DEVEAUX BANK: Reflections of a Cultural Ornithologist

In May 2019, a biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources made a monumental discovery: 20,000 Whimbrel (a threatened and rapidly declining migratory shorebird) were roosting together in a single flock on Deveaux Bank. On this treeless sandbar 20 miles south of Charleston, this spectacle-a flock representing half of the species’ entire Atlantic Flyway population-was hiding in plain sight, gathered each night during Spring migration.
An order of magnitude larger than any other known gathering of the species, the finding was unimaginable to scientists studying migratory shorebirds. But for Dr. J. Drew Lanham-born and based in South Carolina, a distinguished professor at Clemson University, and acclaimed author and poet-his perspective as a Black ornithologist in America shaped a wider view of the discovery, beyond its staggering ecology.
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[@KatherineStrojny]

The shining eyes of the whimbrels on the night beach. Thank you for this powerful and transporting moment. It grabbed my heart, took me back to memories of exploring North Carolina's Outer Banks as a visitor in the off season. As someone who seeks nature to heal and to restore, I can relate to the idea that home and homeland can be infused with many layers of meaning, some bitter, some sweet. Feathered hope.

[@Ephily91]

This is beautiful and powerful. Thank you.

[@Capcity44]

I thoroughly enjoyed this perspective. We have the opportunity to change so much. I must visit Deveaux Bank

[@lorenzococco926]

This is one of the most inspiring, motivational and moving content I've seen in some time. Thank you.

[@Namaste..]

A truly wonderful story and narration. I previously had read Dr. Lanham's book "The Home Place" - a good read and an inspiring story. Many thanks for the video!

[@davidrazzano9298]

I was not expecting to be caught off guard by such an emotionally moving video. This narrator is brilliant and his connection to nature and the ancestral link he describes was so heartfelt. So glad I stumbled across this video. Thank you

[@janesettle3199]

Wow! Just wow!

[@judisawyer4339]

Oh my... How beautiful, how moving, how inspiring... How true. Thank you. I'm so grateful that I stumbled across this.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Beautiful!!

[@danielrk8]

wonderful video, thank you!

[@MukeshKumarprotagonist]

What a powerful and moving narration. Grateful for this upload 🙏

[@kathleenspring4522]

Beautiful! Thanks for all you so and say Drew!

[@dumoulin11]

How moving!

[@ornithologypro726]

This was a great video, thanks a lot!

[@Everything_Animal]

I really want to go see these whimbrels now

[@susandombrowski7711]

Thank you for showing your emotional connection in the possibility of being marginalized as an emotionally overcome person using birds to justify facing history. But there isn't anything different in my mind to repairing a bird population to recovery to the active repair of a community of people who have been as equally in need of repair, Overall, the people of the US are willing to repair a bird habitat or respond to a dog shelter's need, but not do half as much for people who have been systematically abused!!! . I don't know how this will end, Gandi didn't give up.... but the old guard is aging and we need fresh blood for the fight, because make no mistake it is everyone's fight! And it is the War for Independences shame. Had it been settled then... there would not have been a civil war. Maybe not 13 states.... but 10 years from now can predict this country will STILL be as it is???? Wow... long way from birds!!!!

[@alishakhuman2834]

Beautiful video evenning give evenniny way 👍

[@riocorbones]

Fantásticas imágenes, enhorabuena.

[@atropicali]

Heart taking inspirational pro work All nature destruction from human and still he never knows

[@Tui1x]

Congratulations on 400k Subscribers

[@cornell_lab]

Thanks to you!

[@uniqueevent1058]

Fantastik ..👍

[@faizananzar]

Love your channel ❤️

[@aysebordini]

❤❤❤

[@adognamedboo9474]

Could it be the spraying from above over all creation? Maybe all EMF'S everywhere? I wonder.

[@sully-alacumba]

This is a sad example of the liberal movement of the fusion of nature and political social activism. Leave the social politics, out. It's a sophisticated con.

[@johnnyswatts]

You are so very wrong. It's all part of a whole. If you believe in justice for birds but not your fellow human, that's utterly incomprehensible to me.

[@elizabethhenning778]

What's the "con"? Contextualizing injustice?

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Seems pretty authentic to me, not seeing a con here at all. I see sincerity and thoughtfulness.