alligator river and pea island national wildlife refuges news · oyster, beach & bird...

At the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on the north end of Roanoke Island, interpretation has risen to a whole new level. Recently, volunteers installed the first interpretive signs that will allow visitors to hear and see messages using their cell phones.

Currently, there are 43 active interpretive stops, including the new National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, 11 local national wildlife refuges and a hatchery, and 10 other local attractions on Roanoke Island. Before summer arrives, the program will be expanded to include dozens of interpretive stops on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge's trails and Wildlife Drive.

Wings Over Water 2-3

Volunteer News 4

Wild Things Bookstore 5

Program Updates 6-7

Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society News 8

Biological Program 9

Red Wolf Recovery Program 10

Fire Program 11

Looking Ahead 12

Inside this issue:

April, 2013 Volume XV, No. 5

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center Uses On-Cell Technology to Educate and Invite!

Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges News

This 5" X 6" sign will allow visitors to have a virtual tour of the new National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center using their cell phones. Users with Smart Phones will be able to view videos and slideshows and hear audios recorded for the stops.

Once visitors arrive at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, they may use their cell phones to explore other opportunities in the area.

All stops in the system may be viewed via the internet at www.myoncell.mobi/12525643105. Visitors to the sites may scan a QR code or dial a number to view/hear the individual stops.

"I can't see how anyone could see these pictures and hear this message and NOT want to visit this place. What a great opportunity - and it's free!" said Deputy Manager Scott Lanier.

We get enthusiastic about Wings Over Water. Why not? Hundreds of participants come from all over the country to hike, canoe, kayak and bird in one of the country’s most unique collection of National Wildlife Refuges. We also have top birders and naturalists who come to lead our trips.

The 2013 Wings Over Water Festival will be held a little earlier. Who plans for events a year in advance? We do, and so do you! Every year after the Wings Over Water Festival, we have participants ask us about the next year’s Festival. And it’s immediately after the current Wings Over Water Festival that we begin working on setting up programs, contacting leaders and laying out what we think will be new, wonderful opportunities.

Mark your calendars for the week of Tuesday October 22nd through Sunday the 27th. We have over one hundred trips and programs planned this year. There are 17 new events for 2013. And, we’re excited about the many opportunities participants will have to view, learn and experience nature and outdoor life.

Here is a sampling of just a few of our new programs.

Beginning DSLR Video Class-This will be opportunity for nature lovers to learn how to more fully use the potential of their DSLR cameras when they are out in the field or at home. DSLR cameras have been used to film both full-length movies as well as several TV series. Now you may learn how to use that simple, yet advanced, technology to film birds, bears, deer and much more in the video function of what many people consider as a single shot camera. Learn to capture sound and action too! Instructor and digital whiz, Tyler Jackson, will give lots of one-on-one time.

Maritime Forest Stand-up Paddleboard Eco-Tour- Stand-up paddleboarding is one of the hottest outdoor activities going. Here’s an opportunity to see nature in a quiet, protected area for a 2-in-1 outdoors treat. View the world around you and learn to master the stand-up paddleboard. Kitty Hawk Woods Maritime Forest can be a magical place to view nature. This is the trip for those interested in a little exercise while taking in the birds, wildlife, scenic land and waterscapes.

Oyster, Beach & Bird Photography-For decades Michael Halminski has been one of the top Outer Banks photographers. Few may know it but Michael has also been an active and avid oyster culturist and a believer in bringing back the oyster in abundance to the sound waters. You will see examples of oyster gardening and small exhibits showing the growth of young oysters. Then you’ll move on with a trip to the beach to look for flocks of shorebirds and landscape opportunities to photograph. This will be a fine afternoon with a fine teacher, oyster lover and top photographer.

Watercolor from the Wild-Local artists Petie Brigham and Fay Davis Edwards will teach an all-day course on painting with watercolors (supplies & lunch included).

You will first take a stroll around the waterfront area of downtown Manteo to get an inspirational look at the water, marsh and scenic views. Back in the Dare County Arts Council studio room, Petie and Fay will share the secrets of creating a fine watercolor. Both women are skilled and successful artists. And equally important, they are engaging and funny, and they will help make your program a joy. Whether you’ve never picked up a watercolor brush in your life, or have some skill but want to go further, this class will be useful and practical. The Dare County Arts Council building is located in the old courthouse on Queen Elizabeth Street between Sir Walter Raleigh and Budleigh Streets.

Creef Cut Plant Hike at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge-Educational specialist Cindy Heffley and amazing plant guru Bob Glennon will take participants on a leisurely walk to identify and observe a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Between Cindy’s knowledge and enthusiasm and Bob’s encyclopedic plant expertise you will have a fine time. Great for the whole family!

Wildlife Sketching with John Sill-Award-winning artist, author and lecturer, John Sill is a distinguished nature artist, illustrator of over 20 nature books, and an entertaining speaker. Bring your pencils and paper, and John will teach you the basics on drawing birds, focusing on shorebirds, songbirds and waterfowl. Through the use of an overhead projector, you will be able to follow John’s step-by-step drawing instructions and go home with your own drawing.

Wings Over Water


Southern Backyard Bootcamp-If you love to watch birds in your yard, this is the class for you. Not everyone enjoys tramping around through forests, fields and marshes to see their favorite birds. Instead you may take a day at the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island to learn how to make your yard into a bird haven. Cuttings, soil and containers will be provided for a seminar on propagation. One portion of the ‘bootcamp’ will involve mint. You’ll search for mint, plant mint, make mint rubbings and even enjoy a dish of mint cookies & ice cream. You’ll be guided by top-flight birder and nature photographer Jeff Lewis and others. And you’ll also enjoy a delicious fried-chicken southern lunch. This will be a time for plants, birds, food and those who want an easy-going, fun-filled day.

Greg Miller Keynote and Classes-Greg is one of the 3 main characters depicted in the book The Big Year, by Mark Obmascik, about 3 bird-obsessed men who will stop at almost nothing to be the one spotting and logging in the most birds in one year. The Big Year was also made into a feature film starring Jack Black, Steven Martin & Owen Wilson. Greg was an on-set consultant during the making of the movie. He’s an enjoyable and entertaining speaker. You won’t want to miss his keynote talk about his real-life ‘Big Year’ as well as behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the film.

Greg will also lead a couple of Wings Over Water programs, Becoming a Luckier Birder and Birding on a Budget. If you read the book or saw the film, you’ll know that Greg knows a lot about both of these subjects (he was portrayed by Jack Black).

eBird 101-The fastest growing and most complete birding database on the internet is eBird. Nathan Swick will introduce everyone to eBird and teach them what it is, how to use it on home computers/handheld devices so that everyone can be a part of the growing local, regional and world bird-information family. The presentation will be fully interactive. You’ll be amazed at the incredible amount of birding data available at your fingertips!

To see the schedules, program costs and meeting locations Festival events, visit our website http://wingsoverwater.org You may download the full 2013 Wings Over Water schedule located in the latest edition of the OBX Wild. For those interested in attending Wings Over Water 2013, please note: this year you may now register on-line. Any questions? You’re always welcome to call 252-216-9464.

More About eBird

http://ebird.org The National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center has a computer terminal in the lobby called the eBird Trail Tracker. Just as you may do from your own laptop, handheld device, or home computer, here in the Visitor Center you may enter birding data into the eBird computer system regarding birds you have sighted in this area on the eBird Trail Tracker. On the eBird Trailer Tracker, you may also look up lists of birds sighted by others, both locally and from around the country. You may get a historical overview of

birds sighted. And as an added bonus, the birds you look up have accompanying data. For each bird species, there is a section on habitat, biological basics, feeding and other general birding information. Another section allows the user to see multiple photo images of the bird. Audio captures of the bird’s songs and/or calls are also available.

http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/ sightings.html http://www.fws.gov/peaisland/ sightings.html

Experience the educational and easy-to-use world of birding at your fingertips, the eBird Trail Tracker in the lobby of the new National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center

Wings Over Water (continued)


BIO Intern April-September 2013

I am Sarah Keller, and I

will be participating in the Biological Internship this season. I recently completed my degree in Wildlife Ecology from UMaine although I am originally from Long Island, NY. I have previously worked and lived with seabirds on their summer nesting islands off the coast of Maine. I am particularly excited about turtle watch and perhaps even getting the chance to band a pelican!

General Intern April-August 2013 My name is Jackson Tate “Jack.” Working at a wildlife refuge has truly been a goal of mine since I

chose my major of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology at Clemson University. I graduated with said degree earlier in August. While at Clemson, I obtained experience in wildlife identification including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish of the NC/SC/GA areas. The past two summers I have worked at a nature camp in Charleston, SC, organizing and teaching environmental programs for kids. In my spare time I do a fair amount of canoeing/kayaking.

General Intern April–August 2013

My name is Kathleen Hankins, but I go by Kate. I am a

recently graduated Biology major from UNC-Chapel Hill. I grew up in Raleigh, NC and still live there with my family. My goal is to be involved in wildlife research and environmental education. I have research experience with various organisms, chiefly sea turtles in NC and FL and butterflies in the CO Rockies. I studied abroad in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands last year and put my recent scuba certification to good use.

General Intern May–August 2013

I’m Julia Mutere and I will be a General Intern starting in May. I am half Kenyan and

half American, but I was actually born in Nairobi, Kenya. I moved to a small town, Hiram, Ohio when I was 3 and was raised there. At the College of Wooster, I declared a major in Biology because of my strong interest in animals, conservation, and being outside.

Red Wolf Caretaker April-July 2013 My name is Lizzy Baxter. I grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. I graduated from the University of Delaware, majoring in Wildlife Conservation. Animals have been my passion since I was little. I did my first internship with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and since have worked at two different zoos with a long list of exotic animals. Wanting to get more specific with the animals I work with, I worked last summer at the Wolf Education and Research Center in Winchester, ID. Though I’m not sure where the future will take me, you can definitely bet it will have to do

Welcome 2013 Refuge Interns!

Interns come from all over the country and commit to 3-6 months of refuge work. They reside in one of our two refuge bunkhouses. General Refuge Interns are rotated through an assortment of program areas, providing a great overall refuge experience. Program-specific interns work with the Red Wolf Recovery Program and the biological program. All interns are given the opportunity to see first-hand the importance of all positions on the refuge. When you see refuge interns, be sure to say hello and introduce yourself.

Volume XV, No. 4


Spring is in the air. Visitors are flocking to both Pea Island and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuges! Volunteers are getting busier & busier everyday! Thank you to our volun-teers who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm. We are lucky to have you!

Book of the Month… 20% Off A new book every month!

Wake Forest Student Volunteers picked up 19 bags of trash on Pea Island. Thank You!

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time…they just have the heart~ Elizabeth Andrew

April’s Book

Environmental Education and Outreach Programs Update

Volume XV, No. 4

Sixth-grade Wildlife Clubs at First Flight and Manteo Middle Schools were treated to a joint-school field trip to Creef Cut and Sandy Ridge Trails. The teams for the digital photography scavenger hunt were made up of students from both schools. All involved had a great time!

Educators interested in planning a field trip should contact Cindy Heffley at 252-475-4180 or [email protected].

“The Kindergarten Wildlife Clubs at Manteo, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head Elementary Schools have been going great,” reported Cindy Heffley, Visitor Services Specialist. This quarter, Resident Volunteers Dale and Sue Vice (above) conducted many of the programs.

Students from Dare County High Schools are participating in a career exploration program funded by a grant from the National Conservation Training Center. In addition to school visits by refuge staff, the students are using the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center to learn more

about various careers with refuges.

A First Flight High School student (above) notes how her chosen career path will be able to help wildlife refuges.

After exploring the exhibit hall, Manteo High School students (right) take time to record their findings during a recent field trip.

The Preschool Junior Naturalist Program has become quite popular since it began in February. This weekly program is held each Friday from 9:30-10:30 and then repeated from 1:00-2:00. Most programs include a craft or other artistic activity, a story, and a walk outside or in the exhibit hall. Children of all ages are welcome to attend, but the program is geared towards children under age five. Recent topics included: the color of nature, red wolves, frogs, spiders, and most recently, butterflies. If you’d like to volunteer to help with these programs or want more information, please contact Cindy Heffley. At a recent program, Interns Jack Tate and Sarah Keller assisted the children while Intern Kate Hankins captured the time in photos.

Environmental Education and Outreach Programs Update (continued)

Volume XV, No. 4

From the President

As soon as the weather holds some warmth, all of us will head out-of-doors to the refuges, the beach, our yards, and yes, to the outdoor deck facility at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center.

However, we are in need of appropriate deck furniture for that expansive space. The Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society Board decided to offer high school students in the Dare County Schools who participate in the Careers/Technology Courses the opportunity to create deck furniture for the Visitor Center. I am working with the directors of these departments to contract with them to design and build the furniture. Since the spring semester is almost over, plans will be made for the fall semester.

In keeping with the "green" building design, furniture will be made from some sort of recycled or reclaimed product. We are seeking donations to cover the cost of the materials estimated around $3,000. Be generous, and send a check to the Society to help defer the cost of the materials. In the meantime, enjoy the deck while you are at the Visitor Center this spring and summer with its temporary furniture.

Help Needed for Visitor Center Deck Furniture

The Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society is a non-profit organization established and incorporated in 1989 by a group of local citizens to provide support for Alligator River, Pea Island, and other national wildlife refuges in eastern North Carolina. The Society has three purposes: generate funds to support programs and activities, assist in the recruitment of volunteers, and provide a voice for the members of the Society at a local, state, and national level. More information about the Society is on its web site at: http://www.coastalwildliferefuge.com/

Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society News

Did you know ?

To assist area schools in providing environmental education experiences for students, the Society has funded a grants program

to pay bus and driver costs associated with class field trips to Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges and the

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center. The main objective of the program is to encourage students to learn about and appreciate wildlife, habitats, and other wildlife resources. Applications are available at http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/images/edu-grant-

application.pdf


Gail Dreis

Due to on-going work to repair the dike that was blown out during Hurricane Irene, a nesting habitat project on Pea Island that had been logistically impossible for the Refuge to accomplish has now become a reality! Because managers had been unable to hold water in North Pond due to the dike damage and pump replacement, contractors recently had a narrow window of time to transport mowing equipment to a

small island in North Pond. The two-acre island was originally constructed as ground-nesting habitat for black ducks, gadwalls, grassland species, and shorebirds many years ago. But, the vegetation had grown to a level that prevented these birds from using it for nesting. "The stars lined up for us on this one. The timing of the pump work made it possible to remove the older, taller growth from

Nesting Habitat Improvements Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge


this little island just in time for the ground-nesting species to use it this season," said Deputy Refuge Manager Scott Lanier. Irene's dike blow-out moved massive amounts of sand into North Pond adjacent to one of many small islands, and low water enabled equipment to reach the island. Since the small trees and large shrubs have been removed, managers anticipate fire may be used to keep the vegetation at a grassy state. Refuge Managers believe this to be a win-win for nesting birds on Pea Island. There are lots of other areas that have grown up into trees and shrubs for the birds who nest in those habitats. This mowing project will really contribute to the quality and quantity of ground-nesting habitat on the refuge. "So, if you saw mowing activity on Pea Island in the past few weeks, keep an eye on that site over the next few months to witness how productive it becomes for these ground-nesting birds. We're hoping to see lots of broods of black ducks and gadwalls this summer," added Lanier.

Turtle Program Gearing Up For the Summer Season

After a highly successful season in 2012, refuge staff is getting ready for the 2013 sea turtle nesting season.

Turtle Patrol will begin in late May. Turtle Watch will begin about 50 days after the first nest has been documented. Both programs require intensive training.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help with either part of the sea turtle nesting program should contact Tracey Rock at 252-473-1131 x 227 or [email protected].

During 2012, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the reintroduction of red wolves into the northeastern North Carolina recovery area. In the fall of 1987, eight wolves were released in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas. Over the years, we have faced many challenges, but the red wolf has continued to survive amidst changing habitats, policies, and management. Today, the Red Wolf Recovery Program is still working toward recovery goals through conservation management, outreach, and education. We’ve made a lot of progress—with an estimated 100-120 individuals established in the wild, and another 192 wolves in >40 captive breeding facilities participating in the Species Survival Plan program. However, many factors, including human-caused mortality, continue to threaten the long-term success of the species. There still is a lot of work to do be done to achieve these recovery goals!

This winter/spring, the field biologists of the Red Wolf Recovery Program have spent many hours trapping wild red wolves in the field. It’s the time of year when efforts are focused on capturing pups from last season in

order to assess their health and fit them for a radio-telemetry collar to ensure future monitoring. To safeguard against poor collar fit, we wait until pups are approximately 8-9 months old and have reached their full size. Once a red wolf is captured via a soft-catch steel leg-hold trap, it is secured in a kennel and transported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Education and Healthcare Center. There, it is processed and held prior to its release. Processing involves recording the wolf’s weight and body measurements, drawing a blood sample for future research, administering vaccines to prevent rabies and other common canid

diseases, assessing the overall health of the wolf, and finally, fitting it with either a GPS or VHF radio telemetry collar so that it can be monitored upon release. This year, Red Wolf Recovery Program biologists are also helping Louisiana State University graduate student, Kristin Brzeski, to collect ectoparasites from captured wild red wolves. Ectoparasites, such as ticks, are being collected from wolves as part of a larger study examining the ability of red wolves to fight off diseases.

Red Wolf Recovery Program Winter/Spring Review


Photos: USFWS

Two free spring Saturday howlings: April 27 - Earth Day (Full Moon!) - 7:00-8:30 pm May 25 - Memorial Day (Full Moon!) -7:00-8:30 pm The Red Wolf Coalition will be hosting an open house at the Red Wolf Education and Health Care Facility in Columbia, NC on Saturday, April 12 from 10am-2pm. Come join us. See the wolves and the new facility. For more red wolf news, please check out our websites: Website: www.fws.gov/redwolf/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/redwolfrecoveryprogram Blog: trackthepack.blogspot.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/redwolfrecovery

Fire Program Update

Volume XV, No. 4

Recently, firefighters from Alligator River, Pocosin Lakes and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuges and the NC Forest Service had a chance to burn about 1400 acres of refuge marsh near the southside of Manns Harbor. The burn’s purpose was to reduce the amount of vegetation that can fuel an unwanted wildfire, as well as to recycle nutrients and rejuvenate the decadent vegetation in the marsh. Between weather and budget constraints, this has been the only prescribed burn done at Alligator River this year. But crews have burned a total of 2,600 acres on three refuges (Alligator River, Pocosin Lakes, and Mackay Island) since the beginning of January. We’ve also had four wildfires burn 170 acres across those same three refuges. Things may seem wet and chilly around the Outer Banks, but spring fire season is upon us. The season has also started in earnest across the South with over 6,780 wildfires burning approximately 84,600 acres. When those pretty spring days do come, don’t forget to keep an eye on your yard for Firewise® projects or activities you can do. You don’t have to live near a refuge or have a huge Pains Bay Fire to have your home at risk. Last April, a fire started in a flowerbed and burned down three beach homes in Currituck. With the right set of conditions, most vegetation will burn, but even a few small steps taken around the house can improve the chances for your home to withstand a wildfire.

Marshmasters patrol a walk-down line during a prescribed burn in the marsh near Manns Harbor at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on March 29, 2013. USFWS

Firewise® Steps to Take Around Your House

Keep trees and shrubs pruned six to ten feet from the ground. Cut back any limbs that overhang the house.

Create a “fire free” area within five feet of the home, using non-flammable landscaping materials and/or high-moisture-content annuals and perennials.

Remove dead vegetation from under the deck and within 10 feet of the house. Clean out the gutters!

Cover openings with 1/8 inch metal screen to block firebrands and embers from collecting under the home or deck.

For more Firewise® information go to: www.ncfirewise.org and

www.firewise.org

Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges P. O. Box 1969 (mailing) 100 Conservation Way (physical) Manteo, NC 27954 252.473.1131 Fax: 252.473.1668 E-mail: [email protected] www.fws.gov/alligatorriver

Pea Island Refuge Programs

Free Programs-No reservations required: Guided bird walks Fridays in April; Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from May-October 8AM (Meet at the Visitor Center.) Guided beach walks Wednesdays from June-August 8AM (Meet at the Oceanside parking lot south of the temporary bridge.) Birds and their Adaptations Tuesdays from June-August 2:30PM (Meet at the Visitor Center.) Turtle Talk Wednesdays from June-August 2:30PM (Meet at the Visitor Center.) Soundside Adventure Thursdays from June-August 2:30PM (Meet at New Inlet.) Programs requiring fees and reservations (Call: 252-216-9464) Guided canoe tours: Wednesdays and Fridays from June-August 10:00AM-Noon; $25 per person/$15 for children 12 and under Thursdays from May-August 9:00AM-Noon; $35 per person/$20 for children 12 and under Alligator River Refuge Programs

No reservations required: Free Bear Necessities Wednesdays from June-August 5:00-7:00PM (Meet at the Creef Cut Trail Parking Lot.) Fee program (pay on-site when you arrive) — Red Wolf Howling Wednesdays from June-August 7:30-9:00PM; $7 per person/12 and under Free (Meet at the Creef Cut Trail Parking Lot.) Programs requiring reservations to guarantee a spot (Call: 252-216-9464) Tram Tours Saturdays April 13 and May 11 from 9AM-Noon; Tuesdays from June-August 8:30-11:00AM; $7 per per-son/12 and under Free (Meet at the Creef Cut Trail Parking Lot.) Programs requiring reservations (Call: 252-216-9464) Guided canoe tours: Wednesdays and Fridays from May-August 9:00AM-Noon; $35 per person/$20 for children 12 and under Thursdays from June-August 10:00AM-Noon; $25 per person/$15 for children 12 and under

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center (Preschool) Young Naturalist Program Fridays Year-round 9:30-10:30 and 1:00-2:00 Contact Cindy at 252-475-4180 for more information.

Looking Ahead (April—June 2013 )

The Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a

national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

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