CBC Fall Meeting—Litchfield Beach, SC
Don Faulkner
Looking for a great place to catch the fall migrants this year? Then head for the central South Carolina coast. Just think, Huntington Beach State Park, Bull Island, Santee Coastal WMA, Waccamaw NWR and more.
The dates for our meeting are September 27th and 28th with registration beginning Thursday evening, September 26. Our headquarters are located at the Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort at 14276 Oceans Highway, Pawley's Island, SC 29585. This is 2.5 miles south of Brookgreen Gardens on Highway 17. Call 877-8546358 for reservations. Litchfield lies half way between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach, SC.
The accommodations at the hotel, both hotel rooms and meeting rooms, are excellent. The hotel rooms are in Summerhouse Scenic Suites and have two queen beds, a living area with a full kitchen that has all the amenities (range/oven, refrigerator, toaster, blender, cookware, flatware, and dishwasher) at a cost of $89.10 plus taxes. Each room has a balcony with either a pool or lake view. Make your reservations early as rooms are limited. We always try to ensure that we have the hotel's lowest cost for the rooms when setting up a CBC meeting. However, since this hotel is in a golfing area, they cannot guarantee that they will not have some specials available between now and September. If you are looking for a bargain, you can check the hotel website or check the rates when you call for your reservation.
The hotel breakfast buffet opens at 6 a.m. and has about everything imaginable on it. It is a little pricey compared to what we normally have at these meetings ($9.95 plus tax and service) but we do have options. There is a Starbucks on site that opens at 6 a.m. and a breakfast & brunch restaurant across the street (Eggs Up Grill) which also opens at 6 a.m. And if all else fails, you will have a complete kitchen in your room.
Friday evening's speaker is Kent Fiala, the CBC webmaster. He will talk about six weeks of birding in southeast and northeast Brazil, especially targeting endemic species. Come hear about and see photos of Sharpbill, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Red-legged Seriema, Indigo Macaw, Araripe Manakin and many other birds, and hear tales of the wolves of Caraça and the search for the Cipo Canastero.
Scott Winton is Saturday night's speaker. He is a PhD candidate studying environmental science and policy at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He works in the Duke University Wetland Center under the direction of Prof. Curt Richardson. Scott will present a part of his dissertation research in which he is investigating the role played by large flocks of herbivorous waterfowl, such as Tundra Swans, in the emission of methane and nitrous oxide from impoundments at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.
The Saturday buffet is $25 per person and includes traditional tossed salad, Chicken Francaise, Pasta Primavera, fresh vegetable medley, roasted red potatoes, rolls & butter, coffee, and tea.
Early registration for the meeting closes on September 22. There are no refunds for registration or meals for cancellations received after September 15.
Be sure and bring that non-birding spouse or friend as there is no limit to the number of activities available in the Myrtle Beach/Litchfield area. Make your reservations, grab your bins, and come on down to the SC coast and have a great time.