🕊 Through this birding adventures we have realized a new appreciation for the greatness of our Creator.  We have been amazed at the beautiful intricate patterns, array of colors, and tones of each bird.  This adornment is only the beginning of God's brilliance.  We often awake to a chorus of perfectly pitched notes, which work together to create a rich, melodic, unique symphony.  If that were not enough, in addition to the typical behavior or a particular species, we have noticed that the individual birds have personality traits, different flight patterns, and different take off and landings.  We are learning new things every day!
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ABBY
PHOTOGRAPHER, CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND MB BIRDWATCHERS/MEETUP ORGANIZER (ALSO  BEST BIRD FINDER EVER)
📷 Abby is mostly using the Panasonic DMC-FZ70 but we also trade back and forth two Nikons D3300 and Nikon D5600.  Until Jan. 2021 the lens she used most often was the Nikor 50-200MM.  Starting in Jan. she has picked up using a 200-500mm telephoto lens.  
Abby, became involved in this adventure in order to help Tamara.  She saw her mom was trying to catalog the different birds by using the pictures from a camera phone (which were not super).  She has always been interested in photography and has previously shown a talent in that area, having taken stunning pictures on family vacations.  She offered to use the "good" camera to see if she could get some better pictures.  Well, she did!  Over the weeks she became really enthralled with all of the birds that God has sent.  She is now learning with her mother and siblings (in between her college classes and work of course). 
Abby attends Coastal Carolina University with a major in Psychology (emphasis on Behavioral Psychology).  She has not yet decided if she will go on after graduation and become a Behavioral Profiler or advance in another direction ie medical school in order to become a Forensic Pathologist.  Despite  decisions to make one thing is sure,  Abby continues to have a, "Bone-to-pick," with National Geographic, as most of their photographers seem to be men.  She may have to rectify this situation, even if it is just as a hobbyist.  She currently works part-time as a personal assistant and at "Fairytale Characters of Myrtle Beach," playing any number of requested characters for parties and get-togethers.  Since, she is a fan of Marvel and DC and frequents Comic-cons, this was a natural progression.  ​

TAMARA
CITIZEN SCIENTIST, CATALOGER AND BIRD TRACKER, PHOTO EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER (sometimes), MEETUP ORGANIZER AND WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR
​ As a *Citizen Scientist of Urban Ornithology, (LOL couldn't help it.  Once a nerd always a nerd).  It is Tamara's job to track the day and time the birds come, track how many there birds there are at certain times of day, and their behavior etc.  Previously, she used a log book see Bird Identification​ .  Now she keeps track in on a computer (there are apps that you use to track as well). Abby,  CJ and Tamara work together to identify a new bird. 
​In a "past" life Tamara obtained a BS degree in Education and Psychology, a MS degree in Educational Administration in Florida and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Clemson University.   She has been a teacher, vice principal, principal and schoolboard Chairwoman.  She completed the South Carolina Department of Education Administrative Excellence Program, was a National Best Buy Te@ch award recipient, mentor, site-supervising teacher for education majors,  a certified CPI responder (non-violent crisis intervention) and site LEA (Local Educational Authority) for special education.  
Tamara has written multiple articles including, "Educating the Whole Child," and "Economic Integration for Educational Aptitude," has been recognized by Coastal Carolina University for her contributions, and invited to speak at the International Conference on Research, Teaching and Learning.  ​As of late, her main focus has been on her own children; though, she continues to hold certifications in education in South Carolina as a teacher and principal.  She has used these certifications and this knowledge to homeschool all of her children.  The two oldest started from late elementary school through high school and they are now in college.  Her youngest has always been homeschooled is still being homeschooled as he is in currently elementary school.  Furthermore, she turned two of her passions into jobs.  Tamara is an ordained minister and certified victim support provider and uses that gift and her passion to work in an area close to her heart as  (Crime) Victim's Advocate and  more recently a (Crime) Prevention Educator.  Her other love is houses.  She loves buying them, remodeling them, redecorating them etc.  As such, she is a licensed real-estate agent and enjoys participating for herself and her clients in the local market for same.  She finds that her knowledge and occasional dabbling in the world of digital and social media marketing comes in handy in all of the "out-of-the-home," jobs. ​

Tamara started taking pictures of the children years ago with the "good" camera.  Later, she morphed into taking pictures in her garden of the flowers, plants, and garden activity.  Interestingly enough, she did not consider taking pictures while birding until Abby did it.  

Her knowledge is always evolving and recently she is trying to learn to use more advanced photo editing software.  
*A citizen scientist is  used in place of amateur birder or hobbyist.  The extent in which a citizen scientist takes their study depends on the project in which one is involved.  See below for more information.

CJ
 JUNIOR PHOTOGRAPHER,  CATALOGER AND CITIZEN SCIENTIST
​CJ has been interested in birds with his Mom for a long time.  He has even been helping cataloging the birds, researching the birds and find out extras facts about them.  Yes, he is the one also that ran around the house saying, "Mom I just saw a murder!" Of course, he was referring to a murder (group) of crows.  He has a great memory for facts about particular birds he is interested in learning about and can, and does, quote it back to his family on bird outings.  

He did not begin by taking pictures.  When needed, he used his binocular-cam, binoculars that can double as a camera.  (see under our page, Favorite Bird Stuff) Not really understanding why his sister was so insistent to take pictures, he decided to try his hand and found he enjoys it. 

CJ is still in elementary school and hopes to be the family's number one  photographer (surpassing Abby, in their great sibling rivalry).  Additionally, he has future dreams of space and the stars, wanting to be an astrophysicist in his future career.  He loves the Genesis 1:16 verse, "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."  He believes that God is more awesome than we could comprehend, if he could make the stars as almost an afterthought.  

  For now, he WOULD be a social media/video game vlogger IF his mother would let him.  
​
📷 He started with  a long lens added to an old iPhone now he mostly using the Canon T2i Rebel  and sometimes the Nikon 5600. He still uses his binocular camera when we go on field trips. His Nana found his Papa's vintage Minolta that he is also testing out.

ESSIE
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Essie is not interested in the birds as a hobbyist; though, she can now identify and talk about several of the regular backyard birds.  More importantly,  she is a huge help to "The birders," in order that they can spend time birding.  She sweeps the balcony, cleans the birdbath out, helps with the nest boxes, and was instrumental in rallying the kids to purchase and installing the birdbath for a past Mother's Day.  She lugs numerous amounts of birdseed upstairs and  continues to spend endless amounts of time working around the house and doing errands in order to relieve Abby, CJ, and Tamara so they are free to bird.  She does all of this while handling 30+ hours a week working and school.  In spring and fall, she organizes, chooses, and plants all of the new flowers and trees in the yard and porch-boxes.  These plantings are integral to attracting  and providing cover for the birds that we would like to see in the  future.
Essie is in school at HGTC ultimately in pursuit of a B.S. in Marine Science. Though she doesn't take pictures, she will often use her Go-Pro to film interesting things in nature; especially, while surfing.  Additionally, she enjoys working full-time for North Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue five months of the year.  She spends the remainder of the year working as a part-time pool life-guard at a local recreation center.   She dreams of sailing off in her sailboat in pursuit of her salt-water biological endeavors and because being in nature brings her closer to God.  She of course knows that after being gone for awhile her family would hire a speed boat to track her down and bring her back, at least for the holidays.   Her family is desperately trying to subconsciously make her a bird nerd; and, frankly it is working. (see above)  ​
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Lenses We Use

  • Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens
  • Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras  (Refurbished).  I notice we get some chromatic aberrations on this one in certain lighting.  I am not sure if it is the nature of the lens or because it is refurbished. ​​
  • Fotodiox Pro Autofocus 2x Teleconverter - AF Doubler x2.0 for Canon EOS EF, EF-S Camera and Lens (APS-C & Full Frame). ​​
  • Vivitar  TELEPHOTO 500-1000MM fixed aperature Manual Focus zoom lens. (Which I use instead of the teleconverter with the 300mm lens).  Abby doesn't care for this as much as I do.​
  • ​​​​MACTREM Phone Camera Lens, 20X Telephoto Lens + 205° Fish-eye Lens + 0.5X Ultra Wide Angle Lens + 25X Super Macro Lens.​
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​NOTE ABOUT PICTURE EDITING: Realizing that birds do not typically pose (except for our yellow-rumped warbler family), are often moving, and lighting conditions vary; I do employ non-destructive, restrained photo editing on our pictures.  If I have to drastically edit a picture (i.e. the Cedar Wax-wings and Mockingbirds), I will try to note it on that photo or page.  Keep in mind that Abby might shoot about a thousand pictures in a couple hours of birding and of that thousand, anywhere from 5-10% will be "keepers."     As we have gotten new gear our pictures have improved.
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CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
​A citizen scientist is a volunteer member of the public who assists, collaborates, and participates with scientists and scientific experiments in various programs through data analysis, observation, and scientific experimentation.  
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​To learn more about projects you can get involved in as a "citizen scientist" check out: