New Dump Island
Location: Carteret County
Total Size: 15 acres
Site Description:
New Dump Island is a man-made undiked dredged-material island in Core Sound.
The island has supported a wide variety of colonial waterbirds over the years,
depending on renourishment frequency. In recent years, storms and
management by the NC Wildlife resources Commission have created ideal
early-succession habitat that supports nesting pelicans, terns and
skimmers.
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 NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Conservation Issues: The availability of sand to maintain the island and early-succession nesting habitats is a concern. The availablility of sand 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: New Dump Island supports a large colony of ground-nesting waterbirds including Brown Pelicans, terns and skimmers (Criteria 4f). This is one of the state's most important sites for nesting waterbirds.
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
|
|
4a |
Royal Tern |
B |
264 prs. |
|
4a |
Sandwich Tern |
B |
1043 prs |
|
4a |
Brown Pelican |
B |
754 prs. |
|
4a |
Gull-billed tern |
B |
87 prs. |
| 4a | Common Tern | B | 53 prs. |
| 4a | Black Skimmer | B | 38 prs. |
B=Breeding FM=Fall Migration
SM=Spring Migration W=Winter
Sources:
NC Colonial Waterbird database