Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Sanctuary and Audubon Center in Corolla

Experience the last remnants of the storied Currituck Sound landscape

Historic Hunt Lodge Photo: Mary Alice Holley

Tucked away on a small dirt road, the Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary in Corolla is one of the last pieces of untouched property on the northeastern portion of the Outer Banks, preserving 2,600 acres of marsh, upland maritime forest and sandy beaches, as well as the historical beauty of the Outer Banks. The Sanctuary's campus remains free from development, so birds and wildlife can continue to have a safe place to thrive free from human disturbance. 

Escape to the Donal C. O'Brien Jr Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Corolla
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Escape to the Donal C. O'Brien Jr Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Corolla

Coratank is the Indian word from which our Currituck - sound, county, courthouse - was long ago derived. 

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Phase 1 of the Future Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary and Audubon Center
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Phase 1 of the Future Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary and Audubon Center

The birds and wildlife have been here for centuries and now ambitious planning at the Sanctuary and Audubon Center in Corolla will bring researchers from across the country to unlock its conservation secrets.

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Transforming A Sanctuary for Birds and People
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Transforming A Sanctuary for Birds and People

Watch a short video to showcase our plans to transform the current Sanctuary into a research and education facility.

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Stroll Through the Upgraded Nature Trail
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Stroll Through the Upgraded Nature Trail

This winter, work will be done to make the Sanctuary Nature Trail in Corolla more accessible and informative.

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A Growing Research and Education Community
Sanctuary Research

A Growing Research and Education Community

The Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Sanctuary is defining conservation success one research project at a time

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An Uncommon Habitat Found at Audubon’s Sanctuary
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

An Uncommon Habitat Found at Audubon’s Sanctuary

Learn about the uncommon deciduous forest habitat supporting birds and wildlife at the Sanctuary in Corolla.

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Get Inside the Sanctuary

Connecting People to the Sanctuary

Spring Break for Good
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Spring Break for Good

Twenty-four student volunteers flocked to the Outer Banks as part of the University of Akron’s 2015 Alternative Spring Break Trip.

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Exploring Nature and History in the Outer Banks
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Exploring Nature and History in the Outer Banks

The Sanctuary staff was excited to partner with Wings Over Water to offer festival goers an intimate nature experience through guided tours.

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Meet Donal O'Brien
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Meet Donal O'Brien

A Tribute to Donal C. O’Brien, a Conservationist for the Ages

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Art Inspired by the Marsh

Aerial Views of Pine Island
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Aerial Views of Pine Island

Chip Hemingway, an architect working on the Master Site Plan for the Sanctuary, has been able to blend his two passions: to create both art and architecture.

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Conservation Inspires Art and Education
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Conservation Inspires Art and Education

Inspired by the region’s famed waterfowl and long-standing tradition of hunting with wooden decoys, Hitnes created a large-scale mural on the Sanctuary’s boathouse.

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Birds You Can See at the Sanctuary

Snow Goose

Latin:  Anser caerulescens

Illustration for Snow Goose

Tundra Swan

Latin:  Cygnus columbianus

Illustration for Tundra Swan

Lesser Scaup

Latin:  Aythya affinis

Illustration for Lesser Scaup

Northern Pintail

Latin:  Anas acuta

Illustration for Northern Pintail

Latest Updates from the Sanctuary

Leading Conservation – Pine Island Sanctuary and Audubon Center
Donate

Leading Conservation – Pine Island Sanctuary and Audubon Center

The 2,600-acre Sanctuary and Audubon Center in Corolla is a special place where birds, wildlife and a very diverse set of ecosystems continue to thrive. Make a donation to support the program.

Transforming A Sanctuary for Birds and People
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Transforming A Sanctuary for Birds and People

Watch a short video to showcase our plans to transform the current Sanctuary into a research and education facility.

Meet Donal O'Brien
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Meet Donal O'Brien

A Tribute to Donal C. O’Brien, a Conservationist for the Ages

An Uncommon Habitat Found at Audubon’s Sanctuary
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

An Uncommon Habitat Found at Audubon’s Sanctuary

Learn about the uncommon deciduous forest habitat supporting birds and wildlife at the Sanctuary in Corolla.

Research Shows Massive Black Rail Population Decline
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Research Shows Massive Black Rail Population Decline

The Audubon Sanctuary served as a site for researchers to measure the health of Black Rail populations and examine potential strongholds along the coast.

Research Application for Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary in Corolla
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Research Application for Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary in Corolla

Learn more about how to apply to conduct research at the Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary in Corolla.

A Secluded Outer Banks Experience
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

A Secluded Outer Banks Experience

The Sanctuary in Corolla recently hosted students from the University of North Carolina’s Coastal Studies Institute Outer Banks Field Site Program.

A Win-Win for Research and Conservation
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

A Win-Win for Research and Conservation

Mark Stanback, PhD, Davidson College Professor of Biology chose the Sanctuary for his latest monitoring project. Learn how he's compiling data from Tree Swallow nest boxes.

Aerial Views of Pine Island
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Aerial Views of Pine Island

Chip Hemingway, an architect working on the Master Site Plan for the Sanctuary, has been able to blend his two passions: to create both art and architecture.

Stroll Through the Upgraded Nature Trail
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary And Audubon Center In Corolla

Stroll Through the Upgraded Nature Trail

This winter, work will be done to make the Sanctuary Nature Trail in Corolla more accessible and informative.

How you can help, right now