Fall into leisurely walks to see wildlife outside

Autumn offers an ideal time to fall into an outing for a walk through a zoo or enjoy wildlife viewing outdoors.

Lace up some shoes to consider these five ways to feast your eyes on the world of nature, whether along the Grand Strand or at the two big zoos in the eastern Carolinas.

Waccatee Zoo

With my walk last Friday through the Waccatee Zoo in Socastee, an African lion’s echoing roar on a perfectly still late afternoon gave an entertaining entrance for a 90-minute delight of a relaxing, wooded walk.

Pick up a map for this family park, because the paths across this mostly shaded acreage will wind by many exhibits. Go almost eye to eye with two tall bird species: an emu, native to Australia, and two ostriches, with African roots. Notice how an ostrich might stretch out and flex its humongous wings in alternation, too.

Don’t leave this corner without seeing Abigail the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, quick to wag her tail and oink aloud, and with her own red teddy bear doll nearby.

With various peafowl on the premises, don’t be surprised if one might follow you from behind for part of a stroll, which will lead past some amazing creatures, such as a few burros; Clyde the dromedary, a camel with one hump, who has quite the tall barn for sleeping quarters; a serval, an African forest cat with a cute, soft meow; a “zeedonk” zebra-donkey hybrid; some capybaras, which, looking like giant hamsters, represent the world’s largest rodents; two fluffy looking zebus, also known as Brahman cattle in south Asia; and an African spurred tortoise, showing some speed in walking, never mind what any hare saw in a popular children’s tale.

Whether the lion’s roar emanated from Simba or Princess – both only 3 1/2 years old – doesn’t matter; they both give a shout out sometimes, an attendant at the front gate said.

A herd of bison in the expansive pasture out front supplies its own amazing sight, especially as a passer-by might see when bicycling on Enterprise Road after a Sunday morning sunrise, with buffaloes’ gaze from eyes on their beautiful, mighty heads, turning ever so slightly as the wheels roll on out of sight toward the curve toward Bay Road.

If you go

WHERE: Waccatee Zoo, 8500 Enterprise Road, Socastee. As construction of the extension of S.C. 31 southward continues: From S.C. 707, take Bay Road, around the bend to Enterprise Road.

OPEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

HOW MUCH: $10 ages 13 and older, $4 ages 1-12, and free 11 months and younger

ALSO: Waccamaw River Tours, hourlong rides from the zoo site, 3 p.m. daily through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through Nov. 21, for $19.50 ages 13 and older, otherwise $14. Call 843-668-4250.

INFORMATION: 843-650-8500 or www.waccateezoo.com

Brookgreen Gardens

Besides the breathtaking sculpture across Brookgreen Gardens, allow yourself an hour for the Lowcountry Zoo and the newly opened Flights of Passage exhibit.

This walk through a woods is full of indigenous wildlife, starting with marsh tacky horses and red devon cows, in their respective pastures. River otters at play in their indoor playground waterland will make everyone smile. Be sure, too, to look at the abutting overlook to check for some otters living it up outside as well, maybe with a high-pitched squeak or two, before proceeding past a vast enclosure with red and greay foxes.

Owls, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks have their own alley for some up-close viewing, before a field where wild turkey might be seen deep in the background.

A former aviary that housed other raptors was transformed earlier this year into Flights of Passage, a spot dotted with about 20 colorful ducks spread across a trio of pools and a waterfall.

Brookgreen remains as beautiful in the so-called blahs of late fall into winter as in all the hot fun in the summertime, so savor a break from the heat and crowds, in a place where every visit yields a wholly different and memorable experience.

If you go

WHERE: Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17, across, and just south, from entrance to Huntington Beach State Park, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach

OPEN: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Dec. 25

HOW MUCH: Admission lasts seven days – $15 ages 13-64, $12 ages 65 and older, and $7 ages 4-12

ALSO:

▪ “Whispering Wings” butterfly house open for half-hour visits daily through Saturday, for extra $3 ages 13 and older, $2 ages 4-12, besides garden admission.

▪ National Sculpture Society 82nd annual Awards Exhibition (www.nationalsculpture.org), through Sunday.

INFORMATION: 843-235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org

‘A Bounty of Birds!’

Myrtle Beach State Park has gotten into such annual celebrations as its “Park Palooza” and “Totally Turtles” every spring. Maybe going to the birds for a day will turn into a tradition.

“A Bounty of Birds!” is booked for 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Nov. 21, highlighted by a visit from the Center for Birds of Prey to give demonstrations of raptors in flight 1-2 p.m.

Ann Malys Wilson, a longtime interpretive ranger at the park, called the crew from the bird center “amazing educators.” She also hopes their winged special guests include a black vulture, if one is available to make the trip. Contrary to the more common, red-headed, turkey vulture, the black vulture, with a black head, shorter tail and distinctive white-tip wings, takes Wilson to new heights in awe.

“That bird is my absolute favorite,” she said, hoping for a great turnout, especially because this one program – unlike most of the other activities on Nov. 21 that come free with park admission – also is a roundup for the Lowcountry Food Bank. That entity, based in Charleston, serves 10 counties, including Horry and Georgetown. Everyone who brings one canned food donation gains his or her ticket for the raptor show, also a perfect reminder, leading into Thanksgiving week and less than two months since the statewide flooding from record rainfall, of the need to help other people in need.

If you go

WHERE: Myrtle Beach State Park, on U.S. 17, just south of city limits, across from Seagate Village

WHEN: “A Bounty of Birds!” on Nov. 21

WHAT AND HOW MUCH: Mostly free with park admission – $5 ages 16 and older, $3.25 S.C. seniors, $3 ages 6-15. (Also, annual state park passes are $75 or $99.) –

▪ “Birdwatching Basics,” 8-10 a.m., for ages 10 and older, to learn how to identify common coastal birds on milelong walk from pier.

▪ “Backyard Bird ID,” 11-11:30 a.m., for ages 8 and older, to observe visitors to feeding station outside nature center.

▪ “Live Raptors in Flight,” 1-2 p.m., with demonstrations by the Center for Birds of Prey from Awendaw, at overflow parking lot. For admission, bring one canned food donation for Lowcountry Food Bank.

▪ “Risky Bird Business,” 3-3:30 p.m., for ages 6 and older, to play a game and build a bird bracelet to take home, at nature center.

▪ “Owl Prowl, “ 6:30- 8 p.m., for ages 8 and older, to see short indoor program, then take stroll to search for owls. $5 per person, with registration by Nov. 20.

PARK OPEN: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through November, then 6 a.m.-8 p.m. December-February

NATURE CENTER OPEN: 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, open at 10 a.m. Nov. 26-28, but closed Nov. 10, 14 and 21.

OTHER PROGRAMS: Mostly through November, in nature center, and free with admission:

▪ “Feeding Time,” 2-2:30 p.m. Saturday and 11-11:30 a.m. Nov. 26.

▪ “State Park Secrets” movie, 3:30-4 p.m. Saturday, in activity center.

▪ “Sharks,” 2-3 p.m. Sundays.

▪ “Tales from the Sea,” 2-2:45 p.m. Nov. 3, 17 and 24.

▪ “Park Jeopardy,” 2-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

▪ “Hermie the Hermit Crab,” 2-2:30 p.m. Thursdays in nature center, for ages 4-8.

▪ “Batty over Bats,” 2-2:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and 28, for ages 5 and older.

▪ “Backyard Bird ID,” 11-11:30 a.m. Nov. 27, for ages 8 and older.

▪ ‘Turkey Fun,” 11-11:30 a.m. Nov. 28, including making of craft to take home. $1.

▪ Annual “Santa on the Beach,” 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 5 across park, including photos with Santa with your own camera, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

INFORMATION: 843-238-0874 or www.myrtlebeachsp.com

AT HUNTINGTON BEACH STATE PARK: On U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Brookgreen Gardens, the nature center is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, including “Feeding Frenzy,” 11-11:30 a.m. daily. Most programs free with park admission, at aforementioned rates (843-238-8755 or www.huntingtonbeachsp.com):

▪ “Beachcombing,” 10-11 a.m. Friday, from north beach parking lot.

▪ “Spineless Wonders,” 4-5 p.m. Friday, in nature center.

▪ “Crabbing” catch and release, 10-11 a.m. Saturday, at Oyster Landing. $3 besides park admission.

▪ “Salt Marsh Seining,” 2-3 pm. Saturday, at Oyster Landing.

▪ Atalaya – Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for self-guided tours, for $2 extra fee ages 6 and older, otherwise free; optional 45-minute audio tour, $4. Docent-led tours 2 p.m. daily through Friday, and noon Saturday, included with Atalaya admission.

▪ “Coastal Kayaking,” 10 a.m.-noon Mondays, for $35, with preregistration by 4 p.m. the previous Sunday.

▪  “Atalaya Sleepover,” Nov. 14-15, including dinner, breakfast, s’mores and ghost stories by a campfire, a tour of the house, scavenger hunt, nighttime beach walk and morning wildlife walk. $50 ages 16 and older, $30 ages 7-15. Register by Nov. 7.

▪ Annual “Atalaya Holiday Celebration,” 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5, for $3 ages 6 and older, plus park admission.

FOOD DRIVE: For “Hunger Takes No Vacation,” everyone’s asked to drop off unopened, non-perishable foods and goods, especially those left over from vacations and trips, to collection bins at any state park through Nov. 30. The most requested items are canned vegetables, canned meats, dry goods, peanut butter, beans, toiletries, diapers, detergents and plastic bags. All donations from Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach state parks will be relayed to Lowcountry Food Bank, which based in Charleston, serves 10 counties, including Horry and Georgetown (843-747-8146 or www.lowcountryfoodbank.org).

The Center for Birds of Prey

Anyone heading or from Charleston might like a detour off U.S. 17 for a couple of hours at this site to see the respect commanded, and purpose fulfilled, by eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, owls and vultures. If the presentation at Myrtle Beach State Park gives someone a good taste of this raptor center, then arrange for a stop in Awendaw some Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The schedule there lets someone who takes a guided tour at 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. lead right into a flight demonstration afterward at 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m., by some of the stars on campus.

Imagine the field trip this could provide for a school, too, and it’s less than an hour’s drive south of Georgetown.

If you go

WHERE: The Center for Birds of Prey, 872 Seewee Road, Awendaw, about 40 miles south of Georgetown, east of U.S. 17, first left south of the Sewee Outpost

WHEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturday, including:

▪ Guided tours at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

▪ Flight demonstrations at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $15 ages 17-64, $14 seniors and active duty military, $10 ages 6-16, and free ages 5 and younger, and group rates available for 25 or more people at $12 ages 17 and older and $8 ages 6-16.

INFORMATION: 843-971-7474 or www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org

‘Zoo it’ for a day or two

Earmark a whole day each of the zoos in Columbia and Asheboro, N.C. Both places also afford great viewing of African elephants – the world’s largest land mammals – and the former boasts a 70-acre botanical garden, with seven themed areas, accessible by tram from the zoo or a stroll on a pleasant, zig-zagging, hillside trail.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

WHERE: Off Interstate 126 at Greystone Blvd., just west of downtown Columbia

OPEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, but closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days

HOW MUCH: $13.95 (or $11.75 online in advance) ages 13-61, $12.95 military and ages 62 and older, $11.50 ($9.75 advance online) ages 3-12; and free ages 2 and younger; and for admission with wristband with unlimited daily rides and attractions (but not Sky-High Safari and zip line) $20.

DAILY ANIMAL DEMONSTRATIONS: Penguins at 11 a.m., aquarium dive 12:30 p.m., gorilla feeding 1:30 p.m., birdhouse encounter 2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and African elephants 3 p.m.

ALSO | Annual events, each with separate admission, and advance booking recommended:

▪ “Boo at the Zoo,” with trick-or-treating (bring your own bag or container), 6-9 p.m. daily through Friday. Separate admission: $9 advance ages 2 and older, and if available per night at gate, $12. Free for ages 1 and younger.

▪ “Lights Before Christmas,” 5-9 p.m. Nov. 20-25, Nov. 27-Dec. 23, and Dec. 26-30. $10 ages 14 and older, $8 ages 2–13, and free ages 1 and younger.

Information | 803-779-8717 or www.riverbanks.org

N.C. Zoo

WHERE: From northbound on Interstates 73/74, take Exit 66, turn right (east) briefly to pick up U.S. 220 Alternate north, then in a few miles, turn right (north) on N.C. 159 (Zoo Parkway), leading through some small hills to zoo entrance.

OPEN: Daily, except Dec. 25: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. November-March, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April-October

HOW MUCH: $15 ages 13-61, $13 ages 62 and older, $11 ages 2-12, and free ages 1 and younger.

INFORMATION: 336-879-7000, 800-488-0444 or www.nczoo.org

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Fall into leisurely walks to see wildlife outside."