South Carolina Shorebirds
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Shorebirds: Sun Loving Beach Bums
The South Carolina shores are home to a wide variety of birds. The sea gulls follow the shrimp boats as they troll the waters, and can be seen along the shores searching for crustaceans washed up with the tide. While the sea gulls are a common site along the shore they are not considered shorebirds.
Shorebirds are waders. Most have small bodies with long, thin legs for wading. They inhabit the coastal waters, wetlands, interior grasslands and the arctic tundra.
The South Carolina Shores
Shorebirds
Shorebirds
Shorebirds belong to the avian order Charadriiformes. Within the order there are numerous families and species.
Most have small bodies with long, thin legs for wading. They have three unwebbed toes that point forward with a hind toe that is reduced or absent.
They inhabit the coastal waters, wetlands, interior grasslands and the arctic tundra.
The American Oystercatcher
3,000 miles of Shoreline
The coast of South Carolina is 187 miles in length but when you add the islands, bays, and estuaries, the total shoreline measures over 3,000 miles. It is home for many beautiful and fascinating birds.
The Sanderling
Nesting Season
Shorebirds begin nesting in early April. Endangered birds such as the American oystercatcher and the least tern build their nests on beachfronts, in mounds of shells, or in the marsh, well above the high-tide line.
The Piping Plover
Migration
Most shorebirds are migratory birds. They will travel thousands of miles between their nesting grounds and their wintering grounds. The shores of South Carolina are a frequent rest stop for migrating shorebirds.
A Flock of Black Skimmers
The Decline
The number of shorebirds has declined over the years. Loss of suitable nesting habitat appears to be the leading cause. There is also an increase in the number of egg stealing predators. If disturbed by humans, a shorebird will abandon its nest.
101 Ways to Help Birds
101 Ways To Help Birds
Amazon Price: $9.79 (as of 06/04/2012)
101 Ways to Help Birds offers 101 ways for individuals to help birds and bird populations as a whole, and it explains how these actions make a difference. Any bird lover knows that birds and animals alike need our help. Without it, we will lose more and we've lost enough as it is.
Share the Beach
Watch Lists
There are several birds that nest in South Carolina that are on the endangered 
list. The American Oystercatcher is one of them. The South Carolina Department of Natural Recourses is currently working on a program to help protect its nesting sites. We've lost too many birds already. We don't need to lose anymore. The Least Tern and the Wilson's Plover are on the watch list as well.
The American Avocet
Don't Disturb the Birds
Bird watching is an enjoyable pastime, and spotting and photographing a rare shorebird is exciting, but don't go searching for them, especially during nesting season. The beach may be a recreational spot for us but it's their home. Disturb them and they may abandon their nest. I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to be able to spot an illusive shorebird, not just read about them in a book.
What's your favorite shorebird?
Peterson's Field Guide to Birds
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guides)
Amazon Price: $10.55 (as of 06/04/2012)
An absolute must have for anyone with a birdfeeder and an interest in watching the birds.
Some of my Favorite South Carolina Beach Bums
Selecting a Pair of Binoculars
Canon Digital Rebel
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens - Black
Amazon Price: $600.00 (as of 06/04/2012)
I have used a simple point and shoot camera for years. They're great for taking pictures at family gatherings and picnics, but when it came to photographing wildlife, I was always disappointed with the results. I couldn't get a close-up without compromising the quality of the picture. I started researching cameras and came up with the Canon Rebel. It's a step above the POINT and SHOOT but not so complicated that it ends up setting on the shelf.
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A Guide to Field Identification (Princeton Field Guides)
Amazon Price: $23.43 (as of 06/04/2012)
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia is divided into two sections for easy use. The first section shows the shorebirds in standard poses and the second shows them in flight. I prefer this field guide to the others because shorebirds rarely stay still long enough to identify them. With flight illustrations I have a better chance at identifying them.
Can you identify the different shorebirds?
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VillaDejaBlue
Jan 6, 2012 @ 10:44 pm | delete
- Nice lens.
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Oct 20, 2011 @ 2:29 pm | delete
- Shorebirds are such a delight. My favorite part of living on the Gulf Coast was observing and photographing the amazing variety of shorebirds. Enjoyed this lens. Thanks!
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AndyPo
Jun 25, 2011 @ 11:43 am | delete
- Excellent lens, as always. Such a great variety of bird to see.
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Toni Manos
Jun 25, 2011 @ 8:20 am | delete
- Could someone let me know the particular source for the info about the "3000 miles of shorebird habitat in S.C." as stated above? Thanks.
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ElizabethJeanAllen
Jun 25, 2011 @ 9:21 am | delete
- The information can be found on the following website: http://spinner.cofc.edu/cgoinquiry/shoreline.htm
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About the Author
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
National Resources Conservation Service
Birds of South Carolina
South Carolina Shoreline Types
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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