Birds of Winter
(Coastal)

This is the story of migratory waterfowl that call North Carolina in winter.

In the 19 th and early 20 th Centuries hunters reported flights of ducks and geese in eastern North Carolina so dense that they blocked the light of the sun. The great clouds of waterfowl of that era attracted hunt clubs that built ornate lodges on the Outer Banks. They also lured market hunters who shipped vast quantities of wild duck and geese to restaurants and markets of the Northeast.

The endless flights of birds are now gone, but North Carolina still has great numbers and varieties of ducks and geese, especially in areas on or near the great coastal sounds, the Pamlico, Core, Albemarle, etc. In recent years, some species of migratory birds have begun to thrive again during Eastern North Carolina’s winters. The most notable are the snow geese and tundra swans, which now winter in North Carolina in staggering numbers. These are the “Birds of Winter” that will be featured in this show.

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Resources:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Research on Birds
North Carolina Partners in Flight
Audubon North Carolina
The Nature Conservancy
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
American Bird Conservancy
Environmental Education Activities—DENR