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| Where and When to See Birds in Eastern
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Battery Island Audubon Sanctuary, by Frank Graham, Jr. Audubon Magazine -- March, 2004 "One of nature's great spectacles is a colony of white ibises in flight as evening comes on. With the setting sun flashing on their black-tipped white wings and scarlet of their scimitar bills, they approach in wave after wave to dip and settle at their nests. The recent designation of battery Island as an Important Bird area (IBA), and as an IBA of Global Importance, reflects its status as the site of North Carolina's largest colony of wading birds. Besides 500 paris of herons and egrets, more than 9,000 pairs of white ibises, between 5 and 20% of their North American population, nest here in the spring and summer. Lying offshore at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the 100-acre island became a National Audubon sanctuary in 1982. White ibises find ideal nesting places in the island's sturdy clumps of salt-tolerant, storm resistant yaupons and red cedars. The river's strong currents prevent raccoons and other predatory mammals from reaching the colony, while an Audubon warden enforces a year-round ban on human visitors." From North Carolina Audubon websiteViewing: During late spring and summer, visitors to the Southport waterfront can witness the early- morning departure of thousands of white ibises as they leave for inland foraging grounds. The sky over Southport is again filled with ibises during the last two hours of daylight as flocks from 20 to 200 ibises return to Battery Island for the evening. Late April: Battery Island Cruise to observe nesting herons, egrets and ibises, sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club. The vessel anchors on the sand of Battery Island so passengers can view highly visible birds dotting the trees. 2:30 -- 6pm. Cost $35. (All proceeds from the Battery Island Cruise are given to the Audubon Society for Battery Island maintenance.) Bald Head Island Conservancy: Viewing Birds from/on Bald Head Island |
by T. Edward Nickens Wildlife Conservation Magazine -- August, 2004 "This little-plumbed refuge is a vast, otherworldly place of cypress-gum swamps, hardwood riverbottom levee forests, and sprawling sloughs of ash and cottonwood." "Black bears, bobcats, and river otters prowl pristine riverbanks." "In spring, untold millions of alewives, blueback herring, hickory shad, and striped bass migrate to upriver spawning grounds. Great blue herons and great egrets crowd into rookeries whose nests number in the hundreds." "On all sides, the forest soars, a vernal canopy alive with birds. The Roanoke's bird list is 214 species long -- including 88 species of breeding birds -- and there's rarely amoment between March and June when the cypress trees and lush understory shrubs aren't filled with songsters." Solitude is remarkably easy to come by in the refuge." "You will need a canoe or kayak to see it, but otherwise the Roanoke is surprisingly easy to access." Time and Place "A springtime float through the Roanoke River Refuge is a birder's dream, but fall colors in the wet woods would make any botany-loving visitor weep twice with joy -- once the exquisite colors of cypress and tupedo, and then again for their reflections in river, creek, and maple-ringed swamp pool. In the deep of winter, when the trees are bare, their straight trunks seem to hold up the sky like Greek temple columns. In fall and winter, the refuge is primarily wintering habitat for black ducks and mallards, green-winged teal and American wigeon. The Roanoke River bottomlands are located near Williamston, North Carolina, about two hours east of Raleigh. Rock Reset Adventures rents canoes and offers guided trips that can include camping or overnight stays in local country inns [919-542-5502]. Daytrips and overnight camping excursions can also be arranged through Roanoke River partners [252-794-6501]." For more information, go to: Roanoke River Refuge |
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Links checked and updated on: July 15, 2004 Text and photos are copyright © Sunny Walter (unless otherwise noted) For more information, contact sunny@sunnywalter.com |