North Carolina Coastal Sanctuaries and Science

Our Goals

Protecting waterbird populations of the North Carolina coast, and the natural systems that support them.

What We’re Doing

Monitoring and studying vulnerable birds, while protecting and restoring their habitat.

For nearly 40 years, ̽��ѡ North Carolina’s coast island and sanctuaries program has been a model for conservation along the Atlantic Flyway.

Launched in 1982 with two islands near Wilmington, the program now spans more than 20 sites spanning from Pamlico Sound to the Cape Fear River and supporting 40 percent of North Carolina’s coastal nesting waterbirds. From spring to fall, our biologists monitor colonies, conduct research, and restore habitat; in winter, they survey migratory and overwintering birds.

These year-round efforts have delivered major conservation wins. Before the program, fewer than 100 Brown Pelicans nested in the state; today more than 4,500 pairs do. We continue to maintain this diverse network of nesting habitats and work with researchers to better understand waterbird ecology and improve management tools.

Above all, these islands provide safe, undisturbed places for birds to nest, raise their young, and rest during migration. Their success shows how essential protected coastal habitats are to sustaining healthy waterbird populations in North Carolina and across the region.