<b>By Pamela Brownstein</b>

On a glorious Saturday spring afternoon, an energetic crowd gathered at the Port Royal Rookery and Cypress Wetlands Trail on Paris Avenue to celebrate the birth of hundreds of new wading birds. There was food, music, a scavenger hunt for children, and guides available along the boardwalk to provide additional information for visitors. Kazoos were provided and Port Royal Town Manager Van Willis and event organizer Pete Richards of the Fripp Audubon Club led the crowd in playing “Happy Birthday.” Many thanks to the event sponsors, especially the YMCA of Beaufort County, the Town of Port Royal, The Arts Council of Beaufort County, Mikki’s, Drysdale Entertainment, Helena House and area bird clubs.

[caption id="attachment_16777" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0216.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16777" alt="At left: Pete Richards, and his daughter Patty Kennedy, with family and friends." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0216-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> At left: Pete Richards, and his daughter Patty Kennedy, with family and friends.[/caption]

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<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0211.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-16780" alt="DSC_0211" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0211-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a>

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[caption id="attachment_16781" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0209.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16781" alt="Van Willis, left, and Pete Richards play ‘Happy Birthday’ on the kazoo with DJ Billy Drysdale in the background." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/DSC_0209-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Van Willis, left, and Pete Richards play ‘Happy Birthday’ on the kazoo with DJ Billy Drysdale in the background.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16782" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_1757-e1401128629163.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16782" alt="Special thanks to Laura Maxey from ARTworks for painting this life size scene with a cutout face, creating many cute photo ops!" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_1757-e1401128629163-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a> Special thanks to Laura Maxey from ARTworks for painting this life size scene with a cutout face, creating many cute photo ops![/caption]

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