SEA 



SCIENCE 



The island is a critical habitat for a variety of plants and 

 animals. Both sea oats and wax myrtle grow on the island. Also, 

 threatened loggerhead sea turtles, threatened piping plovers, 

 endangered wood starks and black skimmers — a state species of 

 special concern — are found on the island. 



"Mad Inlet used to separate Bird Island from Sunset Beach 

 until 1997," saysJohnTaggart, director of the N.C. Coastal Reserve 

 Program. "The closed inlet area is dynamic and serves as a good 

 potential nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds. Histoncally, 

 portions of the island hosted lots of terns and skimmers, but 

 predation and disturbance by foxes and other animals have greatly 

 reduced nesting success. However, we will protect the former inlet 

 area to encourage nestings." 



Because Bird Island is on the southern part of the coast and is 

 oriented east-west, it has different dynamics than bamer islands 

 that are oriented north-south. This area is accreting sand in 

 comparison to Masonboro Island, a reserve near Wilmington, 

 which is eroding. 



The acquisition ensures that more than 1 ,000 acres of 

 wetlands and tidal marshes will be protected, providing a buffer for 

 primary nursery areas for fish, addsTaggart. Before the island was 

 purchased, it was subject to significant development pressures. 

 Brunswick County is one of the fastest-growing counties on the 

 coast. 



Although state regulations control development of coastal 

 wetlands, some filling and shading of the wetlands is allowed when 

 necessary for shoreline stabilization or dock construction associated 

 with upland development, according to Taggart. 



The island purchase ensures protection of 1 .2 miles of ocean 

 shoreline and 1 .5 miles of shoreline on the sound side of the island. 

 Preservation of the shoreline will help prevent further degradation of 

 surrounding waters, says Taggart. 



ROLE OF DUNE PLANTS 



At Bird Island and other beaches, dune plants play an 

 important role in the coastal ecosystem. 



"Plants trap blowing sand, causing the formation of sand 

 dunes and the stabilization of barrier island soils," according to 

 The Dune Book, published by North Carolina Sea Grant. "As the 

 dune field grows, multiple dunes line the beach, providing habitat 

 for animals, birds, amphibians and reptiles." 



In the summer of 2003, nearly 20 scientists and volunteers 

 planted seabeach amaranth — a federally threatened species — near 



TOP: Scientists and volunteers gathered on a hot summer day to plant 

 seabeach amaranth. MIDDLE: Rachel Brown, front left, and Kristen Rosenfeld 

 show volunteers the proper way to plant seabeach amaranth. BOTTOM: 

 John Taggart uses post-hole diggers to make a hole for a new plant. 



