day, and the high tide submerges all but the very tops of the spartina grass. Spartina is a valuable hiding spot for the small fish that are food for birds, dolphins, sharks, large fish, and anything else that wants to make a meal out of them. When the tide goes out, the water is concentrated and forces the prey fish into a smaller and more shallow area. This is perfect for egrets, herons, storks, terns, gulls, and pelicans as their prey becomes easier to locate and catch.

When high tide returns, the fish swim to safety and the wading birds return to the pond near Moreland, which I personally call the wood stork pond. Here, we can watch them lounge along the bank as they await the next low tide.

Now that we’ve entered August, wading birds will be seen in smaller groups as they disperse from their summer rookeries. Similar to what we saw in July, I foresee few reports of unique birds due to the notorious heat keeping people indoors. For those who will be spending time on the beach, you may see shorebirds begin to appear. Depending on the species and individual, some shorebirds can travel anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 miles in a single night! Bar-tailed godwits hold the record for the longest nonstop migration, flying over 7,000 miles from Alaska to New Zealand in approximately eight days!. While none of the species we see in Beaufort County make as dramatic of a nonstop flight, their migration still leaves them exhausted and hungry when we see them along our shores. Every time a shorebird stops during their migration, it is important for them to be able to take their time to rest and refuel in preparation for the next leg of their journey.

Just like wading birds, a shorebird’s feeding period is dependent upon the tides. A major difference is that wading birds can forage in freshwater lagoons, if they strike out along the beaches or marshes. Many of the shorebird species found in Beaufort County are only able to forage in the damp sandy soils or mud banks left behind by receding tides; it is important that we share the beaches with these birds and give them their respected space. While I remember being little and chasing after birds on the beach, I have since learned how detrimental it is for the sandpipers and plovers to expend their already depleted energy and fat reserves to flee from a potential threat. Trying to escape us also wastes time that could be spent refueling for the next stretch of their migration. Along with not intentionally chasing the birds, beaches in Beaufort County have a leash law in place for dogs. While this law does allow dogs off leash if under strict voice command, often you will see a dog that is too far away to hear or one that refuses to listen to their owner, and therefore is not under strict voice command. This leash law is important to not only protect shorebirds but also your dogs, other dogs, and fellow beachgoers alike.

Whether we spend August having our last hoorah at the beach or lounging in the cool air conditioning of our homes, this is the time for us to prepare for the oncoming increase in bird activity as we head towards the official fall migration in September.

The birds are beginning to stir! Willing to brave the heat? You may see some of the early migrants trickle through. If you see or photograph something you wish to share, you can submit your sightings to Aaron Palmieri at apalmieri@pbconservancy.org, and they may appear in next month’s update.

July’s Unique Sightings:

• Roseate Spoonbill – (Moreland Ponds and River House)

• Large group of green herons (Lake Bales)

July Contributors:

Larry Bleam & Marsha Schaffer