Pritchards Island
Amazing Uninhabited Island
Pritchards Island is just southwest of Fripp and is only accessible by boat. This uninhabited island is owned by the University of South Carolina which conducts research on the island and welcomes daily visitors who enjoy strolling along the beaches and enjoying the barrier island's wildlife and tranquility.
Atlanta businessman Philip Rhodes donated the 1,600 acre island to the University of South Carolina in 1983 with the condition it not be developed commercially but rather used for coastal research. Students would stay in the "old stilt house", the Rhodes Research Center, while studying the ecosystems on the island and managing the preservation of the loggerhead sea turtles that nest on the island. The island is still managed by USCB and is used for education, conservation and research purposes by the University, other state institutions, and the general public.
In October of 2022, the abandoned research lab was removed, section by section, and hauled off on a barge.
For several years, the Beaufort County Arts Council collaborated with USCB to hold an annual artist retreat on Pritchards. Each artist was required to provide a piece of art that became the Pritchards Island Collection.
That collection now hangs in the library at the Hilton Head Gateway campus. (Source: Island Packet 2015)
If you're looking for an adventure, visit Pritchards by kayak or canoe. The Fripp Island Resort offers guided canoe trips that launch off the beach behind the Cabana Club. It's a great way to safely navigate the swift current that runs through Skull Inlet and learn more about the barrier islands. Contact the Activity Center for more information and reservations.
If you're ready to head out on your own, you can check tides and head over in your kayak or canoe. Single and tandem kayaks are also available to rent at Island Excursions. Once you get to Pritchards, you'll enjoy the peace and quiet of the island while strolling, shelling and exploring.
One of Beaufort County's most nested beaches, Pritchards Island is host to Loggerhead Sea Turtles between May and October. A group of dedicated volunteers patrol the island during nesting season to protect, mark and even relocate nests when necessary. Learn more about loggerheads - they're truly amazing!
Pritchards Island is host to both shorebirds and seabirds throughout most of the year - in the summer for nesting, and as a rest and refuel layover during their epic spring and fall migrations.
Nests are laid in shallow scrapes in the sand that blend in very well to their surroundings. While raising their young in the summer, it is imperative that adult birds keep eggs and chicks shaded to prevent predation and overheating in the summer sun, like the Least Tern is doing in this photo.
With North American shorebird and seabird populations in steep decline from habitat loss, predation and human disturbance, every piece of natural habitat remaining is critical for their survival. Help us protect these birds while enjoying the beach by keeping these actions in mind:
- Walk around flocks of birds, not through them, so they can rest and feed
- Respect signage on the beach indicating where birds are nesting and/or resting
- Leash your dog near birds, because even friendly dogs look like predators to them
There's lots to learn about birds in the Lowcountry - there are hundreds of different species to be found. Thank you for helping to protect our local wildlife!
Little things…
#pipingplovers #pipingplover #plover_lovers #shorebirds #audubonsociety #audubon #sharetheshore #shore_birds_habitat #saveshorebirds #savetheoceans #solarcollective #plover #birds_adored #wildartpoty #christinareneeimages christinareneeimages
These white fronted plovers do not have it easy. When they aren`t contending with us and our dogs, gulls and crows they have the wild seas that wash up the dunes and destroy their nests. Against all odds these little ones keep trying.
#smallisbeautiful #sharetheshore #whitefrontedplover #shorebirds #clayjourney #drawingonclay #illustratedplate #inspiredbynature #slowdesign #southafricanart #ceramicdesign #contemporaryceramics #handbuiltceramics #birds #slipware
A Fling of Sandpipers! Don`t forget to #sharetheshore if you go to the beach this holiday weekend. Tiny birds the size of cotton balls may be nesting/foraging where you lay your blanket or set off fireworks. Look at signage, stay away from conservation areas, and have fun! 🌊
hello, world 🥹
#pipingplover #chicagopipingplovers chicagopipingplovers #greatlakespipingplover #glpipl #plover #plovers #endangeredspecies #conservation #sharetheshore #saveshorebirds #shorebird #wader #bird #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #audubon #audubonsociety #chicagobirdalliance #illinoisbirdingnetwork #chicagobirder #urbanbirding
As nesting season ramps up for coastal birds, it’s more important than ever to give them the space they need to raise young.
The State of the Birds Report, released this spring with contributions from Audubon and partners, highlights the sharp decline of shorebirds and other species along the Atlantic Coast—including Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, and Piping Plovers.
The good news is that focused conservation actions can play a role in reversing these declines. One success story is the American Oystercatcher, which declined rapidly along the Atlantic flyway but has seen populations stabilize in recent years—thanks to a recovery initiative launched by a consortium of partners including Audubon in 2009.
Tap the link in our bio to learn more about audubon_nc`s efforts to protect these shorebirds and how you can #ShareTheShore this summer.
An American Oystercatcher parent with chicks on the beach. 📷: Christopher Ciccone/Audubon Photography Awards
Piping Plover chicks have been hatching throughout the Great Lakes region this summer, ushering in a particularly vulnerable time for these endangered shorebirds. 🐣
Adult Piping Plovers and their chicks face daily dangers, including disturbance from beachgoers, predators, and dogs off leashes. While many nesting locations are monitored frequently, the birds can’t be watched 24/7, which means it’s up to beachgoers to be aware of any plovers nesting nearby and the importance of giving them space to nest and rest.
That’s why AudubonGreatLakes and partners recently launched an education and outreach program to reach tourists and other new audiences in the area and encourage them to protect these shorebirds.
Tap the link in our bio to learn more about how this program aims to help beachgoers to #ShareTheShore!
A Great Lakes Piping Plover and its chick on the beach. 📷: John Doskoch
Wondering how you can protect beach-nesting birds like this adorable Black Skimmer family this long weekend? 🏖 To make our beaches safer for them, reconsider deploying personal fireworks there—the bursts of color and noise wreak havoc on coastal birds, especially nesting species.
You can also…
🐦 Give nesting birds at least 100 feet of distance or as much as possible.
🚮 Remove trash and food scraps, which attract predators that will eat birds’ eggs and chicks.
🚗 Remember not to drive on beach dunes or other nesting areas.
🐕 Keep pets leashed and well away from birds in areas that they`re permitted.
🎆 Consider attending a municipal fireworks show instead of deploying personal fireworks.
Want to learn more about how you can #ShareTheShore with our beloved feathered friends that call beaches home? Tap the link in our bio.
A video of a Black Skimmer family resting on the beach. 📹: Walker Golder (walker.golder)
Central Park doesn`t get too many shorebirds, but each spring during migration, we get a handful stopping by on their way north to their nesting grounds in Canada and Alaska. Today, I spotted TWO Solitary Sandpipers (so much for being "solitary"!) at the Pool.
#shorebird #shorebirds #sandpiper #sandpipers #solitarysandpiper
#sharetheshore
#audubonny #audubonnewyork #audubon #coastalbirds #migratorybirds #birdingnyc #centralpark #centralparkbirds
#linnaeanny
#urbanwildlife #urbanbirding #mycentralpark #birdlife #birdwatchingphotography #birdoftheday #birds_matter #birdsonearth #planetbirds
While many shorebirds have wide distributions, the piping plover is a North American specialty, barely extending into Mexico in winter.
But these birds are now considered endangered or threatened species in all parts of their range as many of their nesting areas are subject to human disturbance and other threats.
To help protect Piping Plovers and other shorebirds and wildlife, it’s critical for people to #ShareTheShore.
A video of a Piping Plover stomping its feet on the sand. 📹: Sean Graesser (gourmetbiologist)
Heading to the beach this summer? 🏖️ Birds that nest on beaches and other coastal habitats face many challenges, like human development, storms, and sea-level rise.
That`s why it`s so important to help protect coastal birds by giving them the space they need to nest, rest, and feed. And now you can inspire others to #ShareTheShore with our merch, available for a limited time only.
Tap the link in our bio to choose your favorite product—from tote bags to towels and more—and all purchases will support Audubon’s conservation work.
1️⃣ A Laughing Gull peers at a Share the Shore tote bag.
2️⃣ A Share the Shore beach towel on the sand.
3️⃣ A Share the Shore tote bag hanging on rocks on the beach
All 📷: Nancy Borowick (nancyborowick)
