Backyard bird watching on Daniel Island

With various parks boasting beautiful trails and waterfront views of the Wando River, Daniel Island and its surrounding area provide plenty of promise for prospective birdwatchers. 

 

But some Daniel Island residents may not know that birdwatching can be effectively executed in the backyard setting. To enjoy the relaxing and educational pastime, homeowners just need to take a couple of simple steps to get started. 

 

“Get yourself a pair of binoculars that you like, they don’t have to be expensive. Then, be willing to study the birds a little bit. Go on the internet to one of those websites, and learn what they do in the morning, what they do in the afternoon,” said Frank Conway, local “Nature Notes” columnist for The Daniel Island News. 

 

After getting to know more about the birds, those who are particularly interested in the hobby can pivot to make their backyard more bird-friendly. 

 

Like any living creature, birds require three basic requirements for living: food, water, and shelter.

 

For birds, plants provide both food and shelter. There’s plenty of plants to choose from, but it’s often recommended to stick with local vegetation. 

 

Jim Westerhold is the general manager of Boone Hall Plantation, and has an extensive background in land and wildlife management, including forestry. 

 

“Stick with local vegetation, usually anything that provides seeds,” he said. 

 

Then, match the local vegetation to common local birds that usually inhabit that vegetation. 

 

“What Birds in My Backyard,” a website dedicated to identifying common birds in backyards across the United States, has a feature that allows users to record bird 

sightings.

 

Data found that the northern cardinal, Carolina wren, Carolina chickadee, northern mockingbird, and mourning dove are the five most commonly reported species in the Charleston area, followed by the American crow, blue jay, and red-bellied woodpecker.  

 

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s list of “native plants valuable to wildlife” includes a number of species of trees and other vegetation that are valuable for birds to survive and thrive. 

 

Cardinals, chickadees, and mourning doves each prefer to nest in the sweetgum, which is scientifically known as the Liquidambar styraciflua. The trio of bird species also eat the tree’s nutritious seeds. 

 

An abundance of readily available oaks makes Charleston’s coastal habitat ideal for the state bird, the Carolina wren. The birds use the towering trees for nesting and cover. 

 

Plan ahead by drawing a quick map of your planting space. Consider the habitat layers, incude larger canopy trees, which usually provide good nesting space, along with shrubs and small trees, which are good food sources.

 

Last but not least, herbaceous plants provide seeds, while ground level items such as decaying leaves and soil provide tasty and nutritious snack options such as caterpillars and worms.

 

An additional bonus of Daniel Island’s waterfront location is the unique opportunity to view waterfowl such as ducks, egrets, and herons from the comfort of your back porch. 

 

“I just grew up around all of these birds, outside in the Lowcountry, so I’m totally infatuated with it,” Conway said.