About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


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The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

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Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)



New Fall Meeting Concept for Our Seasonal Weekend in September

Instead of getting together at a single location in North or South Carolina, members will have the option to choose from one of six birding events spread across two consecutive Saturdays. At each location a leader will guide participants to local hotspots and experience fall migration at its finest. The Old North State hosts the first meet-up, on the 21st of September, and given the southerly nature of migration at this time of the year, our friends South of the border will host an outing the 28th of September. And with options spread across two weekends, why not attend both! In each state we will have three areas where our "day trips" will occur: one each in the mountains, along the coast, and inland.

We hope that by offering several meet-up locations for a day of birding, we will attract new members—both close to these locations and those from further afield—as well as provide interesting options for existing supporters. Also, we hope that this new format will improve opportunities for families of members who work and cannot manage our Friday to Sunday weekends to join.

Online registration will open on Saturday, August 17 at 2PM.

North Carolina Coast—Saturday September 21, 2024

Gathering location: North River Wetland Preserve, 973 US 70 Beaufort, NC. We will meet at the entrance, cars will be parked, and we will car pool from the entrance. North Carolina Coastal Federation members are allowed access for free and non-members are asked to pay a fee of $5 per person per day.

Meeting Time: 7:00 a.m.

Leaders: John Fussell, Les Coble and others will assist.

Stops: North River Wetland Preserve (no facilities; stop at gas station before gate) and Fort Macon State Park (full facilities are available).

Other details: Bring along your sun screen and bug spray. There will be time between locations if you wish to pick up a quick lunch or feel free to pack one to enjoy ocean side at Ft Macon. A list to consider for lodging will be available July 1, please email cssrbdr@gmail.com for these details.

An evening gathering for dinner and/or birding at dusk may take place.

South Carolina Coast—Saturday September 28, 2024

Gathering location: Huntington Beach State Park. Enter HBSP, cross causeway, curve right then turn left into first parking lot. Fifteen minutes to Murrells Inlet. Entrance fee is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65 and older), and $4 for youths age 6-15. Entrance is free for children 5 and younger.

Meeting Time: 7:15 a.m.

Leaders: Julie Davis

Stops: The causeway, Mullet Pond, the Education Center feeders, Kerrigan Trail and overlook, the Carriage Trail between Mullet and Mallard Ponds, the salt marsh boardwalk and an overlook on the marshy end of Sandpiper Pond (good for rails and bitterns). We will also visit the beach briefly but will not make the trek to the jetty. Groups will leave the park to explore the adjacent oyster recycling area and the Murrell's Inlet Pier.

Other details: We will be looking for shorebirds, rails, wading birds, hawks, migrating warblers, owls, and falcons. And of course, any unexpected or rare visitors! We encourage all to join the group after a day of birding for a nice dinner and fellowship at a local restaurant. Moderate walking required.

North Carolina Mountains—Saturday September 21, 2024

Gathering location: Food Lion parking lot, 381 S. Main Street, Sparta, NC. No use fee is required for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Meeting Time: 7:30 a.m.

Leaders: Susan Campbell, Ryan Justice, Brian Pendergraft, and Steve Shultz

Stops: We will be going where the birds are! Most of the day we will be birding along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stops will be made at overlooks and eBird hotspots in the area. We plan to drive both north and south from the BRP access along NC 21. Heading north will take us up to Cumberland Knob area. South will mean stops in and around Mahogany Rock. Our group(s) will no doubt spend some time at the hawkwatch there later in the day. Our priorities include locating a variety of southbound warblers and thrushes as well as raptors, among others.

Other details: Important: please bring a picnic lunch to enjoy along the way. Our location at midday is uncertain but it will be scenic—and hopefully, birdy! There will be an evening gathering before dusk in Alleghany Inn parking lot. The address is 341 N. Main Street. This is a good spot to catch Common Nighthawks moving through. Also, the school chimney across the road is a known Chimney Swift roost site. We recommend staying at the Inn if you are from out of town. This motel is very reasonable and has always been “birder friendly”. Call DIRECTLY (336-372-2501) for reservations! Any online reservation system that you may find does NOT work.

South Carolina Mountains—Saturday September 28, 2024

Gathering location: Table Rock State Park Nature Center, 20 Table Rock State Park Rd, Pickens, SC. Entrance fee is $6 for adults, $3.75 for seniors (age 65 and older), and $3.50 for youths age 6–15. Entrance is free for children 5 and younger.

Meeting Time: 8:30 a.m.

Leaders: Paul Laurent

Stops: We will bird the 2-mile Lakeside Trail (an easy trail) in search of migrating warblers and waterfowl. From here we will make the short drive to the Table Rock Viewpoint to see who is hanging out at higher elevations and enjoy the great view. We will make a quick stop on the edge of Grant Meadow to look for open land species before having lunch at one of the picnic shelters.

Other details: Make sure you bring a bag lunch or be prepared to forage for mushrooms and such! After lunch we will head south to Devils Fork State Park, where we will bird the 1.5-mile Oconee Bell Trail. While the rare wildflower will not be in bloom, we will be looking for mixed flocks of warblers along the creek and pond. We will check the lake for migrating waterfowl. At the end of the day, anyone who is interested will head over to Jocassee Valley Brewing Company for dinner. They have rotating food trucks and a great selection of craft beer.

North Carolina Piedmont—Saturday September 21, 2024

Gathering locations: Ebenezer Church State Recreation Area. Meet at the swim beach parking lot near the bathhouses. Entrance fee is $7 per car, $5 with senior citizen 62 years of age or older in the car.

Meeting Time: 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Sandy Cash, Bo Howes, Marc Ribaudo and others

Stops: The Triangle is a huge, well-birded area. There are many habitats and places worth visiting, and many possible routes linking them together. The exact routes will be determined closer to the Meet-up.

Durham to Chapel Hill Area:

Raleigh Area:

Other details: We hope to have evening gatherings. Many people will be around Sunday morning to chase rarities. There are many motels in the area, easily booked online.

South Carolina Midlands—Saturday September 28, 2024

Gathering location: Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061. No, there is no entrance fee for Congaree National Park. Parking is also free.

Meeting Time: 7:30 AM

Leaders: Jen Roberts

Stops: We'll start at Congaree National Park and bird the boardwalk in the morning, hoping to finish before the mosquitoes get too bad. From there, we'll move north, checking the fields at Whitehouse Road Loop and onto the Riverwalk in downtown Columbia. We'll stop for lunch at a local brewery. For those that want to continue birding, we'll move north to the Lake Murray Dam as well as check out any recently reported rarities.

Other details: Some locations may be changed based on where the birds are that week and are at the leader's discretion.