LIFESTYLE
BIRD FACTS
To many, a favorite of spring is being able to step outdoors to the soft chatter of birds perched in nearby trees. Seeing these sometimes colorful and often dull-coated flyers, it’s an instinct to wonder which bird it is. As of 2019, the South Carolina Bird Records Committee of the Carolina Bird Club documented 431 bird species in South Carolina. Phillip Guyton captured photographs of several of these local bird species and gave some information on them to help you better identify them this spring. Info & photos provided by Phillip Guyton, True Light Photography
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum - This one was photographed at the City Center Farmers Market in Florence. They are usually seen in flocks and love berries.
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis - Usually seen in pairs or small groups near dense cover and forest edges, they will visit bird feeders and have a metallic chirp as well as a loud whistle.
Wood Duck Aix sponsa - Males show off stunning patterns of colors, females are gray-brown with thin white eyerings. They are smaller than other ducks in the area and are quick to flush. Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter is an excellent spot to observe them.
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias - You can see these in almost any area with fish. I spot them in the swamps, on Forest Lake, and in many of the small ponds in the area.
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus - These are found near bodies of water, it's a scavenger, the white head doesn't fully come in for a few years after they are born.
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula - The males have a stunning bright orange body with a black head. They like nectar, fruits, and jellies. Myrtle Beach State Park is my favorite location to spot them while they are here, typically September through May.
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VIPMagSC.com
April 2021
