The 2008 winter meeting of the Carolina Bird Club is scheduled for January 31st through February 3rd. While the average tourist might think of Georgetown, South Carolina as a pit stop along US 17 between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, Carolina birders know better. Georgetown is an ideal base from which to explore many of the best birding areas in the state. Within 50 miles of your Georgetown motel you will find a good diversity of birding opportunities including the marshes and barrier islands of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, the longleaf pine savannas and dark swamps of Francis Marion National Forest, the pine savanna and marshes of Santee Coastal Reserve, plantations along Winyah Bay and the Santee River, and the beaches and jetty of Huntington Beach State Park.

All of these and more provide more good birding spots than we could possibly cover in one winter CBC meeting. Right in the city of Georgetown you will find Winyah Bay and parks along its brackish, marshy shores, great places for a short birding foray on your own. Add a splash of history and relatively low prices (since Georgetown is primarily an industrial city, not a tourist destination) and you have the makings of a great meeting.

We will be staying at the Quality Inn and Suites located at 210 Church St. Georgetown SC 29440. The hotel is holding 65 rooms for us at the rate of $64.99 this rate will be held until Dec. 31, 2007, after which time the rooms will be available on a first come first served basis. Contact the hotel directly at 843-546-5656 (corrected number) to make your reservations. Also located nearby are a Hampton Inn and a Jameson Inn.

Continuing a recent trend, we encourage any of our members to bring their bird-related art work or photography to be displayed in the "meet and greet" room for the duration of the meeting. This room will be locked during non-meeting times for the security of your items.

After a great day of birding, join old friends and new for fellowship and an evening presentation. We are pleased to present Doug Pratt with his excellent slide show on birds of Hawaii. Some of you may have enjoyed a recent trip to the islands with Doug to see these very birds! Our other presentation will focus on the ornithological history of South Carolina.

On Saturday evening we will have an optional group dinner at the Lands End restaurant across the street from the Quality Inn. Choices include prime rib au jus, chicken Teriyaki served over rice, fried flounder, BBQ baby back ribs, fried shrimp, and shrimp Creole served over rice. Dinner includes salad, bread, a potato if not served over rice, and coffee or tea, all for $15.95 + 20% gratuity.

Come kick the winter blahs and bird with the CBC in Georgetown SC!