Tag Archives: wildlife

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival Nov. 8-13

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Of course the millions of Outer Banks visitors come here every year to enjoy the beautiful beaches and attractions but I couldn’t agree more with Wings Over Water, that the ultimate attraction in our area is the wildlife, natural history and scenic views. As a chance to get out an enjoy the over quarter of a million acres of wildlife and wetlands, Wings Over Water is presenting the 15th annual Wildlife Festival from November 8-13th.

Here are just a few of the many great adventures planned for you and your family to experience!

  • Venturing into areas with combined bird lists of nearly 400 species.
  • Learning from experts how to shoot photographs that capture the unique beauty of the region.
  • Traveling to historic landmarks like the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.
  • Visiting North Pond on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island, the hottest spot for fall birding in North Carolina – or even visit South Pond which is usually closed to visitors.
  • Taking a ferry to the pirate Blackbeard’s hang-out on Ocracoke Island to enjoy the quaint fishing village and check out the birds.
  • Paddling the backwaters of the area or four-wheeling the area north of Corolla.
  • Visiting the ancient maritime forest of Kitty Hawk Woods for a look at this rare ecosystem.
  • Venturing into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge at night in search of bear and other wildlife.
  • Absorbing the waterways’ natural beauty during a sunrise or sunset kayak tour.
  • Wading in search of Clapper Rails, marsh sparrows and wrens at Oregon Inlet.
  • Exploring a Ghost Town on Portsmouth Island.
  • Experiencing a Red Wolf Howling where the nearly extinct animal is now fighting its way back.
  • And many other wild experiences……

Just another great activity for any fall OBX’ers. Don’t say we didn’t tell you that fall is the best time to be at the beach. ;) For more information on the festival or to view a complete schedule and descriptions of all the events, click here.  Here’s a quick peak at some of the beauty to be discovered here in the Outer Banks.

Sunset and Wildlife on the Outer Banks from Seaside Vacations on Vimeo.

Nags Head Woods – The Hidden Oasis

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Nags Head Woods

Nags Head Woods

A couple years ago I wrote an internationally acclaimed article about Nags Head Woods.  The article was such a big hit that it spread around the world overnight!

Nah, I’m just kidding.  I wrote it for our 2008 brochure, and it might have spread up the east coast over the course of a year.  Dare to dream!

I was reminded of my article a couple days ago when I saw a similar piece in the Charlotte Observer titled “Nags Head Hides an Oasis.” The Observer points out much of the same information I did, but that striking point to me is that this “oasis” is so little known.

Nags Head Woods is such a hidden gem.  It’s well known (but under utilized) by locals, but I’m not sure that many vacationers know it’s there.  There isn’t much signage, and it’s hidden behind a neighborhood, but it is easily accessible…and free.  (As a side note, it is on the same road as the amazing Outer Banks Christmas House.  Just drive by the Christmas House, and you’ll drive right into Nags Head Woods.)

Nags Head Woods is such a stark contrast to it’s surroundings.  I would hardly classify the Outer Banks as overdeveloped, but there is a short stretch in Kill Devil Hills, aka “French Fry Alley,” that does give that overdeveloped feel.  Yet, in the heart of French Fry Alley is the turn off for a 1,400 acre wooded, nature preserve!  And please allow me to stress wooded.  We’re at the beach!  1,400 acres of woods at the beach seems to defy nature, but there it is, awaiting your relaxing stroll.

The Observer article is well worth the read.  As it points out, there’s a lot to see and do in the woods…assuming you like all that nature junk.

  • 1,400 acres
  • More than 5 miles of trails
  • 300 species of plants
  • 150 species of birds
  • More than 50 species of reptiles and amphibians.

You’ll be hard pressed to find more natural diversity anywhere else on the East Coast.

Outer Banks is a Favorite Resting Spot for Seals

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The Outer Banks has a wide variety of wildlife, and from time to time a walk on the beach can turn up some fun surprises.  This weekend, during a walk along the beach in Carova (northern most tip of the Outer Banks), we were lucky enough to find a young harbor seal enjoying a rest on the beach.

Last year around this time (Feb. 1, 2009 to be exact), the PilotOnline.com ran a good story about seals along the OBX, and the article makes some great points about safety.  The seals sure are cute, but please give them their space; as wildlife biologists confirm, they can be cranky. 

Seals will bite, and not only is the bite painful, but they have the potential to carry harmful bacteria as well.  If that’s not enough to keep you away, it’s also illegal to harass marine mammals, and if it turns out that a seal does bite, it’s mandatory to put the seal to sleep, even if it’s a healthy seal.   

The Outer Banks is the southernmost point of the harbor seal’s habitat.  It’s most likely that the seals are just taking a break from enjoying their time in their ocean playground.

Jockey’s Ridge is an Outer Banks Treasure

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Barry Beach Week 2009 119 Barry Beach Week 2009 120

Every year, thousands of people visit Jockeys Ridge State Park to experience the largest “living” sand dune on the East Coast.  Many visit to take in the sheer beauty of this amazing landscape and the breathtaking views (arguably the best spot on the beach to watch the sunset over the Sound), but there is much more to Jockey’s Ridge than sand and views.

Jockeys Ridge is home to a wide array of wildlife and gorgeous scenery.  The park offers a variety of hiking trails with signs designating the wildlife and surrounding nature.

  • The Soundside Natural Trail is a self guided tour that is only about a mile long.  This trail features a glimpse of several different coastal ecosystems; including, wetlands, grassy dunes and maritime thickets.  While hiking on this trail, you will be able to learn about some of the wildlife that call this park home.
  • The Tracks in the Sand trail is another popular trail that runs a little longer than the Soundside Natural Trail.  This trail runs for a distance of approximately 1.5 miles,  and offers a glimpse at the parks different ecosystems with stations that will provide the hiker information.

The park also offers a full calendar of events and programs that are designed to be fun, educational, and hands-on…most of these are free to the public, but some may require prior registration.

Another unique feature of this incredible system of sand dunes is the ability to harness the amazing Outer Banks winds on just about any day of the year.  Jockey’s Ridge is a favorite for kite flyers on the OBX, and it is where many hang gliding enthusiasts got their start.

  • Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge since 1974!  They are the largest hand gliding school in the world, teaching hundreds of thousands of students since 1974 (over 300,000)!
    • They have taught students aged 4-92, male and female, physically fit and physically challenged. In fact, they can accommodate paraplegics, blind, deaf and other persons physically challenged. All they require is a desire to learn how to fly. They provide beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction.

Park hours:

November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

April, May, September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

June-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Closed Christmas Day

Park office hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Closed Christmas Day

Cross-country Bike Ride to Benefit Outer Banks Wildlife

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Paul Rudershausen will leave Coos Bay, Oregon on August 1st for a bike ride that will benefit the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter. 

The ride will span about five weeks and will end in Atlantic Beach.  You can follow his progress at www.pedal4wildlife.org. Donations can be made online.  Sponsorships are also available. 

“A trip, in my mind, is like a vacation.  A journey  is like a spiritual awakening, if you will, because it has emotional and physical challenges,” Rudershausen said.  His solo travels will take him through a dozen states covering an estimated 3200 miles and benefit countless orphaned and injured wildlife. 

It’s a personal journey with a Community cause.

Sea Turtles on the Outer Banks

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turtle  The American Tortoise Rescue is a organization that was founded in 1990 in Malibu California.  This group founded National Turtle Day in 2000.  On this holiday the group wanted to call attention to some of the issues that threaten the turtle populations of the world today.  Here are some highlights that we thought might be interesting to point out.

What to do if you find a turtle that is healthy?:

If the turtle is not is any serious harm, then you should not attempt to move it.  It is also not a good idea to take a turtle home.  Taking the turtle away from its natural habitat can be harmful to the turtle.

What if this turtle is injured or sick?

Call the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter at 252-240-1200.  Many times the turtle will not need medical attention.  If the turtle is injured, then it is a good idea to keep the turtle in a box(obviously sized according to the size of the turtle)

For more information, visit the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter online, www.owlsonline.org.

Outer Banks: Outer Beach Exploration

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Conducted by the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

 

When:  Tuesday, December 9

 

Where:  Avalon Fishing Pier, Mile Post 6

 

Escape to Gulf Stream beaches to see the variety of coastal beach life.

 

Learn why the Outer Banks beaches look different and become familiar with the array of animals that call these beaches home. You may even find that rare-colored sea glass to add to your collection.

The class is free, but please call ahead for reservations.  For reservations, book online or call 252.453.0221 ex. 3.

Outer Banks Wildlife Festival

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12th Annual Wings Over Water Festival

A Celebration of Wildlife & Wild lands in Eastern North Carolina
November 4-9, 2008
Register Now at (252)441-8144 or www.WingsOverWater.org

Travel and nature enthusiasts converge on the Outer Banks to enjoy its beaches, attractions and laid back atmosphere. Most don’t realize that the Outer Banks has much more than sun, sea, and sand to offer.  Some of the most underappreciated and unexplored attractions are the Outer Banks’ diversity of wildlife, natural history, and scenic views.

The 12th Annual Wings Over Water Festival highlights these natural attractions.  The six day event celebrates the natural wonders of the area and offers many opportunities to explore and discover the richness of the region’s environment.

Dare County alone has more than a quarter of a million acres of property in conservation – as compared to just 16,000 acres available for development. Dare, Currituck, Tyrell and Hyde counties boast a diverse and fascinating array of wildlife to view and waterways to paddle. In addition to a wealth of marine life, Eastern North Carolina is home to black bears, alligators, red wolves, deer and hundreds of species of birds. The waterways invite kayakers and canoeists to glide through the back waters, the sounds and even the ocean. And natural history attractions draw both young and old who want to know more about the place where the first English settlements were born. Year ‘round, there are nature programs offered by state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits.

Events:

·         Venturing into areas with combined bird lists of nearly 400 species.

·         Visiting North Pond on the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island, the hottest spot for fall birding in North Carolina.

·         Traveling to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area to search for a variety of shore and water birds.

·         Experiencing Ghost Town Birding on Portsmouth Island

·         Taking a ferry to the pirate Blackbeard’s hang-out on Ocracoke Island to enjoy the quaint fishing village and check out the birds.

·         Visiting the ancient maritime forests at Buxton Woods and Nags Head Woods for a look at these rare ecosystems.

·         Traveling to Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge where eagles and other raptors are likely the causeway and entrance road.

·         Exploring a blackwater swamp in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

·         Sliding into a kayak or canoe to explore a salt marsh environment.

·         Wade in search of Clapper Rails, marsh sparrows and wrens at Oregon Inlet.

·         Heading for the blue waters of the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras to search for pelagic birds.

·         Experiencing a Red Wolf Howling where the nearly extinct animal is now fighting its way back.