Audubon Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count has gathered data about bird populations since 1900 and has grown to include over 2,600 count circles in over 20 countries in the Western Hemisphere. Our Palmetto Dunes team is part of the Hilton Head 15-mile diameter count circle. On count day, Friday, December 15th, we had 34 birders on field teams or counting birds from home.  Field teams covered all three golf courses, the lagoon, the beach north to the Folly inlet, Shelter Cove, Newport, Disney and a few miles out over the ocean viewed from a Marriott balcony with a spotting scope.  We counted a total of 69 species and 1,961 birds.  This was added to the Hilton Head count of 137 species and 28,858 birds for the day.

Some of our rarer sightings included a Roseate Spoonbill, a Northern Gannet, Piping Plovers and White Pelicans.  We counted more common but always interesting Belted Kingfishers, Hooded Mergansers, Ospreys and Red-tailed Hawks.  Feeder watchers identified many chickadees, wrens, warblers, woodpeckers and a Baltimore Oriole. Some birders started before dawn to count the birds roosting overnight before they fly off for the day.  Ray Pfeiffer found hundreds of birds roosting on an island on the Fazio Golf Course a half-hour before sunrise.  He counted Anhingas, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, White Ibises and Double-crested Cormorants.

Thanks to all who participated in the count and we welcome more birders!  The next count is Monday, December 16, 2024.

-Submitted by Susan Murphy