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

Quest for Banded Birds: The 18-Year Journey of a Brown Pelican
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: The 18-Year Journey of a Brown Pelican

The oldest known Brown Pelican was 43. Bird banding research allows biologists to uncover data to help protect and conserve priority species throughout their life cycle.

Quest for Banded Birds: A Red Knot from Chile to the Carolinas
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: A Red Knot from Chile to the Carolinas

Learn about the data discovered by a Red Knot banded in Bahia Lomas, Chile.

Help Audubon Track Pink Banded Piping Plovers
News

Help Audubon Track Pink Banded Piping Plovers

— Wintering Plovers Recently Banded in Bahamas Making Their Way North
Quest for Banded Birds: The Next Generation of American Oystercatchers
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: The Next Generation of American Oystercatchers

Follow the life of an oystercatcher banded on Champagne Island in Cape May County, NJ in 2007 when it was just a chick.

Quest for Banded Birds: A Wintering Piping Plover
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: A Wintering Piping Plover

This banded Piping Plover is part of the endangered Great Lakes population, which consists of around 70 breeding pairs and their offspring. During 2014, it wintered at Rich Inlet.

Quest for Banded Birds: An Opportunistic Least Tern
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: An Opportunistic Least Tern

Meet a Least Tern banded as an adult on Cape Lookout National Seashore in the summer of 2010. It later reappeared on the south end of Wrightsville Beach.

Quest for Banded Birds: A Long Journey for a Tern and its Fledgling
Coast

Quest for Banded Birds: A Long Journey for a Tern and its Fledgling

A banded Sandwich Tern was spotted at the south end of Wrightsville Beach. Learn how banding birds like this supports bird conservation science .

Join the Search for Pink-Banded Piping Plovers
Coast

Join the Search for Pink-Banded Piping Plovers

We’re asking you to help search for pink-flagged Piping Plovers.

A History of Success with Coastal Sanctuaries
Coast

A History of Success with Coastal Sanctuaries

Take a peak behind the curtain and share in the secrets and successes of the coastal sanctuaries in North Carolina.

Success Stories of the Coastal Sanctuaries
Coast

Success Stories of the Coastal Sanctuaries

Across the 20 islands and beaches that make up the Sanctuary system, Audubon’s conservation efforts have led to real change for the species that frequent our coastline.

How you can help, right now