Bird Watching in South Carolina

SC is home to hundreds of all year + migratory bird species, each with its own characteristics, habits and songs. You probably visa more of them lately – on their feeders, on their fence posts or flying overhead. In South Carolina, we can celebrate the arrival of winter finches – like the American Goldfinch (photo below) every winter.

Since so many birds are active now, you may be wondering what they are all – and you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to find that out. The most important things are your own eyes …and a little bit of curiosity. If one of your New Year’s resolutions were go out more or try a new hobby, bird watching may be the right thing for you.

Here are some tips + tricks below to get started bird watching.👇

There is an application for this

Websites and apps have made bird watching more accessible than ever. Here are a few that we recommend.

○ Merlin: This one free identification app in Cornell Lab of Ornithology includes photos, an identification tool and a database of songs + calls for every bird you are likely to encounter in your area.

○ ebird.org: Also from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, ebird is a great site for bird watchers find birds, follow bird lists, explore the latest sightings + contribute to science. The best part of ebird is the access point finder. Columbia has many local spots where bird watchers have seen more than 200 species.

○ Audubon South Carolina: State-specific information on species, conservation, resources + bird watching tips, friendly gardening and more.

P (u) the book

Armed with a good field guide, a little knowledge can help a lot. Here are some of the most popular guides:

○ The Sibley Field Guide for Eastern North American Birds by David Allen Sibley

○ Peterson Field Guide to Birds by Roger Tory Peterson

○ Peterson Field Guide to Feeder Birds of Eastern North America by Roger Tory Peterson

Feed the birds

The easiest way to see birds is to bring them to you. Retailers like Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Walmart, Tractor supplyand Lowe’s all have good options for bird feeders in different shapes and sizes. This link have some ideas on the best types of bird feeders + what kind of food (seed, tallow or nectar) to offer.

The staff of Wild Birds Unlimited (four locations) can connect it to a great bird feeder + seeds and tallow of local origin (a birdseed cake). They are also extremely knowledgeable about all bird things.

Some tricks of the trade

Use a 4: 1 ratio of water to sugar for your hummingbird nectar. Contrary to popular belief, nectar does no it needs to be dyed red to attract hummingbirds.
Black Sunflower Seed is a tried and true favorite that most birds will love it.
The Eastern Bluebird is very popular in our area. If you are feeling too ambitious (or bored)follow these instructions on how to build your own bluebird nest box. ProTip: These boxes must be placed in an open area at least five feet from the floor. They should also face a tree or shrub less than 15 meters away, so that the chicks have a place to live for several days after leaving the nest.
Carolina Wrens they are also popular native nests that nest in many different places.