Come enjoy the magic of fall migration at the SC Botanical Garden! There are 3 miles of nature trails that meander through various types of habitat within this amazing 295 acre park. 28 warbler species have been identified at the park in the month of September based on eBird! Other neo-tropical migrants such as tanagers, grosbeaks, cuckoos, and thrushes, could also be seen! We'll start at 7am and will bird in the park for approximately 4 hours. We will then conclude the morning with lunch and a discussion about identifying these tricky, but beautiful, fall migratory birds. Please join our Habitat Education Manager, and bird fanatic, Jay Keck, for a wonderful bird walk in this beautiful park!
Where: Class will be held at the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson.
When: Saturday, September 14th from 7:00 am until noon.
Who: This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. This training will count for one day toward Palmetto Pro Birder certification (8 days needed total). For SC Master Naturalists, this event can count as Advanced Training and towards your statewide certification if you need a Piedmont component. Lunch will last thirty minutes, so depending on when we finish, this class will count for approximately 4.5 hours of training. If you are not a Pro Birder or Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us. Participants will also receive contact info of other participants to allow for carpooling to the class.
This class will be led by Jay Keck, SCWF Habitat Education Manager. Jay has been a passionate nature and bird lover since his early teens. He lives in Chapin, SC with his wife and two boys, and has identified 95 bird species in his yard in three years, as well as 160 species in Lexington county since moving back in September of 2013. He has viewed birds in Spain, Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica, as well as many areas in SC from the mountains to the coast. Being inspired by SCWF's mission, he earned his Palmetto Pro Birder certification, and has led bird walks for SCWF as well as Saluda Shoals park, Columbia Audubon, and private organizations. Even when he is golfing, hunting, or fishing, he is secretly birding. At SCWF, Jay coordinates the Gardening for Wildlife programs and the Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program as well as leading birding classes for the Palmetto Pro Birder & Midlands Master Naturalist programs.
To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 12 participants. Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with lodging recommendations, directions, and any other details pertinent to the class.
Other Important Notes:
• If available, please bring binoculars & your favorite field guide to Eastern birds.
• Restrooms are available, and pink and blue bushes are along the trail…
• Participants should bring a bag lunch, water and be prepared for a day in the field.
• There is no rain date for this event. We will make every effort to hold it, even in a few rain showers. If it looks like a deluge, we'll notify you of cancellation and refund your money.
• After registering, you will receive important correspondence via email. If you change your email between now and then, make sure to notify us.
Cost: The cost is $60.00 per person and limited to the first 12 people that register.
IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. Birding involves a lot of standing, and we may cover some distance in our field work.
PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU CAN HANDLE THESE CONDITIONS.