All About Birding

Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is incredibly warm, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last blog, we took a look at some interesting animals that embodied the Halloween spirit. Today, we’ll be discussing birding! Birding, or birdwatching, is defined as the observing of birds as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. There are so many interesting birds to see here in the Lowcountry! If you are interested in learning more about birding, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started.

 

When you step outside, you are likely to see a bird– Or at least hear one! Birds are everywhere, whether it is in your backyard, at the local park, or at the beach. There are nearly 11,000 species of birds worldwide, and about 480 species of birds in South Carolina alone. These birds range from “backyard” birds like cardinals to “water” or “coastal” birds like skimmers. With so many different types of birds to learn about, it is no wonder that about 45 million Americans are birdwatchers, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In fact, birdwatching ecotourism brings in a whopping $41 billion per year to the United States economy! So what is birding all about?

 

Many people take birding seriously. (Some even consider it to be a sport!) It is a hobby that allows one to deeply connect with nature and learn about the natural environment that surrounds them. Additionally, learning about different bird species and being able to identify them can be rewarding and fulfilling. Birding is much more than just a fun hobby, though– It is also great for conservation research. Information and data collected from birders around the world helps conservationists track changes in species populations. This data helps identify which species are most vulnerable and what may be contributing to their decline, or which species are flourishing and in what areas. 

 

How To Get Started

 

Birding involves much more than simply stepping outside and spotting a bird. And although this is a free hobby, you may want to invest in a few supplies if you want to become a serious birdwatcher. Here is a list of gear you may need:

 

    • Binoculars: Of course, you can spot birds with the naked eye, but binoculars allow you to get an up-close-and-personal view from a distance. Using binoculars may also help you spot birds that are too far away to see, or can allow you to see intricate details of the bird you are viewing.
    • Field guide: A field guide is essentially an encyclopedia of birds, complete with photos or drawings and descriptions to help you identify birds. There are also different field guides for different regions, so you’ll want to choose one that best fits your area. Typically, these books will also include maps as well as tips and tricks for identifying birds. 
    • Notebook and pen: Many birders carry around a notebook and writing utensil to keep track of the birds they’ve seen or to jot down descriptive notes about birds they cannot identify. You can write notes or draw a quick sketch of the bird. Skipping this step may lead to you forgetting important details later when you look at your field guide. You can also use the notes app on your smartphone if that is more convenient.
  • Birding app: There are also a variety of birding apps out there that can help you identify birds quickly and easily. You may find this more useful to use while you are out actively birding, and then use the field guide later on at home. 

 

Once you have your gear, you’re ready to go birding! Choose your destination first. Is it your backyard, the park, or a wooded area down the street from your house? Whatever you decide, you’ll want to be outside and alert. Put your phone away and scan the area– This will require your full attention. Most birds like to perch, so look for areas like tree tops or exposed branches, fence posts, or powerlines. If you spot something, take a closer look with your binoculars. It is also important to listen closely for different bird calls, and try to find where they are coming from. This will take practice, but eventually you’ll be able to know exactly where the call is coming from and identify the bird it is coming from! 

 

When it comes to identifying birds, you will more than likely rely heavily on your field guide at first. The first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is color, but color isn’t always the best way to identify a bird. Instead, you should look at the size and shape of the bird. This may be hard to do without binoculars. Try identifying birds by asking yourself simple questions about what you are seeing. For example, is the bird smaller than a crow, but larger than a robin? It is also important to note details such as the shape of the bird’s beak, wings, or tail– This can often tell you a lot about the bird. You should also learn which traits define each “family” of birds. For example, the thrush family of birds, which includes robins and bluebirds, can be identified by their plump bodies, long legs, and soft plumage. 

 

Here at Coastal Expeditions, we offer a variety of guided eco-tours, and many of them are perfect for birders! Our Blackwater Kayak Tour gives you the opportunity to spot birds like hawks, turkeys, wood ducks, night herons, and swallow-tailed kites! Our Bulls Island Ferry, a fall favorite tour, provides time to birdwatch on an observation platform to spot one of the 293 species found in the refuge. You can also take our Beaufort Sunset Cruise for beautiful views of the golden hour while spotting ibises and egrets! There are many options available, so be sure to check out our current tours and trips!

 

As you can see, bird watching is a fun hobby with many benefits! Have you ever tried birding, or do you plan to try? Is there a type of bird you find the most interesting? Let us know! We hope you found this article informative! As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids’ programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!

Explore. Chat. Visit. And come on back, y’all.
@coastalexpeditions

St. Phillips Island & Beaufort Rentals

Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards

Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.

Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.

Outpost Location

Need A Guide?

If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.

Check out our St. Phillips Island & Beaufort tours.

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Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant Rentals

Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards

Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.

Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.

Outpost Location

Need A Guide?

If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.

Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard Click to Book via Text

Isle of Palms Rentals

Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards

Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.

Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.

Outpost Location

Need A Guide?

If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.

Check out our Isle of Palms tours.

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard Click to Book via Text