In mid-December 2025, biologists from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), along with Friends of Hunting Island Shorebird Steward volunteers, set up temporary fencing on the North Beach at Hunting Island State Park. This area, located north of the campground, is designated as a critical shorebird sanctuary habitat. It provides a vital resting and feeding area for a wide variety of birds year-round, including nesting habitat during the spring and summer. Due to this special designation, dogs and golf carts are not allowed on this section of the beach.

The fencing creates a safe enclosure within the designated sanctuary, offering shorebirds a disturbance-free area to rest and preen their feathers without interference from human activities. Species such as the federally threatened Piping Plover, along with Dunlin, Semipalmated Plovers, and Sanderlings, regularly use the area, especially during high tide when available space is limited.

Shorebirds have experienced significant population declines over the past few decades, making it increasingly important to ensure they have safe habitats during the winter months. When disturbed, these birds are forced to fly, expending valuable energy that would otherwise be used for resting, feeding, and recovering from long migrations and demanding breeding seasons.

Next time you visit North Beach at Hunting Island, be sure to watch for the enclosure. Admire the birds from a distance and give them plenty of space to avoid causing unnecessary stress. This small action helps protect the peaceful habitat these birds need to thrive and ensures they remain a part of the Hunting Island experience for everyone.

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Author - 

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Cami Duquet, Wildlife Biologist

SCDNR, Charleston, SC