Coast

Conserving North Carolina's Coasts

Photo: Lindsay Addison

The Audubon North Carolina Coast Islands and Sanctuaries Program manages and protects 40% of North Carolina's nesting coastal waterbirds and contributes to science that protects both breeding and non-breeding birds in the state year-round. This long-term commitment to these sites, and the partnerships with agencies and other organizations that are created and sustained by that work, are the foundation of our leadership role in coastal bird conservation in North Carolina.

The sanctuary program’s ongoing mission is to manage, monitor, and protect our sites using best practices and support partners in doing the same; provide meaningful data to agencies and policymakers; and lead and support research that generates new knowledge about coastal birds and the habitats they depend on. This work connects all of our other coast-related work: policy, planning, and advocacy for the sites and resources coastal birds need to face an uncertain climate future, and education and outreach that engages Audubon’s network and inspires individuals to support coastal conservation.

Sharing Our Ocean & Shores
Coast

Sharing Our Ocean & Shores

Protecting coastal habitats for generations to come.

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Coast Islands and Sanctuary Program
Coast

Coast Islands and Sanctuary Program

For more than 25 years, Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuary Program has been a model for conservation along the Atlantic Flyway.

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Coastal Birds: Your Top Questions, Answered
Coast

Coastal Birds: Your Top Questions, Answered

We hope these FAQs on coastal birds will help you find the birds you most wish to see, better support birds during nesting and migration season, and more!

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Birds You Can Help Right Now

American Oystercatcher

Latin:  Haematopus palliatus

Illustration for American Oystercatcher

Least Tern

Latin:  Sternula antillarum

Illustration for Least Tern

Brown Pelican

Latin:  Pelecanus occidentalis

Illustration for Brown Pelican

Piping Plover

Latin:  Charadrius melodus

Illustration for Piping Plover

Great Egret

Latin:  Ardea alba

Illustration for Great Egret

Laughing Gull

Latin:  Leucophaeus atricilla

Illustration for Laughing Gull

Snowy Egret

Latin:  Egretta thula

Illustration for Snowy Egret

Black Skimmer

Latin:  Rynchops niger

Illustration for Black Skimmer

Latest Coast Posts

Lea-Hutaff Island Offers Sanctuary for Nesting Sea Turtles
Coast

Lea-Hutaff Island Offers Sanctuary for Nesting Sea Turtles

Audubon NC staff contribute to monitoring and habitat management that benefits sea turtle conservation on Lea-Hutaff Island.

Audubon North Carolina Takes Action for Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Coast

Audubon North Carolina Takes Action for Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Thank you to everyone who took action on behalf of Piping Plovers, Red Knots and other imperiled birds at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Resighting Migrant Birds Supports Citizen Science
Coast

Resighting Migrant Birds Supports Citizen Science

Learn how resighting bands helps Audubon North Carolina track American Oystercatcher populations on our coast.

Coastal Habitats Support Growing Chicks
Conservation

Coastal Habitats Support Growing Chicks

Audubon-managed sanctuary sites support about one-third of the coastal waterbirds that nest in the state. Protecting these sites are essential to maintaining healthy populations of coastal birds.

Help Save Endangered Piping Plovers at North Carolina’s Rich Inlet
Advocacy

Help Save Endangered Piping Plovers at North Carolina’s Rich Inlet

We need YOUR help to stop the construction of this terminal groin once and for all. Urge the Army Corps to Save Rich Inlet.

Beach Nesting Season Off to a Great Start
Conservation

Beach Nesting Season Off to a Great Start

This summer, the Wrightsville Beach nesting colony has 349 Least Tern pairs, 123 Black Skimmer pairs, 14 Common Tern pairs and four oystercatcher pairs nesting on the beach.

Meet Our 2016 Coastal Staff
Coast

Meet Our 2016 Coastal Staff

Meet our seasonal staff hired to support Audubon NC's coastal work during our busiest season.

Hardening North Carolina’s Coast Is Not the Answer for Birds or Taxpayers
Advocacy

Hardening North Carolina’s Coast Is Not the Answer for Birds or Taxpayers

Keeping limits on terminal groins and other hardened structures in place can ensure that we don’t destroy the wild and scenic attributes that make our coast so special.

Finding The Reward In Helping Birds Thrive
About Us

Finding The Reward In Helping Birds Thrive

Meet Lindsay Addison. Lindsay works on the ground to manage, monitor, and protect coastal birds in North Carolina and beyond.

Why Inlets Are Special
Coast

Why Inlets Are Special

Learn how natural inlets support hundreds of nesting and migrating shorebirds in North Carolina.

How you can help, right now