Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge P. O. Box 1969 Manteo, North Carolina 27954 Contact: Bonnie Strawser - 252-473-1131 Back to News Home Page

News Release

Jeff Lewis
Interesting in birding?? Saturday, May 13 is the perfect day to bird on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge! Experienced birders will lead a Birding Safari into South Pond to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. South Pond is excellent shorebird habitat that is usually closed to public entry. Meet the group at the Pea Island Visitor Center at 8:00 am.

On May 13th, 2006, concerned citizens across the globe will celebrate the importance of migratory birds during International Migratory Bird Day. To celebrate the event locally, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge offers a special Birding Safari into South Pond. The birding event will begin at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 13. Participants should meet at the Pea Island Visitor Center, approximately 5 miles south of Oregon Inlet. This year’s theme, The Boreal Forest: Bird Nursery of the North, focuses on the importance of our continent’s northern forests for migratory birds. Although the boreal forests of North America may seem a world away from the beaches of the Outer Banks, a number of our winter waterfowl are breeding there right now. American Widgeon, American Black Duck, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, and Common Loon are just some of the species that spend their winters in eastern North Carolina and their summers in the boreal forest. For more information about the important boreal forest habitat, and what you can do to help protect it, visit www.fws.gov/birds/imbd.

For this Birding Safari, experienced birders will provide a skilled perspective on our valuable natural resources. South Pond is closed to the public year-round and only open to the public for special events such as walks to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. For more information, please contact Ann Marie Salewski, Wildlife Interpretive Specialist at 252-987-1118 or by e-mail at Ann_Salewski@fws.gov.