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)



Carolina Bird Club
Rare Bird Alert

May 24, 2007

To report a rare bird sighting in North or South Carolina, email Taylor Piephoff or call 704-332-2473 and leave a message.

Past Rare Bird Alert Index | CBC Main Page | Join the CBC

Hello, This is a May 24 update of the Carolina Rare Bird Alert featuring birding news from North and South Carolina sponsored by the Carolina Bird Club. Highlights on this report include:

SNAIL KITE
SWALLOW-TAILED KITES
COMMON EIDER
DICKCISSEL
GRAY KINGBIRD
HERALD PETRELS
RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD
BLACK-CAPPED PETRELS
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS

A male SNAIL KITE is being seen daily near the town of Rimini, SC in Clarendon County. This extraordinary sighting represents the first record of the species for South Carolina. From I-95 in Manning, SC take exit 119 and go west on SC 261 to Pinewood. At Pinewood, go south on SC 120 to Rimini. At Rimini, go southeast on Road 76, Old River Road. After 2 miles notice a large mill pond on the left with lots of bald cypress. Turn right on Elliot's Landing Road. The crawfish farm where the bird is being seen is 100 yards down Elliot's Landing Road. Thanks to Lloyd Moon for finding and following up on this bird.

SWALLOW-TAILED KITES are being seen at several locations in NC, where they are rare. In Johnston County, up to 3 birds have been seen along Richardson Bridge Road. From the intersection of Brogden Rd. and Richardson Bridge, go south on Richardson Bridge for about a mile. On the left look for a big field with a willow-lined pond in it. Scan the treeline and grain field behind and to the right of this field. Three SWALLOW-TAILED KITEs were also seen along US 17 one mile north of Porter's Neck, near Wilmington, NC. Contact Walker Golder at for more information.

An immature male COMMON EIDER was seen May 14 just north of Lea-Hutaff Island near Topsail Beach, NC.

A singing male DICKCISSEL was present at Pettigrew SP in eastern NC on May 2. Contact Peggy Eubank for details at psalm27_4@juno.com

Six HERALD PETRELS and a RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD have been seen offshore North Carolina recently. The tropicbird was seen May 22, and the petrels were seen May 23. BLACK-CAPPED PETRELS, LEACH'S STORM PETRELS, and BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS were seen on both days as well. For information on how to get offshore to see some these birds, contact Brian Patteson at252-986-1363, or visit http://www.seabirding.com on the web.

A GRAY KINGBIRD was at the Ocracoke I. lighthouse on May 16 but was not relocated on May 18.

Thanks this week to Peggy Eubank, Walker Golder, Harriett Whitsett, Angela Mangiamelli, Katherine Higgins, for their calls and reports. Some of this information was gleaned from Carolinabirds.

Taylor Piephoff
Charlotte, NC
PiephoffT@aol.com

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