Migration Merriment: Flock to the 1st Annual Tybee Spring Shorebird Festival

Tybee Island isn’t just a popular destination for visitors of the human variety; our barrier isle is a migratory stop for several species of avian guests, too. Each year, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds migrate to the Georgia coast, coming from places as far as Canada, Alaska and South America. In celebration of these annual migrations, Manomet Conservation Sciences and Tybee Island Marine Science Center (TIMSC) have teamed up to host the first annual Tybee Spring Shorebird Festival!

Taking place from Feb. 20–22, this free, family-friendly festival will feature three days of celebration, education and activities to raise awareness about our feathered friends and support conservation efforts.

“Shorebird festivals happen all over the world and U.S . . Festivals are a fantastic way to get community buy-in to conservation and create local pride about our shorebirds,” said Allie Hayser, shorebird biologist with Manomet.

A group of various shorebirds standing on a sandy beach, some wading in shallow water.

In 2023, Hayser and her colleague Abby Sterling worked closely with Tybee Island Maritime Academy (TIMA) which hosted a student-led Shorebird Festival, engaging about 400 students in games, crafts, storytelling and other activities related to shorebird conservation. It was such a success that Hayser saw an opportunity to expand the festival to engage the entire community. So, she applied for a nonprofit grant from the City of Tybee and collaborated with the Tybee Island Marine Science Center as hosts, TIMA, and 20 community sponsors to produce this inaugural event.

The festival is jam packed with exciting happenings all related to the riveting world of migratory shorebirds. It all kicks off on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with a panel discussion at TIMSC with Hayser, Sterling and wildlife biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Tim Keyes and Fletcher Smith.

“We work together out in the field, conducting shorebird surveys and nest monitoring, habitat restoration projects, bird banding efforts — everything you can name on the Georgia coast that has anything to do with shorebirds and other coastal bird species. . . People can ask us any questions about what shorebirds and seabirds are doing on the coast of Georgia and what work we’re doing to help with species protection and habitat management,” said Hayser.

Then on Friday, Feb. 21, Sterling and Hayser will lead an immersive bird walk and citizen science training session from noon to 2 p.m. Participants will learn more about shorebird ecology and how to collect data for surveys. Then they will apply those skills hands-on during a bird walk out in the field. Following that program, at 3 p.m. the Birds and Brews Happy Hour will be held at Tybee’s own Back River Brewery.

“The Back River Brewery is wonderful. . . They’ve been very supportive of every single shorebird activity that we’ve been up to. . . They’re even naming two beers (a Session IPA and a Lager) after a shorebird and one of their top prey species!,” said Hayser.

There will also be a specialty cocktail named after a shorebird and a limited new menu that guests can enjoy that afternoon. Reading materials will be available for guests interested in learning more about shorebird conservation as well, and Manomet biologists will be present to answer any questions anyone may have. It’s a great opportunity to learn and connect with other bird enthusiasts in a casual and welcoming environment.

The main festival day is Saturday, Feb. 22. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Tybee Island Marine Science Center will be a flurry of activity, complete with crafts, music, food, information tables, games and more for aviary aficionados of all ages. Attendees can enjoy the musical stylings of Eric Daubert and the Aloha Joes throughout the day while students from TIMA put their shorebird science projects on display. Custom festival t-shirts, featuring a student design to celebrate the event, will be available for the public, but limited quantities will last!

“We’re going to have crafts, games, mini-program, and information tables featuring community partners, different Audubon groups, the 4-H center, Fight Dirty Tybee, all of these different groups that have been supporting our work throughout the years,” Hayser said.

She encourages the public to come out and join in the fun during this exciting and educational festival.

“As Georgia coast residents, we are so lucky to have such a wild, beautiful coastline that supports more than 300,000 shorebirds annually. A lot of people don’t know just how special these birds are and how exciting it is to see them in our backyard. And so this festival is to bring awareness to best practices when these birds are coming through and how to better appreciate them,” said Hayser. “If you want to learn how to get involved with conservation and learn about some of the main players in conservation along the Georgia coast, this is a great chance to come out in a very exciting atmosphere to learn about the science and also meet the people who are working with these birds.”

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/507562039037365/?active_tab=discussion