BIRDS Flocking to Downtown

Summerville has always been known for its flowers, but now it might be known for its birds too.

The Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, DREAM and Sculpture in the South have teamed up for a project that will feature 19 life-sized bird sculptures scattered throughout historic downtown Summerville. The idea is similar to Greenville's Mice on Main program. 

It's earned the acronym BIRDS, for Birds In Residence Downtown Summerville.

The first of the pieces are expected to be unveiled in June. A barred owl and a nuthatch will be the first birds to lit downtown, according to Mike Dawson, director of the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest.

The birds won't be big or very noticeable. The whole idea is for people to look for the birds and wander around downtown, Dawson said.

"It's fun — kind of like a scavenger hunt," he said. "The birds are not always going to be right in front of your face."

Most of the sculptures will be bronze, and Sculpture in the South is working with artists and purchasing the artwork. The program has $5,000 seed money, Dawson said.

That money will only buy so many birds, so Dawson said the organizations are looking for merchants, civic clubs and more to sponsor birds around town.