Audubon South Carolina

08/19/2026

Thanks to the 125+ guests who attended our annual Storks and Corks event to support birds and Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary!

The birds didn't disappoint, with large flocks of Wood Storks and other waders putting on a show at the sanctuary's extensive foraging ponds.

Silver Bluff spans 3,410 acres of protected longleaf pine and hardwood forest, native grasslands, and wetland and lake habitat along the Savannah River. Our work to protect and manage habitat for birds at Silver Bluff and across the state wouldn't be possible without our supporters.

Photos: Ashley Logan

08/12/2026

Where does one of South Carolina’s most secretive and mysterious songbirds migrate and spend the winter?

Now we know, thanks to a research project by Audubon South Carolina and our partners. Using cutting edge tracking technology, we tagged Swainson’s Warblers at Audubon’s Beidler Forest Sanctuary and elsewhere across the state and the South.

This species is prized by birdwatchers and difficult for scientists to study because of the dense, overgrown habitat it occupies. Think lowland swamps, canebrakes, and mountainous rhododendron ravines.

This research project, led by Garrett Rhyne, a Louisiana State University-trained ecologist now at the American Bird Conservancy, found that the population of Swainon’s Warblers east of Appalachia take a land-based route through Florida before making a short hop to the Bahamas and Cuba. Birds from the Mississippi Valley and Missouri Ozarks take a riskier path, crossing the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatán Peninsula.

This kind of migratory connectivity data can help identify threats to habitat and target conservation efforts throughout the species’ range.

Check out the link in the comments to learn more about this research and Audubon’s work to manage Swainson’s Warbler habitat in South Carolina. You can see the other birds in this project by visiting the Bird Migration Explorer at explorer.audubon.org. Thanks to our many project partners including American Bird Conservancy and Garrett Rhyne.

All bird handling and research was carried out by permitted professionals through the Bird Banding Lab.

07/21/2026

Don't forget that we're hosting our annual Storks & Corks event on Saturday, August 8th! Come celebrate the success of heroic conservation and land management practices at Silver Bluff that have allowed species like the Wood Stork to continue to thrive here. Wine and other beverages will be on hand, and after watching the Wood Storks glean for aquatic treats in the foraging pond you'll have the opportunity to glean your own treats back at the center (with more wine, of course).

Original photo by Heather Martin

07/20/2026

Wilson's Plovers have had a tough nesting season at Folly Beach, but there's good news: we have one chick that has nearly fledged!

At Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, nearly every nesting attempt by this threatened species has been lost to predators. But this lone chick (pictured here as a hatchling) continues to thrive. We are grateful to our dedicated volunteer shorebird stewards, staff, and partners at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for working to give these birds a fighting chance.

If you're visiting the beach this summer, remember to share the shore by giving nesting birds plenty of space so chicks like this one can thrive.

Photo: Abbie Burke/Audubon

07/13/2026

Archeologists have been digging Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary this summer!

We welcomed a crew from the University of South Carolina to survey the swamp and surrounding areas of the 18,500-acre sanctuary at Beidler Forest, where teams have already uncovered pottery shards and other artifacts.

The human past of Beidler Forest is just as rich as its natural history. The ancient cypress swamp sheltered generations of Indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans seeking freedom.

We're looking forward to seeing if this dig turns up new information. Stay tuned for more!

07/08/2026

We're fired up for controlled burning season at Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary!

Crews have been out managing prescribed fires in stands of long leaf pine and other forest types across the sanctuary's 3,410 acres. We typically do burns in the winter, take a break for bird nesting season, and then resume again in the summer.

Prescribed fires mimic natural wildfires and are essential for these habitats because they clear thick brush and allow sunlight to reach growing seedlings, which helps the forest and provides fresh food for wildlife.

06/18/2026

Upstream wetlands provide critical habitat for birds and wildlife, but they also play a vital role for homeowners and communities.

South Carolina's swamps and wetlands—places like Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary—serve as critical flood-control mechanisms for areas downstream. Learn more in the Post and Courier story, including insights from Beidler Sanctuary Director Matt Johnson. Link in the comments.

Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon

06/08/2026

Every summer, one of South Carolina's most impressive wildlife spectacles unfolds at Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary.

Join us for Storks & Corks on August 8 and experience an evening with Wood Storks as they gather by the hundreds at Silver Bluff's managed foraging ponds. After enjoying light food, drinks, and conversation, guests will caravan to the ponds for a guided viewing experience timed for dusk, when these remarkable birds settle in for the evening.

With six-foot wingspans and a prehistoric appearance, Wood Storks are among the Southeast's most iconic wading birds. Seeing so many in one place is an unforgettable experience.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today and celebrate conservation while witnessing one of Silver Bluff's signature wildlife events. Registration link in comments.

📸: Tammy Pick/Audubon Photography Awards

06/01/2026

These rescued pitcher plants are thriving in their new home at Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary!

We worked with county staff to rescue these and other native species from a site being cleared for development.

As development pressure continues to ramp up across South Carolina, we are working with partners and elected officials to find ways to balance responsible growth with habitat conservation. Sometimes that means getting our hands and helping out one plant at a time.

05/22/2026

"We’ve protected three and a half million acres of South Carolina land so far, but we have a lot more to protect if we are going to keep pace with development pressures on the most fragile places and ecosystems we have." - Audubon South Carolina Executive Director Rebecca Haynes

South Carolina leaders, conservation groups, and tribal representatives gathered in Charleston for the Lowcountry Land Conservation Symposium, where Governor He