Education >

.

Audubon North Carolina Offering Black River Boat Trips

This four-hour guided trip takes participants on an unforgettable exploration into the Black River; one of North Carolina’s most pristine and healthy river systems. Embarking from the downtown Wilmington riverfront aboard the Capt. J.N. Maffitt, a classic 1940s-era Liberty Launch resembling the movie legend African Queen, we cruise up the Cape Fear River before entering the primordial world of the Black River with its old growth Bald Cypress and Tupelo Gum swamp. Audubon North Carolina’s education director Andy Wood provides colorful narrative about the sights along our route including natural history lore with emphasis on connections with this area’s important cultural heritage.

Pileated Woodpeckers and flocks of colorful warblers and other neo-tropical songbirds can be heard and seen as we boat upriver. Black bear, bobcat, American Alligator and other seldom-seen wildlife may make an appearance, but more common encounters will be with river turtles, Belted Kingfishers, herons, and egrets.

Trip Dates:
July 18, 21, 28;
August 8, 15, 18, 29;
September 5, 8;
October 3, 10, 13

All trips leave the dock at 10 am. Registration is required.
To book passage, contact Cape Fear River Boats at: 910-343-1611

.

Audubon North Carolina Offering Holly Shelter Eco-Tours for Groups and Families

Organized groups and families are invited to book passage on a special trek into history, both natural and cultural, to experience unique wonders found in long leaf pine savanna and Carolina Bay habitats. This four-hour guided tour of the Holly Shelter Wildlife Game Land takes participants through a limited-access 100-square-mile natural area in the heart of rural Pender County. This low-impact exploration allows participants to explore grand expanses of long leaf pine savanna and cypress-rimmed pocket pond habitats with close-up first hand views of Venus’ fly trap, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and other rare and unique species.

.

Audubon North Carolina Offering Free Guided Tours of Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area

Audubon North Carolina is again offering free tours of the Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area June through September every Friday morning at 9:00 am. The tours last about two hours, and include a hike along the protected sanctuary that serves as habitat for beach-nesting birds including Least Tern, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s plover and other unique and interesting coastal birds.

The Mason Inlet Waterbird site is framed by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, tidal salt marsh to the west and Mason Inlet to the north. This wondrous sanctuary for beach nesting birds is managed by Audubon North Carolina in cooperation with New Hanover County and Wrightsville Beach. Audubon staff provides daily monitoring and site maintenance, along with conservation-education programs designed to connect people to the birds that use this important habitat.

The Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area is included on North Carolina's new Birding Trail and directions to this and other great birding sites can be found here.

.

Special tours and educational programs may be arranged for groups.
For more information, please contact:

Andy Wood, Education Director
Audubon North Carolina
7741 Market Street, Unit D
Wilmington, NC 28411
awood@audubon.org
(910) 686-7527

Please note:

• Fees are per person and include equipment and tour transportation.
• Meeting location and additional information will be provided with registration.
• Outdoor safety and awareness are important in all Audubon programs. Trips are contingent upon the weather. Thunderstorms and severe weather may result in cancellation or time change. Refunds will be made for Audubon-canceled programs. No-shows cannot be refunded without 24-hour prior notification.
• Suggested items to bring include sunscreen, drinking water, hat, comfortable shoes (not sandals), and camera. Some binoculars will be provided.