Palmetto Pro Birders: Huntington Beach State Park

Join us for a day of birding at Huntington Beach State Park, rated as the top eBird hotspot in South Carolina. We will sample the many habitats of the park, including salt marsh, tidal creeks and flats, maritime woods, brackish ponds, and the beach. If tides and conditions permit, we will hike to the jetty (a three-mile round trip). Over the years, a significant number of rarities have been reported at the jetty, including common eider, long-tailed duck, purple sandpiper, black guillemot and others. Our focus will be on wintering birds and we hope to see waterfowl, including scoters, rails, piping plover and other shorebirds, gulls, terns, horned grebe, common loon, red-throated loon, northern gannet and others. We will also seek the park’s many songbirds, placing a special focus on wintering sparrows. In addition, we will discuss the various conservation measures the park has taken and how they impact these coastal birds. If you want to see some of the species we saw in 2025 check out our blog post here.

This module will require a significant amount of walking and participants should bring water and a packed lunch. Snack food is available in the park store. A park entrance fee is required.

Where: Huntington Beach State Park. Meet in the state park office parking lot.

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 are not a Pro Birder or Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us.

This class will be led by Irvin Pitts, SCWF Outdoor Academy Instructor, and Jay Keck, SCWF Industry Habitat Manager.

Irvin retired from a career with the South Carolina State Park Service where he served as Parks Biologist and Chief of Resource Management. Prior to that, he worked at Table Rock and Caesars Head State Parks as park naturalist. Irvin retired from a career with the South Carolina State Park Service where he served as Parks Biologist and Chief of Resource Management. Prior to that, he worked at Table Rock and Caesars Head State Parks as park naturalist.

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 Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program as well as leading birding classes for the Palmetto Pro Birder & Midlands Master Naturalist programs.

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…
The rain date for this event is Friday, December 5th.
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 $100.00 per person and limited to the first 15 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.

SCWF reserves the right to cancel any event, due to unforeseen circumstances, extreme weather, low registration, or guidance from local/state officials. Any cancellation by SCWF will result in a full refund for all registrants.

Banner and Featured Image Credits: 2025 Huntington Beach Probirder by Allison Bugarin.

Pollinator Exploration, Chapin

Come count pollinators with us at the Chapin Town Hall pollinator garden while participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

Join members from the Chapin Garden Club and Chapin Community Wildlife Habitat in the 70-ft long Carolina Fence garden to search for pollinators and learn how to identify what’s buzzing around. Open to all ages, families are welcome to enjoy a special story time in the garden featuring excerpts from The Great Pollinator Count Book by Susan Edwards Richmond. Each participant will also receive a prize and get to take home a free packet of native flower seeds.

Palmetto Pro Birders: Phinizy Swamp

Join Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager and Allison Bugarin, SCWF’s Education and Outreach Manager, for a Pro Birder outing at Phinizy Swamp. This diverse wetland provides excellent opportunities to observe a variety of resident and migratory bird species while exploring one of the Southeast’s unique wetland ecosystems.

As we explore the boardwalks and trails, we’ll be on the lookout for wading birds, waterfowl, woodpeckers, warblers, raptors, and many other species that use the swamp’s diverse habitats. Along the way, we’ll also have the opportunity to observe some of the swamp’s other wildlife, including native reptiles and amphibians, while discussing the important role wetlands play in supporting this incredible diversity of species.

This outing is limited to 12 participants, so register early to reserve your spot.

Where: Phinizy Swamp

When: Wednesday, October 7th from 7 am -11 am. (Rain Date – October 8th.)

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).

Allison Bugarin, SCWF’s Education & Outreach Manager. In this role, she manages education and outreach programs, including Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat and the Midlands Master Naturalist program. Allison has been a passionate nature lover since her childhood. She fell in love with birds when she got the chance to monitor red-cockaded woodpeckers on a military base. She earned her Bachelors in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences through Oregon State University. She lives in Eastover, SC, and has enjoyed observing birds throughout South Carolina. Allison has participated in bird monitoring, citizen science projects, and conservation work, and has viewed birds in multiple U.S. states and abroad. Even when she’s hiking, gardening, or exploring, she’s always watching and listening for birds.

Other Important Notes:

• If available, please bring binoculars & your favorite field guide to Eastern birds.

• 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 $75.00 per person and limited to the first 12 people that register.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape for this walk.

Featured Image Credit: Reflections by Brenda Young.

Banner Image: Cottonmouth by Allison Bugarin.

Palmetto Pro Birders: Sparkleberry Paddle

Join Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager, and Allison Bugarin, SCWF’s Education and Outreach Manager, for a Pro Birder paddle through beautiful Sparkleberry Swamp, one of South Carolina’s most unique and biodiverse wetland ecosystems.

This secluded swamp habitat provides excellent opportunities to observe a variety of birds, reptiles, and other wildlife while exploring one of the state’s most fascinating natural areas. As we paddle through the swamp, participants will keep an eye out for seasonal migrants, resident wetland species, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife that call this ecosystem home.

Sparkleberry Swamp is a favorite destination for birders and nature enthusiasts, offering a chance to experience South Carolina’s wetlands in an intimate, small-group setting. Whether you are an experienced birder or simply enjoy getting outside and discovering wildlife, this paddle is a great opportunity to slow down, explore, and see what the swamp has to offer.

Where: Sparkleberry Swamp

When: Wednesday, October 7th at 7 am (Rain Date – October 8th.)

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).

Other Important Notes:

• If available, please bring binoculars & your favorite field guide to Eastern birds.

• 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 $100.00 per person and limited to the first 6 people that register.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape for this paddle.

Featured Image Credit: Sparkleberry Swamp Morning Fog by Tammie Miller.

Banner Image Credit: Audubon Art Alive! by Moss Miller.

Wetlands 101 Webinar

Join the South Carolina Conservation Coalition on Tuesday, August 11th at 12:00PM ET for a webinar all about wetlands, their benefits, and how we can help preserve them as they face new threats.

Wetlands play crucial roles for our communities, protecting us from flooding and providing fishing, hunting, and recreational opportunities. Development pressures are mounting as SC continues to grow, but there’s still hope to conserve our valuable wetlands.

From building resilience across the state to creating a local ordinance, Coalition Co-Chair Emily Poole will lead a conversation with staff from the SC Office of Resilience and the Town of Bluffton about their recent work to protect wetlands.

SCWF is proud to be a member of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition and proud to work alongside partners across the state to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our wetlands and advancing the protections they need.

Header image credit: Andrea Capers

Pollinator Exploration, Ballentine

Come count pollinators with us at the Ballentine Library pollinator garden while participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

Join Master Naturalist Tami Kyre, SC Wildlife Federation Habitat Education Manager Savannah Jordan, and Richland Library staff member Melissa Sprenne in Ballentine’s pollinator garden to search for pollinators and learn how to identify what’s buzzing around. Open to all ages, families are welcome to enjoy a special story time in the garden featuring excerpts from The Great Pollinator Count Book by Susan Edwards Richmond. Each participant will also receive a prize and get to take home a free packet of native flower seeds from the library’s seed library.

Things that Flutter & Gorgeous Caterpillars at SCWF’s Sumter Wetland Preserve

Get ready for another exciting caterpillar-filled class with Dr. David Coyle and Jay Keck at SCWF’s Sumter Wetland Preserve property. Dr. David Coyle will talk about all things Lepidoptera (fancy talk for moths and butterflies) before we begin exploring the native trees, shrubs, and perennials in search of caterpillars. Within this inner Coastal Plain region we’ll search plants like Carolina laurel cherry, fetterbush, and swamp dog-laurel in search of caterpillars. Some species we might find include: the Io moth, powdered dagger, and the red-humped caterpillar moth, among many others. There will also be potential to find some reptile, amphibian, and of course, bird species this time of year within this flood plain habitat.

Who: Dr. Coyle joined the Clemson faculty in 2018 with a focus on forest health and invasive species. Prior to Clemson, he created and directed the Southern Forest Health and Invasive Species program, which provided education and training to forestry professionals across the southeastern U.S. Dr. Coyle uses various forms of communication – including social media, traditional writing, and in-person visits – to help educate people about forest health, invasive species, and forest management. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Entomological Society of America, serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Invasive Species Management Association, and is Co-Director of ProForest (an organization working to promote proactive forest pest management).

This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. For SC Master Naturalists, this event can count as Advanced Training and towards your statewide certification. If you are not Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us.

Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with directions and any other details pertinent to the class.

Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager

Other Important Notes:

The rain date for this event will be 09/18/26. 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: $75 per person.

24th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest

Registration opens August 15th!

Calling all amateur photographers!

South Carolina Wildlife Federation is sponsoring our 24th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. Send us your best photographs that capture the natural beauty of South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats – in your own backyard or anywhere in the state. You can check out the blog about last year’s contest here.

CONTEST CATEGORIES:

Carolina Critters

This category is intended for photos of wildlife that you see in South Carolina, whether it is in your backyard, on a hike, or in an urban setting! Have you captured the moment when a painted bunting comes to your feeder? Did you photograph a bird sifting through the Upstate snow to find its meal? How about the shy deer venturing out in the Pee Dee field to graze? Or that great blue heron wading through the swamps of the Lowcountry? These types of photos that are perfect for this category.

Image Credit: “Looking for Home” By Jennifer Brown.

Image Credit: “Peekaboo” by Stephanie Radford

Image Credit: “Relaxation” by Elaine Mathis.

Note: We do not accept photos of exotic (non-native), captive, or domestic animals since this category is intended to show SC wildlife in their natural settings rather than in a zoo or wildlife sanctuary.

Scenes of South Carolina

From the mountains to midlands to the coast, we know that South Carolina’s landscapes are beautiful and ecologically diverse. Whether you enjoy photographing sunsets on the ocean, sunrises in the mountains, rocks in a stream, or early morning dew in a field, we love seeing all the many ways your photographs depict the beauty of our state.

Image Credit: “Salt Serenity” by Stuart Barfield.

Image Credit: “Red Knot Sunset Arrival” by Jenn Clementoni.

Image Credit: “Mission Lake” by Bradley Wicker.

Note: These photos may include wildlife but it’s not necessary.

People in Nature

We know that you love being outdoors as much as we do! That is why we added this category to the photo contest. This category is intended for you to share your photos of people enjoying outdoor activities in our beautiful state. Whether you are an angler, birder, hiker, hunter, kayaker, rock climber, shell collector, or enjoy some other outdoor activity, this is your chance to submit photos of people enjoying outdoor activities.

Image Caption: “A River Runs Through It by Kenny Himes.”

Image Caption: “I Spy Bird Bands” by Reggie Fairchild.

Image Credit: “Catch n’ Release” by Lyric Littlejohn.

Note: Be sure your photos illustrate safe and ethical practices. Action shots are preferred over posed photos.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Two easy steps! 1. Pay your entry fee. 2. Submit your photos! Your emailed receipt will contain instructions about how to submit your photographs.

Submitting Photos: After you pay your entry fee, your emailed receipt will contain instructions about how to submit your photographs. You may enter up to three photographs in each category per person in color or black and white. We also ask that you do not include a personal watermark on your photos. SCWF reserves the right to add a watermark when publishing online. Digital images are preferred.

File Types – jpg, gif, and png file types (minimum of at least 72 pixels per inch, or minimum of 250 KB-sized image in jpg format).

Entry Fee
Each photographer must submit a one-time entry fee of $15.00 – this fee covers entrance of up to 9 photos (3 per category) in the contest. You may pay the entry fee online through the button below, or you may mail in a check with your photos – make check payable to SCWF.

By paying this fee, I certify that my photographs are eligible for this contest according to the rules below.

Contest Rules

Eligibility
Entries must be images taken in nature in South Carolina. Photos of captive, domestic, and exotic (non-native) species will be disqualified. SCWF employees or board members or their immediate family members are not eligible.

The SCWF photo contest is limited to amateur photographers – defined as those who do not receive more than 10% of their annual income from selling their photographs, or not more than $5,000 annually if retired or unemployed.

*Note: Contestants, by their entry, agree that the South Carolina Wildlife Federation may publish their images in SCWF publications and on the SCWF website and social media platforms. Photographer name credit will be given when images are used.

Digital Alteration Guidelines
All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. Acceptable are adjustments to color, contrast, brightness and sharpness; removal of dust and scratches; cropping; black and white conversions, and background blurring. Not acceptable are photo composites (combinations of two or more photos, not of the same scene); background removal, the addition, duplication, deletion, or moving of objects in the photos; or the use of artistic digital filters and effects, such as watercolor, neon glow, posterizing, stained glass, and others which do not depict the scene in its natural way. If you have any questions, please email us at photo@scwf.org.

We also ask that you do not include a personal watermark on your photos, and SCWF reserves the right to add a watermark.

Judging
The judges panel is made up of SCWF staff and board of directors. Carolina Critters entries are reviewed by a biologist for identification purposes. Decisions of the judges are final. Notification will be sent by e-mail after judging is complete.

Prizes
The First Place Winner in each category will receive a $100 cash prize, and the category runner up and second runner up will also be recognized on our blog.

Dates
Entries must be received by the October 31st deadline. We aim to notify the winners by December 31st. Only First, Second, and Third places will be awarded. Contest winners will be published online.

Now that we’ve got all that straight…get out there and take some great photos! Good luck!
Questions? Contact SCWF at (803) 256-0670 or photo@scwf.org. This project is managed by a small team. We kindly ask for your patience in waiting for a reply. We will respond to all questions!

Banner Image Credit: “Afterglow” by Jorge Rodriguez.

Things that Flutter & Gorgeous Caterpillars at Caesars Head State Park

This class is full. You can add yourself to the waiting list HERE.

Get ready for a fantastic class on caterpillars, butterflies, and other insects on Thursday, August 13th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Caesars Head State Park in Cleveland, SC.

Dr. David Coyle will talk about all things Lepidoptera (fancy talk for moths and butterflies) before we begin exploring the native trees, shrubs, and perennials in search of caterpillars. In this region we’ll search plants like black locust, Joe-pye-weed, maple leaf viburnum and many others in search of caterpillars. Some species we might find include: the stinging rose, the monkey slug, and the saddleback caterpillars.

Jay Keck, our in-house bird guy, will also be helping with identifying caterpillars and any of the birds feasting on them during the class.

Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with directions and any other details pertinent to the class.

Other Important Notes:

The rain date for this event will be, 08/14/26. 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: $75 per person.

SCWF reserves the right to cancel any event, due to unforeseen circumstances, extreme weather, low registration, or pandemic-related guidance from local/state officials. Any cancellation by SCWF will result in a full refund for all registrants.

Time: August 13^th from 9am – 12pm. Rain date, August 14th.

There are only 12 spots, so please sign up quickly if you are interested!

Spiders of September

Some call them “creepy” and some call them “cool.” Either way, spiders are definitely interesting, and this workshop is designed to help you discover some the amazing attributes that make them so. We’ll have opportunities to distinguish the sexes of spiders, surely a skill you’ve long desired to acquire. Through our discussion and discovery you’ll gain a better understanding of the different types of webs spiders spin, including how and why they are spun. Their silk is symbolic of the many connections they make in nature, and we’ll have conversations about that too.

We’ll talk about identification of the most common species found around the home. Of course our time together will include a walk in the woods to search for and identify woodland species. Because many spiders tend to reach maturity in the fall, they make themselves a bit more available for study this time of year. Since we’ll be at Goodale State Park, we’ll reserve the right to get a bit distracted if we see something other than a spider that warrants discussion. However, we’ll try to keep it focused and certainly fun.

At the end of the day, you’ll be able to:

1.   Identify several species of spiders common in residential and woodland settings
2.   Describe basic aspects of spider natural history
3.   Appreciate the relationships between spiders and their environment
4.   Feel confident and equipped in moving forward into your own study of spiders

Where: This training will take place at Goodale State Park, in the midlands and Sandhills Region of South Carolina. Meet at Picnic Shelter #1, more detailed directions will be sent in advance of the class. The website, which includes general directions, can be found by clicking here.

When: September 10, 2025. We’ll meet at 9:00 AM, and conclude at 2:00 PM.

Who: This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. For SC Master Naturalists who have not taken a spider course, this event can count as Advanced Training and towards your statewide certification if you need a Sandhills component. Lunch will last thirty minutes, so depending on when we finish, this will count for approximately four and a half hours of training. If you are not a Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us.

This class will be taught by Austin Jenkins, who teaches and facilitates the popular Midlands Master Naturalist class for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. Jenkins teaches Natural History of South Carolina at USC Sumter.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. We will be outdoors during the whole class, and it may be HOT. In addition, we will be on our feet most of the day.

Cost: The cost is $75.00 per person.

To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 20 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:

Restrooms are available at the park.
Participants should bring a bag lunch and 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 we can’t make it happen due to weather or some other situation, we will 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.

Featured Image Credit: Green lynx spider by Allison Bugarin.

Banner Image Credit: Black Widow by Allison Bugarin.