About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


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The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

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Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)



Go ahead and leave your hummingbird feeder up!

There are hummingbirds that over-winter in the Carolinas

Yes, it's true!

There are hummingbirds at sugar water feeders across North Carolina and South Carolina during the cooler months. They are not common but they are widespread and not as rare as we once thought. Although most of the individuals investigated have been Rufous Hummingbirds, there have been a variety of western species. Very few hummingbirds away from the immediate coast have turned out to be our summertime Ruby-throated Hummingbird. To date ten species of hummingbird have been documented while visiting North Carolina during the non-breeding season. South Carolina has hosted six species of hummingbirds in addition to Ruby-throateds. But identification of these birds is difficult since most are nondescript females or juveniles. They tend to look very similar; their identity is often based on color, shape or size of just a few feathers.

The early view that hummingbird feeders left hanging in the fall deter Ruby-throateds from migrating is false. These tiny marvels begin to head south as early as late July due to hormonal changes when the days begin to shorten. Neither food supply nor the weather has any effect on their behavior. Therefore feeders left up can only help late migrants or supplement the diet of winter visitors. Although hummingbirds in general eat mainly small insects, nectar is a significant component of their diet year round.

Please contact hummingbird researcher Susan Campbell if you see or hear about a hummingbird between November 1 and March 15. Susan is an affiliate with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences who is studying and documenting these individuals. She can be reached at (910) 585-0574 or susan@ncaves.com.

No special care is required for these hardy winter hummingbirds. The birds will appreciate a feeder with the usual 4:1 (water: sugar) nectar solution. The solution will not freeze unless the air temperature around the feeder drops below 27 degrees F. Most days during the winter this will not be a problem. And on colder nights, the feeder can be taken indoors at dark since hummers do not feed at night. Due to slower fermentation rates during cooler weather, the feeder should only need cleaning and refilling about once every two weeks.

If you live within a half mile of a wet area (lake, river, stream, pond or even a golf course water hazard), your chances of attracting a winter hummer are quite good. Just be sure your feeder is hung so that you can monitor it easily—especially early in the day when hummingbirds are most active.

For more information go to NC Hummers
or
Hummingbird Resources

Banding Day in the Queen City - Banding a wintering Black-chinned Hummingbird