Birding Tours at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is happy to announce that birding tours are back! Beginner and intermediate birders will see resident and migrating birds, including anhinga, herons, ibis, ducks, hawks, owls, and wood storks. Migrants like vireos, warblers, buntings and orioles occur and, of course, the bald eagle. Magnolia has one of the largest and most easily accessible heron rookeries in the state, providing an excellent opportunity to observe bird behavior.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a top birding spot, thanks to its rich natural history and diverse habitats. Birders can explore swamps, ponds, a mixed pine and hardwood forest, and the scenic Ashley River—each providing ideal conditions for a wide variety of bird species year-round. To date, eBird lists 268 birds that have been reported at Magnolia and the Audubon Swamp. Magnolia has a strong birding history. John J. Audubon was here in the early 1800s, drawing and collecting specimens. The Magnolia House features Audubon prints and paintings from local artists and has a separate gallery displaying birds of the Lowcountry.
Birding Tours
Where: Meet in front of the Magnolia House
When: Every other Saturday at 8:30, starting September 20th
Duration: 2 hours
What to Bring: Bug spray and binoculars
What’s Included: Garden admission & expert guidance from Robert Heise
Cost: $35
About Robert
Robert Heise has been birding across North America for 40 years studying bird identification and migration. What started as a simple hobby became a lifelong passion, creating over 500 checklists that include 600+ bird species. He has gained certification from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and participated in county and state bird census and multiple Christmas Bird Counts. He has been a birding interpreter leading field trips and implementing educational workshops, including Enchanted Rock State Park in Texas. He currently lives in Summerville, SC, where he leads a local bird club.