"53 bird species face extinction in S.C."

Nearly 30 percent of the nation's most threatened birds species can be found in South Carolina, according to a conservation report released Wednesday.

Of 178 rare bird species in danger of extinction, 53 spend at least part of their lives in the Palmetto State. The biggest threat to them is suburban sprawl, especially along the coast, according to the Audubon and American Bird Conservancy's WatchList 2007.

Keeping cats indoors, leashing dogs on the beach, volunteering to protect nesting colonies, and donating to wetlands conservation are among the ways South Carolinians can help save the endangered birds, the report said.

Birds come to South Carolina for its wide range of habitats, from the beaches and salt marshes to the mountains, but development is limiting their places to breed and rest, according to the report.

WatchList species in South Carolina include the swallow-tailed kite, red-headed woodpecker, wood thrush and Bachman's sparrow.

"Whether you have heard of these birds or not, all of them perform vital roles in sustaining South Carolina's natural ecosystems," said Jeff Mollenhauer, director of bird conservation at Audubon South Carolina, in a release. "The time to act is now, while there is still time left."
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We get Red-headed Woodpeckers where we live now and they are probably my favorite bird. I had never seen them anywhere else where I had lived.
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Map of Red-headed-woodpecker range.
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The Audubon watchlist.
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