By Sally Siko

Each spring, I make the return to a small suburban neighborhood in southeast SC to check on a family of Limpkins.
Why?
Well the Limpkins are technically a rare bird for SC and it’s unusual to be able to see a specific species which is way out of it’s normal range year after year in the same spot.
I think it’s pretty neat to be able to enjoy these elegant birds without having to travel several hundred miles south to see them!

But what keeps these Limpkins from moving on?
The answer is snails.
Apple snails to be precise.

The small drainage ponds in the neighborhood and the adjacent swampland are full of them.
Apple snails are the Limpkins favorite food and there’s plenty to go around so why leave?
In fact, the original pair of Limpkins have successfully nested here for four years.
Most of their offspring have moved on into other territories but apparently at least two have decided to stay in the area.

I was surprised and delighted to count four of them this past weekend during my visit.
They weren’t difficult to locate as all of them were calling loudly from the west pond to the swamp.
Luckily, I was able to photograph two of the birds without having to venture into the swamp (it’s alligator season).
I was surprised to see one of them in a tree on a small island.
Normally, I’ve only observed Limpkins foraging on the ground for snails so perhaps this bird was building a nest?
I’m thinking I’ll return next weekend to try to get a better look…
Aren’t they beautiful?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5