                    
last updated
March 25, 2008
webmaster
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By November, the frantic summer tourist season is well past, and
the land and water are left to those who wish to blend with nature.
The three-day Wings over Water event will be your opportunity to
enter this land of wildlife enchantment. Through field trips, workshops,
and programs that you select, you will get an insider's look at some
of the most fascinating ecological settings in the United States.
Wings Over Water is a must for serious birders and wildlifers, as
well as for anyone who desires to get close-up and personal with
these unique ecosystems. Come and share the experience of a lifetime...in
your lifetime!
For information or registration packets, call the Outer
Banks Chamber of Commerce at 252-441-8144 or e-mail wow@outer-banks.com
Visit the Wings Over Water home page
2008 Howling Safaris
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge staff offer
you the opportunity to learn more about red wolves and to experience
a howling! Meet
at the designated time at Creef Cut Wildlife Trailhead. Registration
is required. We recommend you bring flashlights and insect repellent.
Please dress for the weather.
Download pdf file of howling schedule with map
Important Message: The 2008 Howling Safaris will require pre-registration and payment of a registration fee.
To pre-register for a howling, visit www.redwolves.com or call 252-796-5600.
If you need a map to
the meeting site, please download pdf file (link above).
Howling Dates:
 June 11 Wednesday 7:30 pm
June 18 Wednesday 7:30 pm
June 25 Wednesday 7:30 pm
July 2 Wednesday 7:30 pm
July 9 Wednesday 7:30 pm
July 16 Wednesday 7:30 pm
July 23 Wednesday 7:30 pm
July 30 Wednesday 7:30 pm
August 6 Wednesday 7:30 pm
August 13 Wednesday 7:30 pm
August 20 Wednesday 7:30 pm
August 27 Wednesday 7:30 pm
September 3 Wednesday 7:30 pm
Howl-O-Days (free of charge)
April 19 Saturday 7:00 pm Earth Day
October 18 Saturday 6:00 pm Wolf Awareness Week
October 25 Saturday 6:00 pm Howl-O-Ween Howl
December 6 Saturday 4:00 pm Holiday Howl
Important things to remember:
Programs typically last about two hours.
Bring a flashlight and insect repellent
Dress for the weather; howling will occur except with lightning, heavy
rain, or wind or impassable roads. Decision to cancel will be made
at least 1.5 hours prior to the scheduled program.
Plan ahead! Creef Cut Wildlife Trail is about a 20 minute drive from
Manteo!
PLEASE-- do NOT bring pets.
Questions: Call 252-796-5600
2008 Guided Interpretive Tours and Programs
During the warmer months, interpretive
programs are offered on both Alligator River and Pea Island Refuges.
Except for canoe tours, these programs are free to the public and
require no registration. Be sure to check the dates!! Regularly scheduled
guided canoe tours are also offered for a fee from May 1 through mid-October.
Bird Walks on Pea Island
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8:00 am - 9:30 am
January/February/March: Fridays, Sundays
April: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays
May through October: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
November: Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays (except Nov 6/7/ 9)
December: Fridays, Sundays
Meet at the Visitor Center approximately 3.5 miles south of Oregon
Inlet. Bring field guides and binoculars, if possible. Insect repellent recommended. Some binoculars, scopes, and field guides will be available for participants to borrow. We welcome all bird enthusiasts on our walks! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll enjoy this stroll beside North Pond. |
| Soundside Discovery on Pea Island |
2:30 pm -3:30 pm
June/July/August: Thursdays
Hands-on exploration of Pamlico Sound. Come, pull a seine and see what we catch. Meet at New Inlet (6 miles
south of Oregon Inlet). Wear wading shoes. Designed for the young (12 and under)
and the young at heart! Children are required to be accompanied by an adult. Insect repellent recommended. |
| Turtle Talk on Pea Island |
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
June/July/August: Tuesdays
Learn about sea turtles, their habits, and their habitat.... and what
you can do to help them! Meet at the Visitor Center approximately 3.5 miles south
of Oregon Inlet. Insect repellent recommended. |
| Wildlife and their Adaptations |
2:30 pm -3:30 pm
June/July/ August: Wednesdays
Hawks and owls have special adaptations and behaviors that make them efficient hunters. Ducks and other water birds (and even some mammals) have webbed feet for swimming. Come and learn about ways that animals have adapted to survive in their environments! “Hands-on” approach! Insect repellent and sunscreen recommended. Meet at the Visitor Center approximately 3.5 miles south of Oregon
Inlet. |
| Where the Sea Meets the Land... and Man (Pea Island) |
Come explore the beach near Oregon Inlet on a beach walk with the NC Coastal Federation. Local naturalists will talk about the natural processes of barrier island movement and the creatures that live in the shifting sands. We'll also examine - first hand - attempts by humans to draw a line in the sand and keep the ocean from passing. Please register by calling 252-473-1607. |
| Bear Necessities on Alligator River |
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm (you'll be back in time for the howling)
June/July/August: Wednesdays
Alligator River Refuge is home to the largest populations of black bear in eastern North Carolina and one of the largest in eastern US!! Learn more about our largest mammal species and what makes this refuge a good home for it. After the presentation, tour the Wildlife Drive on your own to look for bear and other wildlife. Meet at Creef Cut Wildlife Trailhead on US 64, 4 miles west of the 64/264 split on the way to East Lake. For directions or information, call 252-987-2394. Binoculars and insect repellent are recommended. |
| Purple Martin Madness (Roanoke Island/Mainland Bridge) |
July 24 to August 14: Thursdays
7:30 pm - 8:30pm ( July 24 & 31)
7:15 pm - 8:15pm (August 7 & 14)
The Outer Banks is home to one of the largest purple martin roosts in the eastern US. Although our roost of 100,000 martins is not on Alligator River Refuge, the refuge lands and the water systems surrounding it support this spectacular roost of migratory birds. Come see 100,000 martins in flight over Croatan Sound and learn more about the fascinating lives of these birds and why they roost here. Visit www.purplemartinroost.com to learn more. Co-sponsored by Purple Martin Roost Project. Meet at the parking lot in Manteo right before the eastern end of the old Manns Harbor/HWY 64 bridge. Look for the purple martin flag. |
| Red Wolf Tracking |
June/July/August: Thursdays
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Spend an hour on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge catching up on the Red Wolf Recovery Program and learning how biologists track the movements of these endangered animals. Meet at the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail parking lot (Milltail Road). |
| Red Wolf Howling Safaris on Alligator
River |
Red Wolf Coalition and Refuge staff offer you the experience of a lifetime! Come and learn about red wolves and participate in a “howling.” The program will occur except with lightning, heavy wind or rain, or impassable road conditions. Decision to cancel will be made no later than 1 1/2 hours before program. Howling Safaris are fee programs and cost $5 per person. Registration is required.
-- see dates and specific information above (1.5 hours). |
Guided Canoe Trips
(fee program)
During warmer seasons, guided canoe trips are offered
on both refuges for a fee (through the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society).
We provide canoes, paddles, life vests, and information! Call 252-987-2394
for information or to make reservations.
Canoe tours for groups of 6 or more can be scheduled
for just about any time; however, individuals or families are encouraged
to sign up for one of the weekly tours. Discounts for educational institutions.
Alligator River Canoe
Tours
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9:00 am - 12:00 noon
May: Wednesdays and Fridays
June/July/August: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
September/October: Wednesdays
(3 hours); $35 per person ($20 for children, 12 years and under). FEE PROGRAM;
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Really get out into the WILD. The Milltail Creek Canoe/Kayak
Trail System takes you deep into the wilds of this Refuge. This area is home
to black bears, red wolves, American alligators, and more. Meet at the south
end of Buffalo City Road. |
| *Pea Island Pamlico Sound Canoe Tours |
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
May through October: Thursdays
(3 hours); $35 per person ($20 for children, 12 years and under). FEE PROGRAM;
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Explore the sound side of the Refuge with a marshside
view. See marsh and shorebirds. Learn about the estuary, the Refuge, and local
wildlife and plants. Meet at New Inlet. |
| *Pea Island Family Canoe Tour |
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
June/July/August: Wednesdays and Fridays
(2 hours) FEE PROGRAM; RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $25 per person ($15 for children,
12 years and under). Same as the Pea Island Canoe Tour, only shorter, cheaper,
and more flexible to accommodate children! Also includes lots of wading and hands-on exploration. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at New Inlet. |
* For all canoe tours on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, meet at New
Inlet, 6 miles south of Oregon Inlet. Wading shoes are required. Hats,
sunscreen, and drinking water are recommended.
Reservations Required for ALL canoe tours: call
252-987-2394.
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