Birding

Birding, or bird watching, involves the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by simply listening for bird sounds.

When you visit Summerton, nearby Lake Marion, and the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, you will find many parks, wildlife management areas, nature trails and back roads you can use for bird watching and to observe the other wildlife throughout the region. Sightings of nearly 300 bird species have been recorded in the area. These include songbirds, wading birds, and several species of waterfowl.

Some of the many other birds sighted in the area include quail, turkey, loons, grebe, storks, cormorants, herons, egrets, eagles, hawks, falcons, rails, cranes, plovers, sandpipers, gulls, terns, doves, owls, swifts, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers, jays, crows, larks, swallows, wrens, thrushes, mockingbirds, warblers, sparrows, cardinals, lackbirds, finches, and much more.

Selected Information Sources

• All About Birds

• American Birding Association

• BirdWatching Daily

• Birding Buddies - South Carolina

• Carolina Bird Club

• National Audubon Society

• Santee National Wildlife Refuge - Local Bird List

• South Carolina Young Birders Club

* Shazam for Birds: Smartphone Apps that Recognize Bird Calls. Try 'Song Sleuth' or 'ChirpoMatic USA'. Also, check out eBirds and these other related Smartphone Bird Watching Apps