Eight miles west of Holly Beach, Peveto Woods Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary is a favorite birding spot. In spring as many as 2 million trans-Gulf migratory birds refresh and restore themselves at this 41 acre chenier, a first stop after their Gulf crossing. Visitors include the beautifully plumaged spring warblers, tanagers and orioles as well as more sought after species such as the Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cerulean Warbler, and Cape May Warbler. And sometimes, lucky birders have the good fortune to see western vagrants such as Townsend's Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, and Hooded Oriole.
Peveto is also an ideal location for viewing the many different butterflies that migrate to the region. More common sightings include the black, spicebush, tiger, zebra and pipevine swallowtails; the gorgone and pearl crescents; red admiral; buckeye; cloudless sulphur; spring azure; varigated and gulf fritillaries; zebra longwing; hackberry; queen; viceroy; and red spotted purple. Late fall to early summer are the best times for sightings, but some colorful creatures remain year round.
