The early bird may catch the worm, but the early human counts the bird.
As thousands of camo-attired visitors flock to Charleston for the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, state officials are encouraging area residents to get outside to count birds.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is conducting two bird surveys Feb. 13 through Feb. 16. First, there’s the department’s 11th annual Baltimore oriole winter survey. At the same time, birders can tally flying friends as part of the global Great Backyard Bird Count.
More than just a baseball team mascot, the Baltimore oriole is a beautiful orange and black songbird with a whistling melody that catches the ears before the eyes.
The bird once spent winters in southern Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America. But now like many other northern Americans, South Carolina seems to have caught the orioles’ eyes in the last decade. SCDNR says it continues to report the increasing number of sightings as the years continue with the help of surveys like the ones this weekend. And it’s not a one-sided admiration.
“Whether male or female, adult or young, their appearance is always met with some degree of heart flutter, for me at least,” said Keith McCullough, natural history interpretation coordinator at Caw Caw Interpretive Center near Ravenel. He said he finds the birds to be particularly striking and great birds to point out to new birders who may only know them from the professional baseball team.
“The various oranges in their plumages are colors not seen often in the birds of this region.” McCullough said.
Lowcountry birdwatchers typically find their feeders to be visited more often by Carolina wrens, which are a light brown color, or northern cardinals, who are most often red, according to SCDNR. But during the winter, survey participants record and report the Baltimore oriole as the most common sightings on any given day.
Bird watching is a growing hobby that combines the quiet beauty of nature and the precision of science. Winter brings even more excitement within the community. Many birds migrate south for warmer weather, including the Baltimore oriole.
McCullough encouraged bird watchers to take part in any way they can.
“Observations can be made and recorded in the comfort of your own home with only 30 minutes or more of observational effort,” he said. “Even if you don’t have orioles that visit your yard, recording other species that show up can contribute to the Great Backyard Bird Count.”
While birdwatching and reporting can be fun, McCullough said it’s important to maintain integrity and treat the survey like the scientific research that it is.
“The most important recommendations I have are for people to report only what they are able to identify with 100% confidence and to report only the highest number seen at one time,” he said. “Subsequent visits of a species could be the same bird that has come back, and adding a number each time this happens can provide misleading information.”
To participate, go to the survey online at survey123.arcgis.com or use the Survey123 app.
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