Hammock Coast Birding Festival

Registration is underway for the 3rd annual Hammock Coast Birding Festival, an all-inclusive festival that has received rave reviews from past attendees.

Birders have flocked to South Carolina’s Hammock Coast for years to enjoy our unique coastal area that is home throughout the year to more than 300 species of birds. Southern Living noted that the area is the best birding site on the East Coast, and experts at Clemson University have claimed that the region offers the best birding opportunities in South Carolina.

When it comes to an overall birding experience, there’s nothing like the Hammock Coast with its miles of pristine beaches, marshes and rivers, as well as tens of thousands of acres of protected forests, all teeming with birds. That’s why we’ve teamed up with five of our premier birding locations for our event. Our area also has locations where the increasingly rare Red-cockaded Woodpecker can be found, as well as other birds, such as the Swallow-tailed Kite, Roseate Spoonbill, and an impressive list of rarities. Nestled between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, the Hammock Coast has long been a draw for vacationers seeking a more laid-back and nature-centric vacation, and birds seek out our area, too — either as an all-year-long home or a stopover on their trips north and south.

Our festival will offer tours and access to Black River Cypress Preserve (new to the festival in 2025) Brookgreen Gardens, Hobcaw Barony, Huntington Beach State Park, and the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. Those five areas combined offer more than 50,000 acres of protected land where birds of all kinds live and thrive.

The festival will also feature Emmy-winner Dr. Patrick McMillan as the keynote speaker; two lectures by Scott Harris, author of Raptor Quest; two talks by Robin Salmon and Burton Moore on the bird sculptures of Grainger McCoy and Jay Goldstein; and a lecture by Richard Camlin on Hobcaw Barony’s Belle Baruch and the story of missing – and FBI-led discovery – of Audubon prints; and much more. Visit our website for updates.

Two delicous evening meals are part of the festival.

Registration for the 2025 South Carolina’s Hammock Coast Birding Festival opened Oct. 4. Registration is limited, so early registration is recommended!  Go to our site and sign-up for email notifications! The cost is $299.99 per person through Oct. 18 and $350 per person Oct. 19 and beyond. Welcome and Packet Pick-up will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5. Welcome bag includes a long-sleeve festival T-shirt, an art print, and more. Festival tours, lectures, events, etc. will be held Thursday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 9.

Experience birding at its best during the 3rd annual Hammock Coast Birding Festival.