WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 2027, WELCOME AND PACKET PICKUP — and EARLY BIRD TOURS!
10 am-5 pm — In-person packet and credentials pickupGeorgetown County Chamber of Commerce office at 28 Wall Street, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585
2-5 pm — Early-bird event — Hobcaw Barony (13 participants) [Must pick up credentials no later than 1:15 pm to participate in this tour]
3-4:30 pm – Early-bird event – Walk and Talk at Brookgreen Gardens with Cacky Rivers, author of “Ground in Flight” and “Born & Raised,” both capturing the captivating birds of the South Carolina Lowcountry, her love of nature and the importance of conservation. [Meet outside Brookgreen’s Lowcountry Center for a walk before settling in at the auditorium for a talk and viewing of Rivers’ bird photography] (25 participants) [Must pick up credentials no later than 2:15 pm to participate in this tour]
5:30-7 pm – Early-bird event – Owl Prowl at Brookgreen Gardens. Meet Kristina Wheeler at Brookgreen’s Lowcountry Center as she leads this evening tour to find owls, night herons, bats and other winged creatures of the night. (25 participants) [Must pick up credentials no later than 4:15 pm to participate in this tour]
7:30-10:30 am — Tour Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)
8-11 am — Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
8-11:45 am —[GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY] The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center with special guide Dr. Patrick McMillan [An extended tour of the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. The Golden Ticket also includes transportation for the day by luxury van, lunch at Wicklow Hall, followed by Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park in the afternoon. All accompanied by Dr. McMillan.] (15 Participants) [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY]
8-11 am – From Snapshot to Pro Shot: The Art of Birding Photography with Colin Hocking at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park. [Classroom setting, followed by park photography sessions] Join professional photographer and tour leader Colin Hocking, LRPS, as he shares with you the tips, tools, and thoughts of how to elevate your photography from that of a casual ‘shooter’ to one that makes every push of the shutter release button count! During his presentation, you’ll learn how you can raise your game to think about the shots you want to achieve before taking them, at the same time learning the technical aspects of composition, white balance, and exposure. (15 participants)
8:30-11:30 am – Tour Hobcaw Barony (13 participants)
9:15-10 am — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
10:15-11:45 am — Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
10:15-11:45 — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
Noon-1 pm — Trash & National Treasures: Botanist Maureen Mulligan takes you on a tour by van at the Georgetown County Landfill to see America’s national bird, the Bald Eagle, vultures, crows, gulls, and other birds at the highest peak in the county. (15 participants)
Noon-1:45 pm – Screening of Purple Haze: A Conservation Film and discussion with South Carolina filmmaker Zach Steinhouser. After the film, Steinhouser will host a Q&A about his film about Purple Martins. Held at the Waccamaw Neck Public Library, 41 St. Paul’s Place, Pawleys Island. (60 participants)
Noon-3 pm – Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)
Noon-3 pm — The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. (15 participants)
Noon-3 pm — Hobcaw Barony (13 participants)
1:45-3:15 pm – Walk and Talk at Brookgreen Gardens with Cacky Rivers, author of “Ground in Flight” and “Born & Raised,” both capturing the captivating birds of the South Carolina Lowcountry, her love of nature and the importance of conservation. [Meet outside Brookgreen’s Lowcountry Center for a walk before settling in at the auditorium for a talk and viewing of Rivers’ bird photography] (25 participants)
2-3:30 pm — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
2-5 pm — [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY] – Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park with special guide Dr. Patrick McMillan. Final segment in the Golden Ticket Day with Dr. McMillan. [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY] (15 participants)
3:30-5 pm —Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
4-4:45 pm — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
4-5 pm – Avian Conservation Center’s Birds of Prey Presentation just outside Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park. Three raptors are displayed and discussed in a live outdoor presentation with bird flights. (75 participants)
5:30-7 pm – First-Day Happy Hour at the Quigley’s Next Door, 257 Willbrook Blvd., Pawleys Island. (Free appetizers and cash bar.) (75 participants)
6:45-8:15 pm – Owl Prowl at Brookgreen Gardens. Meet Kristina Wheeler at Brookgreen’s Lowcountry Center as she leads this evening tour to find owls, night herons, bats and other winged creatures of the night. (25 participants)
7:30-10:30 am — Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)8-11 am — North Cape Romain Birding Cruise: Slightly south of the Hammock Coast, this unique opportunity and real birding adventure is inside the Class 1 Wilderness within the northern area of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. This trip takes you through the winding creeks of the estuaries through essential habitats in search of specialized and vulnerable species like Seaside Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Nelson’s Sparrow, Marsh Wren, and Clapper Rail. These creeks all lead to the ephemeral islands on the edge of the North American continent that are home to a myriad of migratory and resident shorebird and seabird species. Will also keep an eye out for raptors like Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Participants will also get a glimpse of the historic Cape Romain lighthouses from a distance and also look out for resident bottlenose dolphins. (36 Participants)
8-11 am — The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (15 Participants)
8:30-11:30 — Hobcaw Barony (13 participants)
9:15-10:45 am —Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
9:15-10:45 am — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
11 am-noon — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
Noon-1 pm — Trash & National Treasures: Take a tour of the Georgetown County Landfill with botanist Maureen Mulligan to see the national bird, the Bald Eagle, vultures, crows, gulls and other birds. (15 participants)
Noon-3 pm — Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)
Noon-3 pm — Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
Noon-3 pm — The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (15 Participants)
12:30-3:30 pm — Hobcaw Barony Tour. (13 participants)12:30-3:30 pm – Elements of an Award-Winning Image: Colin Hocking leads you on a walk and talk starting at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park. Noted photographer and longtime Hammock Coast Birding Festival lecturer Colin Hocking notes that there are 12 elements of an image that when combined will produce an award-winning photograph. This session explores several of those elements, with descriptions and photographic samples so that you can plan on including these elements in your scene before you take the photo! Colin earned a BS in Photographic Science from the University of Westminster in London, England, and is a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. He has a passion for photography in the South Carolina Lowcountry. (15 participants)
1:45-3:15 pm — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
1:45-3:15—Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
1:45-3:15– Feathers From Above: Take an artistic flight with award-winning artist Ronald Navroski and learn how to paint a Northern Cardinal on … a feather. Yes, a feather! Location: Learning Lab 2 at the Lowcountry Center at Brookgreen Gardens. (15 participants)
3:30-4:15 pm — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
3:30-5 pm – The Coastal Plain’s Best Anglers (Dive into the fascinating world of fish-eating birds) with Kristina Wheeler [Lecture and Walk, Presented at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park] (20 participants)
5:45-7:45 pm – Dinner with Keynote Speaker Dr. Patrick McMillan at Pawleys Plantation (Cash Bar available) (All festival attendees)
7:30-10:30 am — Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)
8-11:45 — [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY] The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center with special guide Dr. Patrick McMillan [Includes transportation for the day, lunch at Wicklow Hall, followed by Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park in the afternoon. All accompanied by Dr. McMillan.] (15 Participants) [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY]
8:30-10 am—Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
8:30-10 am — Bird Walk & Bird Photography Presentation by George DeCamp at Brookgreen Gardens. (Have your cameras ready for a morning walk through Brookgreen Gardens with international award-winning photographer George DeCamp. Afterward, enjoy a presentation of his portfolio and learn more about the birds of the Lowcountry.) (20 participants)
8:30-10 am — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
10:15-11 am — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
10:30-11:45 p.m. – The Bald Eagles of Caw Caw — Photographer Colin Hocking gives a glimpse into the lives of a bonded pair of Bald Eagles that have used the same nest for 10 seasons. Lecture at the Brookgreen Gardens Auditorium. (45 participants)
Noon-3 p.m. — Black River Cypress Preserve (15 participants)
Noon- 1:30 pm – Feathers From Above: Take an artistic flight with award-winning artist Ronald Navroski and learn how to paint a Great Blue Heron on … a feather. Yes, a feather! Location: Learning Lab 2 at the Lowcountry Center at Brookgreen Gardens. (15 participants)
Noon-1:30 pm – The Coastal Plain’s Best Anglers (Dive into the fascinating world of fish-eating birds) with Kristina Wheeler [Lecture and Walk, Presented at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park] (20 participants)
12:45-3:45 pm — The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (15 Participants)
1:45-2:30 pm — Creek Tour by Barge at Brookgreen Gardens (32 participants)
1:45-4:45 pm – Elements of an Award-Winning Image: Colin Hocking leads you on a walk and talk starting at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park. Noted photographer and longtime Hammock Coast Birding Festival lecturer Colin Hocking notes that there are 12 elements of an image that when combined will produce an award-winning photograph. This session explores several of those elements, with descriptions and photographic samples so that you can plan on including these elements in your scene before you take the photo! Colin earned a BS in Photographic Science from the University of Westminster in London, England, and is a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. He has a passion for photography in the South Carolina Lowcountry. (15 participants)
2-5 pm – [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY] Jetty Tour at Huntington Beach State Park with Dr. Patrick McMillan. Final segment in the Golden Ticket Day with Dr. McMillan. (15 participants) [GOLDEN TICKET TIER ONLY]
2:45-4:15 pm — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
2:45-4:15 pm —Longleaf Pine Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
3-4 pm — Trash & National Treasures: Take a tour to the highest peak in Georgetown County: the landfill. Van tour with botanist Maureen Mulligan with a stop at the landfill to see the national bird, the Bald Eagle, vultures, crows, gulls, and other birds. (15 participants)
5:45-7:45 pm – Delicious dinner and dessert for all attendees. (Door Prizes) (Cash Bar available) (135 participants)
8-9:30 am— Longleaf Pine Forest Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
9-10 am — Trash & National Treasures: Take a tour to the highest peak in Georgetown County: the landfill. Van tour with botanist Maureen Mulligan with a stop at the landfill to see the national bird, the Bald Eagle, and other birds. (15 participants)
9:45-11:30 pm – The Coastal Plain’s Best Anglers (Dive into the fascinating world of fish-eating birds) with Kristina Wheeler [Lecture and Walk, Presented at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park] (20 participants)
11:45 am-1:15 pm — Winter Waterfowl Tour at Huntington Beach State Park (15 participants)
11:45 am-1:15 pm — Longleaf Pine Forest Tour at Brookgreen Gardens. You are taken by van to an area of Longleaf Pine Forest at Brookgreen that is home to nesting pairs of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. (13 participants)
11:45 am-1 pm – Photography Review with Colin Hocking at the Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park. (Share your photos you’ve taken during the festival with Colin and let him critique your photo skills.) (25 participants)
Noon-1:15 pm – Sculpted Birds of Brookgreen – Brookgreen VP Robin Salmon takes you on a sojourn into Brookgreen’s Purdy Center to see to see the works of Paul Manship and to the Bleifeld Gallery to see the works of Grainger McKoy. (20 participants)
1:30-2:15 pm — Final Lecture: The Challenge of Caring for Birds – Brookgreen Gardens Auditorium. (The staff of the Lowcountry Zoo details how workers care for birds and how the zoo is helping understand birds in the wild.) (75 participants)
