Several Bird Numbers Soar, Others Decline
By Kelly Marshall Fuller, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Birding enthusiasts who participated in the Christmas bird count were excited about spotting some birds that were once on the endangered species list, but concerned that other species did not appear in their usual locations.
The 108th Christmas Bird Count took place in Litchfield, Pawleys Island, Garden City Beach, Huntington Beach State Park and Plantersville, and involved volunteers and members of the Waccamaw Audubon Society.
Although several eagles were seen in different locations, the common ground dove and bobwhite quail have vanished as their natural habitat is taken by development, said Jack Peachey, who helped organize the local bird count.
The brushy undergrowth and trees needed for quails and ground doves to live is no longer available in areas of Horry and Georgetown counties.
"The bobwhites are of particular concern," Peachey said. "Last year, we didn’t see any."
In past counts, at least 50 ground doves were spotted in the South Litchfield area, Peachey said.
Only one unconfirmed sighting of a ground dove was reported during the count in Litchfield Beach by late Wednesday afternoon.
The exact numbers from the bird count were still being compiled Wednesday night.
"The [ground dove] is essentially a coastal species and development is the main culprit," Peachey said.
"At South Litchfield and Inlet Point, there used to be 30 or 40 or 50 birds. Now we’re lucky if we get five or six."
The bobwhite quail is listed as an endangered species in some Southeastern states. In South Carolina, the population has been declining by about 4.7 percent per year, according to environmental experts.
Populations of ground doves have also declined rapidly in the Southeast over the past several years.
The ground dove has not been seen in its usual habitat in Georgetown County, according to members of the Audubon Society.
"Generally, Huntington Beach State Park is the best place to see common ground doves," said Ritch Lilly, who helped with Wednesday’s search.
"They have a couple of areas where they have feeders out. It’s not something that you’ll see every day."
Some birds that have been making an appearance that were once on the federal endangered species list were seen during Wednesday’s bird count.
At least five eagle sightings were reported at Litchfield Beach, Lilly said.
At least one eagle was seen in Plantersville at Chicora Wood Plantation early Wednesday morning.
The eagle was once listed as an endangered species, but has been removed from the list since the population numbers have recovered.
"Back in the 1980s, there were several pesticides that were causing problems in the eagles," Lilly said.
Other birds spotted during Wednesday’s count included crows, hawks, wood ducks, cowbirds, a pine warbler and at least one kingfisher.
At least one team combing the woods in Plantersville said they were surprised at the large numbers of some birds, but also at the lack of diversity in general.
"There are large flocks of black birds. I think we’ve had such a warm winter, they decided to stay," said Suzanne Senchak, a biology instructor at Coastal Carolina University.
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Numbers At least 157 species of birds were reported during the 2008 Christmas Bird Count, held in Georgetown County. Last year, about 150 species were reported. The numbers were still being compiled late Wednesday night. Rare birds seen during the count included a black guillemot and a cave swallow. The guillemot was spotted once before in South Carolina in 1994.
Contact KELLY MARSHALL FULLER at 357-9187 or kfuller@thesunnews.com.