Birds

Taking flight in the Midlands

By Joanne and Don Wuori

Photography by Joanne and Don Wuori

This great blue heron suddenly jumped down from a tree at the river’s edge into rapidly moving water. Its wings seemed to cushion its landing. Amid much splashing the bird quickly grabbed a fish and just as quickly took off with its prize catch.

Whoa, did you see that?

In an instant, a great blue heron landed in the water and, just as quickly, leapt back into the air with lots of splashing, and with a fish in its mouth. What a sight to see … this being just one example of some of the spectacular bird behavior and the beautiful birds themselves that we have seen in the Columbia metropolitan area and across South Carolina. South Carolina has an abundance of unique, beautiful, and interesting birds that we can observe and, in our case, photograph.

Nesting northern parulas do not visit bird feeders but are attracted by native trees, shrubs, and plants like Spanish moss.
Nesting northern parulas do not visit bird feeders but are attracted by native trees, shrubs, and plants like Spanish moss.
Photographed from the boardwalk at the Beidler Forest National Audubon Society Sanctuary near Harleyville, this beautiful prothonotary warbler landed on a branch and began to gather up some Spanish moss. It flew off into the swamp with the moss, more than likely destined to build a nest within a cavity of a cypress knee.
Photographed from the boardwalk at the Beidler Forest National Audubon Society Sanctuary near Harleyville, this beautiful prothonotary warbler landed on a branch and began to gather up some Spanish moss. It flew off into the swamp with the moss, more than likely destined to build a nest within a cavity of a cypress knee.
While photographing in a backyard habitat, we were very surprised to see three male bluebirds land on the same area at one time and seemingly pose for a moment, all looking the same direction. We had never seen this before — what a treat!
While photographing in a backyard habitat, we were very surprised to see three male bluebirds land on the same area at one time and seemingly pose for a moment, all looking the same direction. We had never seen this before — what a treat!

Permanent residents, like cardinals, can be seen year-round in our backyards, parks, wildlife refuges, and other sites. Others are classified as short-distance migrants; some like blue jays as medium distance migrants; and yet others as long-distance migrants. One of our favorite long-distance migrants is the beautifully yellow prothonotary warbler that migrates to South Carolina in the early spring, and then, after nesting and breeding, departs from Columbia months later to winter in areas like Colombia, South America. Birds generally migrate to get to adequate food and to secure appropriate nesting areas.

The male painted bunting is said to be in the French language nonpareil, meaning without equal. This bird’s plumage is truly spectacular; we call it a flying paintbrush. The females are a bright yellow-green.
The male painted bunting is said to be in the French language nonpareil, meaning without equal. This bird’s plumage is truly spectacular; we call it a flying paintbrush. The females are a bright yellow-green.
A juvenile loggerhead shrike, on the left, is perched on barbed wire begging for the adult on the right to feed it. These birds commonly impale the insects they catch on a sharp or thorny area, including barbed wire, so that their prey is unable to move and easier to eat at a later time.
A juvenile loggerhead shrike, on the left, is perched on barbed wire begging for the adult on the right to feed it. These birds commonly impale the insects they catch on a sharp or thorny area, including barbed wire, so that their prey is unable to move and easier to eat at a later time.
Swallow-tailed kites are very large birds that can fly high riding thermals (upward currants of warm air), then suddenly dive down to a field below and fly low above it with their talons extended to capture large insects like June bugs.
Swallow-tailed kites are very large birds that can fly high riding thermals (upward currants of warm air), then suddenly dive down to a field below and fly low above it with their talons extended to capture large insects like June bugs.
The South Carolina state songbird, the Carolina wren, jumps down from one perch to another.
The South Carolina state songbird, the Carolina wren, jumps down from one perch to another.
The male indigo bunting is a member of the cardinal family. It migrates to South America, usually at night, using the stars to navigate. The blue color is breeding plumage, and the feathers turn brown during winter.
The male indigo bunting is a member of the cardinal family. It migrates to South America, usually at night, using the stars to navigate. The blue color is breeding plumage, and the feathers turn brown during winter.

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