Category Archives: Birds

Birds at Coligny Beach Renourishment Project

by

0

Hilton Head Island’s beaches are more than a scenic escape—they’re critical to the island’s identity, economy, and ecology. In order to preserve the beach, an infusion of sand is needed along some of the coast to ensure the sandy shoreline is wide enough for everyone

The beach is a vital habitat for both migratory birds and nesting sea turtles

Birds at Coligny Beach Renourishment Project

Beach Renourishment

by

0

The 2025–2026 Hilton Head beach renourishment project was underway in the Coligny Beach area when we visited. The project involves adding 2.1 million cubic yards of sand to counteract erosion, pumping sand 24/7 from offshore to reshape the beach.

Here are images of the equipment and even birds looking for food.

Closure for Coligny Beach Renourishment Project

Coligny Beach Renourishment Project Equipment

Birds with Coligny Beach Renourishment Project Equipment

Scarlet Macaw in the End

by

0

We end the series of bird images from Sylvan Heights Bird Park, Neck, North Carolina. The scarlet macaw is one of the most impressive birds ever, with their vibrant feathers full of rainbow colors. It is the national bird of Honduras.

Sylvan Heights is home to some of the world’s rarest waterfowl breeding populations. In some cases, fewer than 250 individuals of these species remain in the wild, and the collaborative captive breeding programs here may be their last barrier against extinction.

We hope you enjoyed images of unique birds!

Macaw Profile

Macaw Closeup

Poses of Scarlet Macaw

by

0

The scarlet macaw can be found from southern Mexico to Peru, as well as Bolivia, eastern Brazil, and the island of Trinidad. It prefers to spend its time in tall, deciduous trees in forests and near rivers, usually in large, noisy groups. Here is a scarlet macaw posing differently at Sylvan Heights Bird Park.

Poses of Scarlet Macaw

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

by

2

The Victoria crowned pigeon is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, a maroon breast, and red irises. It is part of a genus of four unique, very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region, and it is the largest extant species of pigeon. Here is a beautiful one at Sylvan Heights Bird Park.

Victoria Crowned Pigeon Closeup

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

 

Blue and Gold Macaw

by

0

This is a large parrot, at Sylvan Heights Bird Park, with long tail feathers, mainly blue and yellow. The forehead is green, the upper part of the body brilliant blue, and the sides of the neck and body golden yellow. These macaws also have black around the chin and cheeks, and the naked skin of the cheeks is pinkish-white with lines of very small, isolated black feathers. Macaws are often monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are usually seen flying in large flocks, and the bonded pairs fly close together, their wings nearly touching.

Blue-eared Pheasant

by

0

The blue-eared pheasant is a large pheasant endemic to China. Although rare, it is regarded as the least concerning species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is a large gray terrestrial bird with an elegantly frilly tail. Its bright red face and upswept white facial plumes (“ears”) are unique in its range—this one at Sylvan Heights Bird Park.

Blue-eared Pheasant

South Georgia Pintail

by

0

The South Georgia pintail, also misleadingly known as the South Georgian teal, is the nominate subspecies of the yellow-billed pintail. South Georgia pintails are omnivorous and feed by foraging along shores, diving for shrimp or clams, and sometimes feeding on the carcasses of small animals like seals. Here is one trying to hide in a log hole at the Sylvan Heights Bird Park.

South Georgia Pintail

Lesser Flamingo Reaching for Water

by

0

The lesser flamingo is a tall, large-bodied bird with a long neck and small head. Most flamingos, including this species, have pale pink plumage, legs, and bills. This species has a highly specialized diet consisting almost entirely of microscopic blue-green algae and benthic diatoms found only in alkaline lakes, salt pans, saline lagoons, and estuaries. Here is one reaching for water at Sylvan Heights Bird Park and creating reflections in the water.

Lesser Flamingo Reaching for Water