Wine & Warblers 2013

Wine and Warblers at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest begins today at 5:00 p.m.  There are still spaces available on the later walks.  After a refreshing rain last night and this morning, the precipitation has moved off shore leaving pleasantly cool conditions for this evening's festivities!

There are plenty of warblers around the boardwalk...

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) - Mark Musselman

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) - Mark Musselman

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) - Mark Musselman

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) - Mark Musselman

 ...as well as wading birds, like White Ibis and Yellow-crowned Night Herons.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) with crayfish - Mark Musselman

Yellow-billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus) made their presence known this week, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) have returned and Barred Owls (Strix varia) never fail to make an appearance.

If you cannot make it this year, mark your calendars for April 2014!

Recent Arrivals

In the last week, quality boardwalk time has been limited.  If we were not accomplishing other tasks (tractor maintenance, driveway repair, paperwork, etc.) and were on the boardwalk leading a group, the weather often did not cooperate.  Like many of us, animals are not as active during rainy or unseasonably cool weather.  Today, however, was a different story.

Prothonotary Warblers are singing and battling for territories.  Just in time for Wine & Warblers happening on Sat.

Prothonotary Warbler inspecting cavity - Mark Musselman

A014 singing - Mark Musselman

 The warmer weather has also brought out the reptiles.

Eastern Cottonmouth - Mark Musselman

Common Musk Turtle - Mark Musselman

Red-bellied Water Snake - Mark Musselman

 Even some of the normally-nocturnal creatures were out to sample the bounty of the swamp.

Raccoon - Mark Musselman

There were plenty of other sights and sounds, including an American Crow flying back to its nestlings with the chick of another species secured in its bill.  Everything has to eat!  We will be doing just that at Wine and Warblers.

2013 Wine & Warblers

 It is almost time for Wine and Warblers!

On April 20th, join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each spring. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tastings as you explore the ancient swamp forest.

Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina and the cost is $40 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required. Walks begin at 5:00 p.m. and depart each half hour.  Please make reservations for your time slot by calling (843) 462-2150.

Click here for additional images and descriptions of past years' Wine & Warblers!

Warbler species will begin arriving this month with the Prothonotary Warblers returning on one of the last days of the month.  In the meantime, here is a sample of what has been around the boardwalk in the last week:

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 25, 2013 10:00 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments:    overcast, 40Fs, repairing boardwalk
11 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2


Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 26, 2013 2:20 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.75 mile(s)
Comments:    Overcast to clear, windy, 60Fs
20 species

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  3
Barred Owl (Strix varia)  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  3    Saw at #105, #165, and #169
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2

Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Dorchester, US-SC
Feb 27, 2013 1:55 PM - 2:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:    Partly cloudy, 60Fs, parking area
15 species

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1  (and again yesterday)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

Prothonotary Warblers Up High, Crayfish Down Low

Prothonotary Warblers remain higher than expected in the forest canopy at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, but the crayfish down low in the shallow water are attracting a host of predators.  Hopefully, the wildlife will put on a show for the guests at tonight's Wine & Warblers (space still available)!

Female Prothonotary Warbler - Mark Musselman

The first female we have spotted this season was taking a bath under the rain shelter at #9 along the boardwalk.  In the image, she was preening on a low perch.

Male Prothonotary Warbler - Mark Musselman

The male Prothonotary Warbler shown in the image appears to have claimed a territory that includes the parking area, the nature center, and the low, wet area north of #1 along the boardwalk.

Barred Owl eating crayfish - Mark Musselman

Barred Owl eating crayfish - Mark Musselman

Barred Owl eating crayfish - Mark Musselman

We watched this pair of Barred Owls hunt and eat crayfish in the area around #14 along the boardwalk.  In less than 10 minutes, one adult caught and ate five crayfish!  Don't blink...the owl grabs the crayfish in its talon, moves it to its beak and then swallows it whole.  If you see a pile of crayfish parts on the boardwalk, that is likely the pellet of undigested pieces the owl coughs up some time after its meal.  If the owls are dining on small mammals, the pellet will be a combination of hair and bones.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron eating crayfish - Mark Musselman

Yellow-crowned Night Heron eating crayfish - Mark Musselman

Yellow-crowned Night Herons were also stalking crayfish.  Moving slowly, the heron uses its large, forward-facing eyes to spot the crayfish moving in the shallow water.  A rapid stab with its sturdy bill and the crayfish is caught in an inescapable vice.  Once again, don't blink as the crayfish goes straight down the gullet.

Common Snapping Turtle - Mark Musselman

Finally, we spotted this large snapper high above the water.  We're not sure what it was doing on the high perch, but it may have been ridding itself of leeches.  The leeches are the black blobs at 5 and 11 o'clock as you look at the turtle's carapace (shell).

Wine & Warblers 2011

By April 16th, the Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) will all be back in the swamp at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest and actively wooing mates and defending territories.  Northern Parulas (Parula americana), Yellow-throated Warblers (Dendroica dominica), Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotilta varia), Hooded Warblers (Wilsonia citrina), and a host of other birds will also be visible around the boardwalk.

Come join us for wine, hors d'oeuvres and a guided tour around the boardwalk!

Image by Mark Musselman

Spring Break

This blog will be silent for the remainder of the week as the principal contributor will be on vacation.

Last week, we took some images of the Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) in the burned section of a Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) stand.  When looking at the images, we thought the eye looked "off."  With our best CSI skills, we magnified the image and caught the photographer reflected in the reptile's eye.

We will be back on April 10th in time for Wine & Warblers at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest!

Join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each Spring. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tastings as you explore the ancient swamp forest. Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina.

$40 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required. Walks begin at 5:00 p.m. Please make reservations for your time slot by calling (843) 462-2150.

See you there!
 
Images by Mark Musselman

Special Events at Francis Beidler Forest

Don't forget, tomorrow is Wine & Warblers at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest. The weather will be perfect and the plethora of birds in the old-growth, cypress-tupelo swamp will be spectacular!

Join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the 1.75-mile boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each spring. This year, you will also be able to spot Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) banded as part of Project PROTHO! Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting as you explore the ancient swamp forest. Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina. $40 per person. Reservations and advance payment are required., (843) 462-2150. Walks begin at 5:00 p.m. This is a once-a-year event...don't miss it!

If you want to make it a complete day at the Francis Beidler Forest, there will be a 9:00 am nature walk along the bluff overlooking Mallard Lake. A variety of wildflowers are still in bloom, wildlife abounds, and the geology and special habitats associated with the bluff are fascinating! The cost is $8.00 and we will meet in the nature center. Click here for directions. Click here for a list of other Spring Things at Beidler Forest.

Images by Mark Musselman

Business of Birding

The New York Times recently ran an article describing birders' propensity to mix their passion with business travel. The article states:

In fact, business travel, reviled by many forced to endure it, is frequently a boon for the nation’s 20 million birders, and their employers as well.

To begin with, bird watchers are often more eager to hit the road than their nonbirding colleagues. Cyndi Lubecke, a birder from Prospect Heights, Ill., said she had to travel 46 weeks one year for her work as a leadership training consultant. “I looked at it as an opportunity to see a lot of birds.” Some of her nonbirding co-workers, by contrast, balked.

Travel to out-of-the-way places that many nonbirders find unappealing can be especially attractive to those who pack binoculars and field guides in their carry-on luggage.

From the US Fish & Wildlife Service report entitled Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

Wildlife watching is one of the most popular types of outdoor recreation in the United States. Nearly a third of the U.S. population, 71 million people, enjoyed closely observing, feeding, and photographing wildlife in 2006. Wildlife watching around the home and on trips is an important and growing form of recreation. Eight percent more people participated in 2006 than in 2001.

In addition to contributing significantly to people’s enjoyment of the outdoors, wildlife watching has a substantial impact on the nation’s and states’ economies. The $45.7 billion spent on wildlife equipment and trips in 2006 contributed substantially to federal and state tax revenues, jobs, earnings, and economic output.

Of course, this is not news to Audubon South Carolina! Spectacular birding opportunities are available in the habitats at both centers in South Carolina (Francis Beidler Forest and Silver Bluff), in addition to programs such as Wine & Warblers (Apr), Swallow-tailed Kite Survey (Apr), bird summer camp at Beidler Forest, Storks & Corks (Aug), bird walks, Christmas Bird Count (Dec), and the Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb)!

Come join the bird nerds!

Image by Mark Musselman

Wine & Warblers

Perfect weather, fresh water in the swamp, delicious food and wine, and people excited to see birds in a virgin, old-growth, cypress-tupelo swamp made for a highly successful Wine & Warblers 2007!

Participants had something to eat and drink before heading out onto the 1.75-mile boardwalk with an expert birding guide. Along the way, guests saw warblers, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Barred Owls, various snakes and even an otter! To ensure nobody became faint from a lack of sustinence, stations with wine and food were positioned around the boardwalk. Upon their return to the nature center, guests were treated to coffee and desserts and had an opportunity to compare notes with other groups. All this for only $35 and it all goes to support bird and habitat protection at the Francis Beidler Forest.

Mark you calendars now for Wine & Warblers 2008.

Wine & Warblers

WINE & WARBLERS will be held on April 21, 2007 at the Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest. Walks begin at 5:30 p.m. and every 20 minutes thereafter until 6:50 p.m.

Join expert birdwatchers for an evening on the boardwalk and explore the wide variety of songbirds that travel to Beidler Forest each spring. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine tastings as you explore the ancient swamp forest.

Proceeds benefit Audubon South Carolina. The cost is $35.00 per person and reservations and advance payment are required.

Please make reservations for your time slot by calling (843) 462-2150.