Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary
Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary is the first project of the Coastal Bird Conservation Program and the reason for the program's creation. The island is a crescent of sand in Charleston Harbor that once supported an astonishing number of nesting birds — up to 5,000 in a single summer and thousands of offspring. It also provides rest and nourishment for hundreds of migrating shorebirds. Created in the 1950s from sand dredged from the harbor, Crab Bank was reduced to a tiny fraction of its original size due to wind, wave, and storms. In 2017, Hurricane Irma washed away most of the remaining high ground, removing any opportunity for nesting birds in 2018.
In 2019 the Costal Bird Conservation Program was created to fundraise to "Save Crab Bank" and renourish it using dredge materials from the deepening of Charleston Harbor in partnership with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. In late 2021, it became a reality and Crab Bank's renourishment was finshed ready to once again welcome nesting birds for the 2022 season. Since then, it's provided species like American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, Least Terns, and recently Brown Pelicans with a place to nest and raise their young.
Bird life has been thriving on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary since its restoration during the winter of 2021. Nesting birds have returned for every breeding season in the Spring and Summer, with several colonies of seabirds as well as solitary nesting shorebirds.
As one of South Carolina’s Seabird Sanctuaries, Crab Bank is closed to the public from March 15 through October 15th. Between March 16th and October 14th, access is allowed in the intertidal zone only. No dogs are ever allowed on the property. For a full review of rules visit:
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has been censusing nesting birds each year and assessing reproductive success of each species. Thus far, six different species have been recorded nesting on Crab Bank including Black Skimmers, Gull-billed Terns, Least Terns, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans, and American Oystercatchers.
Vegetation has expanded over the last few years and much of the island is now covered in salt tolerant plant species. Native vegetation like and Beach-tea and Dune Marsh-elder occur along the the perimeter and wrack line of the island. Other plants such as Beach Evening-primrose and Southern Horseweed occur in the interior in a patchy mosaic. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources conducts an annual flora inventory of the island to assess species and remove any undesirable vegetation such as Phragmites. So far, all is well and it has been exciting to watch the wildlife and vegetation arrive and establish.
The Coastal Conservation League launched this wildlife camera in 2015, however, because of the erosion of Crab Bank it had to be relocated to Shutes Folly. Thanks to funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administered by Audubon South Carolina, the Coastal Conservation League is bringing new eyes on the island with two new Pelicams! With assistance from Mount Pleasant Radio for crafting and installing these unique systems, the public can tune in to see what’s going on at Crab Bank in real-time. The video stream will be available on the Coastal Conservation League website.
Audubon South Carolina commissioned an economic valuation study and an engineering study to learn how the restored Crab Bank would contribute economically to South Carolina’s Tri-County area. College of Charleston and Appalachian State University professors quantified the economic benefits at $5.18 million for activities related to Crab Bank including ecotours, recreational fishing and paddle club outings!
Additionally, a contracted engineering firm found called Water Environment Consultants found that the newly restored island creates an additional cost savings of about $1.6 million to structures that are sheltered by the island. View full reports here.
The staff at Coastal Expeditions have been running “Crab Bank Quest” trips out of their port at Shem Creek. The trips are funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant obtained by Audubon South Carolina for community and school groups to experience the nature of Crab Bank from the water.
We are overjoyed with the partnerships and initiatives this project has brought about, benefiting birds and people for many years to come!