Spring Birding at the Coast

Long-billed curlew (North America’s largest shorebird).

Spring Birding in Coastal North Carolina

In early March a group of local birders boarded the CheLeiMar, captained by Jess Hawkins of Crystal Coast Ecotours, to do a little springtime birding by water. The southwest winds were a little too stiff for getting out onto the open ocean (Cap’n Jess said the water was pretty snotty out there, which didn’t sound at all appealing), so we concentrated on the sheltered waters from the Morehead City docks to the eastern end of Harkers Island and around the waters of Lookout bight off South Core Banks.

The photos of the birds were taken by Jamie Adams. These are the rarities we saw on our trip but we recorded many other bird species and hundreds if not thousands of individual birds. Our boat was even followed a couple of times by playful dolphins.

On beautiful days like this birding trip, I am reminded of the fragile natural beauty that surrounds us. Whether humans or any other species, we all need safe and clean places to live and food to eat. Water quality is not an abstract concept for our plant and animal neighbors, but a necessity. One of the reasons I believe so strongly in the work of CCRW is because the plants and animals who have no voice need an advocate to explain and protect their role in our ecosystem.

– Suzanne Wheatcraft, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch Board Director

Birds must have clean water and thriving ecosystems to survive. Read more here.

The birders pictured are, from left to right, Curtiss Merrick, Suzanne Wheatcraft, John Fussell, Marty Wall, Donna Goodwin, and Jamie Adams. Photo by Jess Hawkins.

Common loon in drab winter plumage (Canadian dollar coins featuring this bird are referred to as Loonies)

Razorbill (a small bird who can dive underwater over 300 feet deep in pursuit of fish).

“We are your boots-on-the-ground for water quality in

coastal North Carolina and we need your support to continue our mission.”

– Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper

CCRW work is funded by your donations and accomplished by local water quality advocates, top-of-their field scientific and research advisors, local government and industry community stakeholders, pro-bono attorney groups, captains and pilots, university partners, local sustainable businesses, and you.

We fill gaps in services that protect water quality in communities throughout the White Oak River Basin (Carteret, Onslow, and beyond).

We are grateful for community, clean water, and your support of our mission to protect the quality of water and quality of life in coastal NC!

In order to continue our services throughout 2023, we need your support today.

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