"FOR THE BIRDS" - An Update from the Great American Back Yard Bird Count at Camp Fellowship

/ Fellowship Camp and Conference Center/

For the Birds:
A Look Back at the Backyard Bird Count Event

On February 15, 2025, bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, and community members gathered at the Fellowship Camp and Conference Center in Waterloo, SC, for the "For the Birds" Great Backyard Bird Count event. From the early morning hours of 7:00 a.m. to the evening at 5:30 p.m., participants engaged in a day of observation, learning, and connection with the natural world.

A Day of Birding and Citizen Science

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a global initiative that allows everyday people to contribute valuable data to ornithologists studying bird populations and migration patterns. By participating in this event, attendees played an essential role in helping scientists estimate global bird populations and monitor yearly changes.
The event was a resounding success, with participants observing an impressive 30 species and a total of approximately 273 individual birds. As a bonus, an unexpected guest—a beaver—also made an appearance, delighting birdwatchers with its presence along the lake shore..

Birdwatching Highlights

Throughout the day, birders of all experience levels kept a close eye on the skies, trees, and waterways. Among the many species observed were:

  • **110 Ring-billed Gulls** making a striking display

  • **16 Tufted Titmice** and **11 Brown-headed Nuthatches** flitting about

  • **6 Northern Flickers** adding a flash of color

  • **A single Yellow-bellied Sapsucker** making an appearance

  • **3 Belted Kingfishers** providing a unique sighting

  • **4 Great Blue Herons** gracefully navigating the waters

  • **A variety of woodpeckers, finches, warblers, and sparrows** contributing to the diverse bird count

For a complete breakdown of species and numbers recorded, attendees can refer to the official eBird Trip Report. See below for images from the day!

Looking to the Future: Keep Birding Alive!

Beyond simply counting birds, this event was a wonderful introduction to birdwatching for many participants. If you’re inspired to continue birding, consider using resources like eBird.org or the eBird app to track your sightings, explore local bird lists, and listen to bird calls. Another invaluable tool is the Merlin Bird ID app, which helps identify birds by sound and appearance—perfect for both beginners and experienced birders.

Additionally, for those interested in how South Carolina’s bird count compares to other regions, you can explore the 2025 Bird Count data for South Carolina.

Thank You to All Who Participated!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who joined us at Fellowship Camp and Conference Center for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Your enthusiasm and participation not only made for an enjoyable day but also contributed to a global scientific effort to understand and protect bird populations.

Special thanks to our site host and sponsors: Fellowship Camp and Conference Center and Preserving Lake Greenwood, and the Lander ESSO Club.

We hope you had an amazing time and that this event has sparked a newfound passion for birdwatching! Mark your calendars for next year’s count, and until then, happy birding!

This event is part of a new series of events offered under The Lake Campus Initiative at Fellowship Camp and Conference Center. Through programs for K-12, College/University, and Adult Learning (The Learning Current), we are connecting learners of all ages with a variety of courses (lectures, conversations, hands-on workshops and field experiences) building on our mission to make connections for better living, stronger communities and personal and spiritual growth and development.