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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Field trip info

LET'S GO SOUTH FOR THE WINTER!

Host Hotel—Islander Hotel and Resort—Emerald Isle, NC

January 16–19, 2025

by Christine Stoughton, Bob Lewis and Betsy Kane

A winter trip to the beach promises a chance to see many of our traditional wintering birds and holds the lure of a rare species. This year's winter meeting is no exception as participants and leaders alike will sort through shorebirds, gulls, terns, loons, sparrows, waterfowl, and more in search of that rarity. Could we spot a new North Carolina record or a life bird? Join us from January 16–19, 2025 at Emerald Isle for fantastic winter birding on our barrier islands, marshes, national forest, and wildlife refuges. From Emerald Isle to Down East Carteret County, we will scour every nook and cranny to discover as many species as possible. Our 2005 meeting netted 181 species, so let's top that!

On Friday and Saturday night, plan on a social at the Islander Hotel & Resort to renew past acquaintances and meet others prior to hearing from Possumwoods Acres Rehab Facility here in Hubert. Saturday's speaker will be a representative from the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

Host Hotel: Islander Hotel & Resort, located at 102 Islander Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594. Reservations can be made online using the GROUP CODE CBCCO11625 to obtain our rate, or by calling 252-354-3464. Room rates are $89 per night for single or double occupancy, plus room tax. Be sure to mention you are with the CBC when making reservations. They will also honor this rate on January 15th if rooms are available—you will need to call to make that reservation. All rooms have a hair dryer, coffeemaker, refrigerator, and microwave. Please note that breakfast is not served at this hotel, but there are fast food alternatives available nearby. The reservation deadline is December 16, 2024. Rooms and room rates cannot be guaranteed after this date, so be sure to reserve before the deadline. With participation limits on all field trips, like the early bird getting the worm, early registration will give you the best chance for your trips of choice, so make your plans now, and we'll see you at Emerald Isle.

Online Registration opens Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 pm. Registration ends December 29th at noon. Registration may be extended if we have sufficient early registrants but is not guaranteed. January 5th at noon is the last day for refunds if you have to cancel attendance. Also, very important—If you have to cancel, please do so online, or else notify the Headquarters Secretary by sending an email to hq@carolinabirdclub.org so we can give your field trip space to someone on the waiting list. Walk-in registrations are accepted at the meeting. Please reserve your room and thank them for their hospitality. CBC greatly appreciates your use of the host hotel. The rate is exceptional, and you actually save CBC costs by staying with us.

Meeting check-in: A registration desk for meeting check-in will be in the hotel lobby at the entrance to the ballroom on the left on Thursday, January 16, 4:00 pm–9:00 pm; Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18, 6:45–7:45 am and 12:30–1:30 pm.

Field Trip Sheets: Located in the registration room. After checking in at registration, please put a checkmark by your name on each of the field trip sheets so the trip leaders will know you have checked in for your trip. There will be people available to answer any questions regarding trips. If you are not able to attend a trip, please cross out your name, so someone from the wait list can fill your place.

Directions/Trip Info: In the interest of the environment, we are no longer printing and packaging the meeting information you receive by email, including directions, field trip descriptions, and the itinerary. Plan ahead by printing or downloading this information before you arrive. Be sure to visit the conference registration table as soon as you check in at the hotel, sign in for the meeting and check-mark your name on the field trip list so we know you have arrived.

Departure Times: The field trip departure times are for leaving the hotel. Please arrive at a minimum 10–15 minutes early. Look for the sign with your trip number and let the leader know you are there. We encourage carpooling. Please consider contributing toward gas expenses if you carpool. Trip leader cell phone numbers will be provided. If you cannot go on a trip, make every effort to advise the trip leader or meeting coordinator, or advise someone who is on the trip so the group doesn't wait for you.

All Day Trips: Please bring a lunch, snacks, water. The two sites are remote with no nearby restaurants.

Hotel Returns: Morning trips should be back to the hotel by noon; afternoon and all-day trips by 5:00 pm. As is becoming the tradition, we will have a raffle as part of our weekend. Proceeds will benefit our Young Birders (camp scholarship) Fund. Please consider bringing a bird-related item or two for donation at the meeting. And as many of you know that regularly attend our meetings, we will also have bird books and magazines available for a small donation that will also go to the same fund.