Birding Tours

Birding Tours at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is happy to announce that birding tours are back! Beginner and intermediate birders will see resident and migrating birds, including anhinga, herons, ibis, ducks, hawks, owls, and wood storks. Migrants like vireos, warblers, buntings and orioles occur and, of course, the bald eagle. Magnolia has one of the largest and most easily accessible heron rookeries in the state, providing an excellent opportunity to observe bird behavior. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a top birding spot, thanks to its rich natural history and diverse habitats. Birders can explore swamps, ponds, a mixed pine and hardwood forest, and the scenic Ashley River—each providing ideal conditions for a wide variety of bird species year-round. To date, eBird lists 268 birds that have been reported at Magnolia and the Audubon Swamp. Magnolia has a strong birding history. John J. Audubon was here in the early 1800s, drawing and collecting specimens. The Magnolia House features Audubon prints and paintings from local artists and has a separate gallery displaying birds of the Lowcountry. Birding Tours Where: Meet in front of the Magnolia House When: December 12th, 8-10AM Duration: 2 hours What to Bring: Bug spray and binoculars Cost: $35 Cost for Annual Passholders: $15 reserve your spot About Robert Robert Heise has been birding across North America for more than 40 years, studying bird identification and migration patterns. What began as a simple hobby grew into a lifelong passion, creating over 700 detailed checklists documenting over 600 bird species. He has gained certifications from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and participated in county and state bird census as well as numerous Christmas Bird Counts. He continues to lead field trips and educational workshops, including programs at Enchanted Rock State Park in Texas and serving as a Nature Steward at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. He currently lives in…