Wildlife & Nature

  • New Whale Skeleton Museum Taking Shape

    A new building to house the Bonehenge Whale Center in Beaufort should be completed this year, says Keith Rittmaster, natural science curator at the N.C. Maritime Museum.

  • Birds of Ocracoke: The Snow Bunting

    Peter Vankevich with the Ocracoke Observer fills readers in on the habits of snow buntings, migratory birds most likely to be seen on the upper Outer Banks from late October into March.

  • December Brings New Birds, Annual Count

    December brings migratory waterfowl to the N.C. coast, just in time for Audubon’s Christmas bird count, and the northeastern part of the state offers ample opportunities for bird-watching.

  • Shorebird Banded 17 Years Ago Brings Hope

    The recent recapture of an American oystercatcher at Masonboro Island, one banded 17 years ago in Georgia, was cause for celebration among groups working to help the species recover.

  • Winter Birds Are Arriving On The Outer Banks

    Jeff Lewis, an expert on birds and bird-watching, writes for his November column about winter birds, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker, brown creeper, winter wren, waterfowl and other birds you might find this time of year on the Outer Banks.

  • Eagles Island Stewards Look To Expand Effort

    Stewards of the marshy wilderness known as Eagles Island, just off the busy U.S. 74/76/17 interchanges near Wilmington, hope to turn the area into a recreational and educational attraction.

  • Coastal Birding Trail Marks 10th Anniversary

    Officials and about 100 attendees, including N.C. First Lady Kristin Cooper, recently celebrated on the Outer Banks the 10th anniversary of the North Carolina Birding Trail, a partnership project linking birding sites across the state.

  • September Brings Migratory Birds to Banks

    It’s September on the Outer Banks and migratory birds are arriving, giving birdwatchers the chance to see colorful and varied species. Naturalist Jeff Lewis shares tips on where to look.

  • Sam Bland Shines light on Aug. Eclipse

    Sam Bland reminisces about experiencing with two of his friends a solar eclipse in 1970 eastern North Carolina, explores the myths surrounding the natural phenomenon.

  • Battery Island Home to Growing Ibis Colony

    The sky over Brunswick County abounds with white ibises this time of year, many of which nest and raise their young at Battery Island near Southport, considered a colony of global importance.