Chris Snook:
Not a Stranger on the Shore
If you happened to be out walking either the east or west end of Kiawah’s beach in the very early morning over
the past 11 years, you may have encountered a strangely-encumbered gentleman along the way. Armed with misting
nets and a bird scope, he would have been focused on finding Wilson’s plovers. The gentleman would have been Chris
Snook, a native of Plymouth, England - structural biologist by profession and amateur ornithologist and bird bander by
passion. Chris has a doctorate from the University of London and has spent his professional life conducting research in
prestigious institutions in the United States and England. He has spent much of the last 25 years in the states beginning
at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He’s also spent time at the University of Virginia,
the University of Missouri and, for five of the last 11 years, at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Chris’s interest in birds dates back to 1983 when he began watching, studying and banding birds in his native
England, ultimately becoming a C-Bander under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology in 1994. When his
graduate position took him to Dallas, happily his laboratory was situated with a window that overlooked a fabulous
rookery. He continued his bird research and observation throughout his professional career including a wealth of
opportunity when his work brought him to Charleston in 2003. He obtained his Master Bander certification from the
North American Bird Banding Program under the auspices of the United States Geological Survey. Since that time he
has worked with Felicia Sanders of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and has been monitoring birds
at a roosting area adjacent to the Citadel Mall Stadium 16 theater in Charleston. He has also spent significant time on
both ends of the Folly and Kiawah beaches. Town of Kiawah Island wildlife biologists Aaron Given and Jim Jordan
have worked closely with Chris as well. Of him, Aaron says, “He was instrumental in helping me set up the Kiawah
Island Banding Station in 2009. I volunteered at his banding site on Folly before I started banding here on Kiawah to
brush up my skills. Chris was very dedicated to his Wilson’s research, spending countless hours on the beach observing
This Wilson’s plover was banded and flagged by
Chris Snook in June 2012 and photographed by Pamela
Cohen on March 31, 2013. Pamela quickly reported her
sighting (along with the photograph showing the band and
flag markings) to Chris and in doing so she shared valuable
information that can be used in conservation efforts throughout
the plovers nesting, resting and migratory range.
How can you help? Become a citizen scientist and
report your sightings of birds with bands or flags to the Bird Banding
Laboratory either by phone 1-800-327-2263 or on their website
www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/bblretrv. Make sure to include a photo,
if you have one, and the date, time and location of the sighting.
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