New Audubon bird-count of Holly Shelter-Lea island region affirms 101 bird species and counting!

http://ncaudubonblog.org/2011/12/notes-from-the-second-holly-shelter-lea-island-christmas-bird-count/ The annual Audobon bird-count which focuses on a 15 mile radius (consisting of the holly shelter-lea island region, known as NCHL) spotted 101 species and still counting. The "NCHL centers near Hampstead, NC, reaching from the Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area at the north end of Wrightsville Beach to the south end of Topsail Island, picking up Figure Eight Island and the Lea-Hutaff Island Important Bird Area." While this is a smaller number than revealed from last years count, there were new species identified even though some of the ones recognized last year went unseen in this 2011 count. Specially noted are the red cockaded woodpeckers, a vulernerable and near endangered species native to the Long Leaf Pine forests, as well as the Loggerhead Shrike (a "near-rare" bird not seen in last years count). http://birds.audubon.org/species/logshr "The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the world’s longest-running volunteer science effort, with over a century of data for researchers to draw from, and those researchers, with help from our band of birders, now have two years of Holly Shelter-Lea Island’s circle data to include... This is a truly scientific endeavor designed to collect information about what and how many birds are in and around North America, and where they are spending time in early winter; the Great Backyard Bird Count in February offers volunteers another scientific opportunity to participate in a late winter bird census." CBC Audubon blogpost published December 20, 2011.

Audubon releases updated map of Important Bird Areas

http://ncaudubonblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IBA-Map-for-CD.jpg Audubon recently updated its map of important bird areas, and I'm not surprised to learn that the Wilmington coastsline, especially in this Futch creek region, is designated as an important bird area. The label 'important bird area' recognizes habitats that are essential to birds and their cycles, ranging from breeding, migrations, and wintering areas. There are currently 30 Important Bird Areas (IBA) in North Carolina, and the Lea-Hutaff islands --located directly at the base of Futch Creek, between the intracoastsal waterway and the Atlantic ocean-- are recognized by BirdLife international as globally significant IBAs. “The IBA program is a wonderful tool for highlighting North Carolina’s ecologically significant habitats and locations,” says Curtis Smalling, IBA Coordinator and Mountain Program Manager for Audubon North Carolina. “IBAs provide so much more than just prime bird habitat. These special landscapes also provide clean drinking water, healthy populations of other species, and in many cases, special opportunities for people to connect to nature through recreation, education, and engagement.” Yet another reason to revere our precious and pristine coastal woodland habitats we're lucky to call home. http://nc.audubon.org/

Christmas Rainbow: Futch Creek = Pot of gold!

I've always loved the saying 'no rain, no rainbows.' It's especially true about the Christmas (12.27.11) rainshower that was shortlived, only to reveal (again within a month)a golden sky with a glorious rainbow, this time arching directly over Futch Creek, seeming to end in the oyster shoals directly upcreek.