Habitats: Typical, undisturbed barrier island. Open bare sandy beach with remnant dunes dominated by Uniola paniculata and Iva imbricata. Extensive overwash fans caused by the hurricanes of 1996-1999 exist over much of the island. Tidally flooded saltmarsh with small, scattered islands and an extensive tidal creek and bay system exist west of the island..

Land Use: Recreation/tourism, wildlife conservation, fishing

Primary Threats: disturbance, residential development

Protection Status: Both Lea and Hutaff islands are privately owned.  National Audubon Society and the NC Coastal Land Trust are currently negotiating with landowners to acquire Lea Island.  National Audubon posts and patrols tern-skimmer colonies on both islands and monitors birds throughout the year.

Conservation Issues: Lea islands has been subdivided, platted for development and sold to 42 individual property owners. Hutaff Island is owned by one family. One house exists on each island. Both island get heavy recreation use during the warmer months, especially during the breeding season.  Management of nesting sites to prevent human disturbances is essential.

Birds: The site is an undeveloped and undisturbed barrier island with associated saltmarsh, beach and adjacent sand flats. The site is an excellent example of a barrier island system and hosts a complete assemblage of species associated with the habitat types found on NC’s barrier islands (Criteria 3). Additionally, the site supports thousands of shorebirds during migration and winter, hundreds of beach-nesting seabirds and shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and marsh birds. Clapper Rail breed and are abundant in marshes; Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow are abundant during fall and winter.

Key Bird Species