The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will conduct its annual Baltimore Oriole Winter Survey, Feb. 13–16, in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Residents are encouraged to participate. Held each February, the Great Backyard Bird Count invites people from all over the world to watch, count, and report bird numbers to help scientists better understand global bird populations.
SCDNR is asking South Carolinians who notice Baltimore orioles wintering nearby or coming to their feeders to join the count. Residents can participate one, two, three or all four days.
SCDNR also will accept counts from those who cannot participate during the designated annual timeframe but may have recorded oriole numbers during the winter months, December through February.
Surveyors need to be able to correctly identify Baltimore orioles from other bird species. To participate, you can access the survey form and materials here. Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count for additional information and instructions.
Last year, South Carolina had 15 counties reporting orioles. The majority of reported birds wintered along the coastal plain from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island.