Birding Tour

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is happy to announce birding tours are back! Beginner and intermediate birders will see resident and migrating birds, including anhingas, herons, ibis, ducks, hawks, owls, and wood storks. Migrants like vireos, warblers, buntings, and orioles also occur, and, of course, the bald eagle! Magnolia has one of the largest and most easily accessible heron rookeries in the state to observe bird behavior.
Magnolia thrives on its natural history making it a perfect ‘hot spot’ for birding! The diverse habit within the garden includes swamps, ponds, a mixed pine and hardwood forest, plus the Ashley River. To date, eBird lists 268 birds that have been reported at Magnolia and the Audubon Swamp.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens has a strong birding history. John J. Audubon was here in the early 1800’s, doing drawings and collecting specimens. The Magnolia House features Audubon prints and paintings from local artists and has a separate gallery displaying birds of the Lowcountry.
Meet in front of the Magnolia House and expect to walk about two miles. Be sure to bring water, bug spray, and binoculars.
If you’d like to explore the gardens after the tour, stop by the Welcome Center to purchase admission.

About Robert
Robert Heise has been birding across North America for more than 40 years, studying bird identification and migration patterns. What began as a simple hobby grew into a lifelong passion, creating over 700 detailed checklists documenting over 600 bird species. He has gained certifications from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and participated in county and state bird census as well as numerous Christmas Bird Counts. He continues to lead field trips and educational workshops, including programs at Enchanted Rock State Park in Texas and serving as a Nature Steward at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. He currently lives in Summerville, SC, where he leads a local bird club.