One of the nicest things about birding as a hobby is how willing people are to share their knowledge and resources. Years ago we were thrilled to discover Roy Slack's book Birds of the Brunswick County Islands: Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach, North Carolina. But since it was published in 1994, it is no longer that easy to find. Our county library has a few copies to loan and it can sometimes still be ordered online.
The knowledgeable people at Wild Bird & Garden, who have brick and mortar stores in both Southport and Wilmington, were happy to suggest two other sources that have even more photos and maps, and include more recent data on habitat and migration routes.
One is the authoritative source Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America published in 2016. Don't let the serious title put you off! It's not that expensive and the huge number of images and maps make it easy for you to identify the birds you see on the beach.
Another great resource is Stan Tekiela's Birds of the Carolinas Field Guide, which also has a multitude of photos and a handy color-coded index in the front of the book that helps you quickly look up the bird according to the predominant color of its feathers.
The folks at Wild Bird & Garden can be found at 105 Brown Street East in Southport (just off Howe Street, at the foot of the water tower). Their website has a fantastic list of links that includes everything from local wildlife rescue groups to the most comprehensive national databases, user-friendly tools and even smartphone apps. You can find them online at wildbirdgardeninc.com
Their current hours in Southport are 10-2 Mon-Sat with curbside service, and we all look forward to the time when they can resume the tours, workshops, and other outings for which they are so well known!
Hope to see you then!
There's so much natural beauty in our corner of North Carolina, so it's no wonder why residents love going outside for a picnic. With plenty of parks and natural areas to choose from, our real estate agents highly recommend taking your picnic baskets to these places around Brunswick County for a scenic dining experience.
As the summer heats up here in the Southport area, our real estate agents have been hard at work showing off the best Southport homes for sale. But there's one thing about the warm weather no one looks forward to, and that's summer bugs!
The first frozen treats date back thousands of years, when people of the Persian Empire poured grape juice over handfuls of snow and stored it in underground chambers to prevent melting. Ice cream has come a long way since then, but we still enjoy its creamy sweetness year-round.
Our real estate agents are looking forward to one of their favorite holidays when National Ice Cream Day occurs on Sunday, July 19th. Join the celebration with a trip to one of these popular ice cream spots around Southport.
Ask anyone who has bought or sold a home for real estate advice, and you're likely to hear some interesting answers related to that person's own experience. But no matter how good the intentions of the friend, family member, or colleague providing that advice, it can be hard to separate myth from fact. The stakes are high when buying or selling a home, so it's important to have the facts before you engage in the process. Our real estate agents are here to help, by debunking five common myths that you have likely heard about the real estate market.