North Pelican Island
Location: New Hanover
County Total Size: 25 acres
Site Description:
North Pelican Island is comprised of several islands located in the lower Cape
Fear River, south of Wilmington. The island is located along the Cape Fear river
channel has has received deposits of dredged sand in the distant past. No recent
deposit of dredged sand has occurred, which has resulted in the formation of
shrub thickets on the uplands. These shrub thickets have supported nesting
wading birds for many years. The site is posted and patrolled, and is
off-limits to all visitors.
Habitats:
saltmarsh, shrub/scrub
Land Use: wildlife conservation
Primary Threats: disturbance to nesting birds
Protection Status: The site is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Conservation Issues: The island is posted, patrolled and is entirely off-limits to visitors during the nesting season from 1 April to 1 September. Disturbance to nesting birds is a primary concern.
Birds: The North Pelican Island complex consists of several small, upland islands that support nesting wading birds, brown pelicans, and laughing gulls. Nine species of wading birds nest on the site. The uplands are surrounded by contiguous high and low saltmarsh forming one island. Marsh Wrens nest in the marsh, along with Clapper Rails. Several pairs of Willets and American Oystercatchers also breed on the site.
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
|
|
4a |
Brown Pelican |
B |
50-250 prs. |
|
4f |
Wading birds |
B |
385 prs. |
| Great Egret | B | ||
| Snowy Egret | B | ||
| Tricolored Heron | B | ||
| Little Blue Heron | B | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | B | ||
| Cattle Egret | B | ||
| Glossy Ibis | B |
B=Breeding FM=Fall Migration
SM=Spring Migration W=Winter
Sources:
NC Colonial Waterbird database
David Allen, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Walker Golder, National Audubon Society