What birds can you see in Charleston's West Ashley Park? (2024)

Charles Donnelly tilts his face toward the sky, purses his lips and pushes out air.

The subtle movement makes a loud "psh" sound. A crowd of about 25 looks around, hopeful. The bright chirping from a northern cardinal is almost immediate.

Donnelly is pishing — a technique some ornithologists use to attract birds. The noise hits a certain pitch to make the animals curious but not disrupt their day.

Donnelly and his crew are deep inside a wooded trail at West Ashley Park off Glenn McConnell Parkway for a May 18 bird walk. The Charleston Parks Conservancy hosts the monthly event with Donnelly, who offers tours through his company Holy City Birding.

Walks with the CPC are free and rotate locations across Charleston. They encourage residents and visitors to spend time outside, connect with local parks and become educated about area wildlife, said Darlene Heater, Charleston Parks Conservancy CEO.

The nonprofit started hosting bird walks and sits at least three years ago after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of getting out in nature, she said.

Interest in the walks skyrocketed after Donnelly became a partner in January, Heater said. There's typically a waiting list each month.

Different habitats

Participants on May 18 arrived at the park by 7:30 a.m.— an early start time, but better for spotting the tiny creatures. Most birds the group will encounter are raising young, Donnelly said. They’ll hunt in the morning for protein such as insects and worms.

The group ranges in age and experience level. Some wear binoculars around their necks; others bring long-lens cameras in hopes of capturing an up-close image.

Many are hobbyists who participate every month. Others are here for the first time, looking to make connections over a shared passion.

Gwen Greenwalt doesn't consider herself a serious birder. The chirps and whistles make pleasant background noise for the Summerville resident as she tends her vegetable garden and flower beds.

"I can't retain names, but I can retain the sounds," she said.

Sharon Singer and Mickey Levine of New York are visiting for the weekend. They go birding wherever they travel. Back home, Central Park is Levine's favorite place to spot birds— especially during migration.

Many of the birds on the May 18 walk have settled in Charleston for the summer, Donnelly said, including the white-eyed vireo. A ring of yellow surrounds the white pupils of this 5-inch bird, which loves a wetland habitat.

Participants will see three of these creatures before their trip is over.

The birders spend much of their time winding down a densely wooded trail, where it's easier to hear a bird before spotting it. A sharp whistle —"tea kettle, tea kettle, tea kettle" — sounds. It’s a Carolina wren.

This loud singer is a backyard favorite, Donnelly said.

They amble along until the guide pauses, alerting his troops to a red-bellied woodpecker high in the tree line. Donnelly flashes a bright green laser at a branch, angling the light just below the tiny bird so he doesn't disturb it.

The red-bellied woodpecker's name is misleading, said CPC volunteer Layton Register.Its pudgy stomach is mostly white, with a tinge of red beneath its fur.

A low croak sends the crowd, still gathered deep in the woods, squinting at the canopy, momentarily confused.

"That’s a frog," Donnelly said. The birders laugh.

They arrive at a small lake. A marshy expanse stretches before them. Bald cypress trees drip with Spanish moss. The group sees or hears four different birds in the span of a minute.An anhinga. A great blue heron. A boat-tailed grackle. A laughing gull.

Donnelly points out an osprey, surveying the scene from a pine tree's branches. The raptor's diet is 99 percent fish, Donnelly said. And one out of every four dives yields food.

Their chatter is suddenly interrupted by a loud splash. The osprey dives into the water. It emerges tightly clutching a fish in its talons.

Backyard birds

The two-hour walk yielded 113 birds of more than two dozen species, according to eBird, an app allowing birders to track their sightings. The northern cardinal was the most popular, with 22 observations.

Walks aren't the only way to spot birds. Charleston and its varied habitats attract all kinds of species, Donnelly said. Some of the most beautiful birds, like the summer tanager or great crested flycatcher,will appear in your backyard this time of year.

The latter's call resembles a referee's whistle. The flycatcher prefers to nest high in the tree canopy; most folks don't realize they're in the backyard, despite their large size and yellow bellies, Donnelly said.

The next walk will be held June 15 at the West Ashley Greenway. For more information on how to register, go to charlestonparksconservancy.org/event.

A greenway visit almost certainly guarantees a glimpse of the painted bunting, Donnelly said.

Greenwalt, the Summerville resident, plans to be there. She's always wanted to see the multicolored bird.