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Raleigh Field OfficeWelcome to the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office web site. We work to protect endangered and threatened species, migratory birds and migratory fish and their habitat in North Carolina. To accomplish our mission the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office has these programs: Coastal, Environmental Contaminants, Endangered Species, Project Planning, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife. North Carolina Gill Net Fisheries Can Seriously Injure or Kill Migratory Birds
Red-breasted Merganser. Photo credit - Don Faulkner. Gill nets used by fishermen unintentionally catch other animals. These catches can include birds, seagoing mammals and fish. The trapped animals are called bycatch. Often these animals are seriously injured or killed. Many states have eliminated the use of gill nets. North Carolina has not stopped gill net use. Bycatch of marine mammals, sea turtles and fish is managed at the federal level by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Many species of birds are being caught and drowned in gill nets. These birds are protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The conservation of these birds including reduction of bycatch mortality is an important part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission. Fishing gear that is lethal and non-selective is a real problem. Gill nets are a source of mortality for diving ducks such as ruddy ducks, goldeneye, mergansers, scaup, and canvasbacks plus many seabirds such as loons, grebes, and gannets according to a report by Doug Forsell, Biologist, USFWS, Chesapeake Bay Field Office (Mortality of Migratory Waterbirds in Mid-Atlantic Coastal Anchored Gillnets). The Brown Pelican has Recovered
Brown Pelican. Photo credit: USFWS. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the brown pelican, a species once decimated by the pesticide DDT, has recovered and is being removed from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. "At a time when so many species of wildlife are threatened, we once in a while have an opportunity to celebrate an amazing success story," Salazar said. "Today is such a day. The brown pelican is back!" The brown pelican was first declared endangered in 1970 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act, a precursor to the current Endangered Species Act. Since then, thanks to a ban on DDT and efforts by states, conservation organizations, private citizens and many other partners, the bird has recovered. There are now more than 650,000 brown pelicans found across Florida and the Gulf and Pacific Coasts, as well as in the Caribbean and Latin America. Outer Banks Scenic Byway Receives National Designation
Heading north from the village of Rodanthe, NC Highway 12 appears as a fragile vein running through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway received national status on Friday, October 16, 2009, as one of America's Byways®, placing NC Highway 12 on the map, so to speak, for its fascinating coastal heritage and unique natural landscapes, making the leg of the historic two-lane highway from Nags Head, NC to Down East a perfect autumn drive for exploring the beauty of the barrier islands and connecting with the coastal communities that set the destination apart. "The Outer Banks touch people in different ways. Part of that connection, whether it is to the beach, or the landscape, or to the memories made while vacationing here is inextricably linked to the drive," explains Lee Nettles, managing director for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. "When you round the curve of NC 12 and see Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Island for the first time, for example, that never leaves you. Those moments of surprise and wonder continue the whole length of the Outer Banks Scenic Byway." The itinerary for this newest national byway features drives along barrier islands featuring national landmarks and coastal villages and two car ferry rides. The byway travels through two national seashores, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, and two national wildlife refuges, Pea Island and Cedar Island. Along the byway are four historic lighthouses and world famous stopovers for migrating song birds and waterfowl. To explore the natural world that created byway stories, Wings over Water offers a six-day celebration of the wild side of the Outer Banks region. The Nov. 3 to 8 celebration features over 100 adventurous field trips, including kayaking at sunrise and sunset, exploring shifting sands, and venturing to the close-by Gulf Stream to view seabirds. |
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