Site Description: Ferry Slip Island is a man-made, undiked, dredged-material island in the lower Cape Fear River south of Wilmington. The island is entirely dredged sand and is renourished once every 10 years, as needed.

Habitats: dredged sand, sparse to moderate vegetation

Land Use: wildlife conservation

Primary Threats: disturbance to birds, erosion

Protection Status: the site is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and the NC Wildlife resources Commission.

Conservation Issues: The availability of sand to maintain the island and early-succession nesting habitats is a concern. There is a growing trend to place all clean, beach-quality sand on area beaches, thus reducing the sand available to renourish this and other critical nesting sites for colonial wading birds and seabirds. The island is posted and patrolled throughout the nesting season to prevent disturbance to nesting birds. Nevertheless, this remains a concern.

Birds: Ferry Slip supports a large colony of Royal and Sandwich terns and a small colony of Laughing Gulls. The island also supports a significant colony of Brown Pelicans. Research and monitoring projects have contributed significantly to the knowledge of terns and pelicans (Criteria 5).