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2008 Nature Tours

Friday field trips to Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area
Audubon North Carolina is again offering free tours of the Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area at the north end of Wrightsville Beach every Friday at 9:00 am through September. The tours last about two hours, and include a hike along the protected sanctuary that serves as habitat for beach-nesting birds including Least Tern, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s plover and other unique coastal birds.

The Mason Inlet Waterbird site is framed by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, tidal salt marsh to the west and Mason Inlet to the north. Audubon North Carolina manages the sanctuary in cooperation with New Hanover County and Wrightsville Beach. Audubon staff provides daily monitoring and site maintenance, along with conservation-education programs designed to connect people to the birds that use this important habitat.

You do not need to register for the 9 a.m. Friday tour; just meet at the Mason Inlet information kiosk located off the cul de sac near the Shell Island Resort. Public parking is available on the main road just south of the resort. Coming from Wilmington, cross the Wrightsville Beach bridge, bear left, and continue to Lumina Avenue. Turn left on Lumina Avenue and follow the road to the northernmost end of the beach where Shell Island Resort is located. Look for additional information about the Mason Inlet area on this website soon.

The Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area is included on North Carolina's new Birding Trail and directions to this and other great birding sites can be found here.

Black River Boat Trips

September 10, 24
October 8, 22

This four-hour guided trip takes participants on an unforgettable exploration into the Black River; one of North Carolina’s most pristine and healthy river systems. Embarking from the downtown Wilmington riverfront aboard the Capt. J.N. Maffitt, a classic 1940s-era Liberty Launch resembling the movie legend African Queen, we cruise up the Cape Fear River before entering the primordial world of the Black River with its old growth Bald Cypress and Tupelo Gum swamp. Audubon North Carolina’s education director Andy Wood provides colorful narrative about the sights along our route including natural history lore with emphasis on connections with this area’s important cultural heritage.

Pileated Woodpeckers and flocks of colorful warblers and other neo-tropical songbirds can be heard and seen as we boat upriver. Black bear, bobcat, American alligator and other seldom-seen wildlife may make an appearance, but more common encounters will be with river turtles, Belted Kingfishers, herons, and egrets.

Trip cost: $55/per person, $40 for children 12 years and younger. To register for a trip please call Cape Fear River Boats 910-343-1611.

This program is also available for families and organized groups. For groups of 20, the cost is $45/person and for groups of 30, the cost is $30/person. To arrange a special group trip, contact Andy Wood at 910-270-9451 or via email.

Holly Shelter Eco-Tours for Groups and Families
Organized groups and families are invited to book passage on a special trek into history, both natural and cultural, to experience unique wonders found in long leaf pine savanna and Carolina Bay habitats. This four-hour guided tour of the state-owned Holly Shelter Game Land takes participants through a limited-access 100-square-mile Important Bird Area and natural heritage treasure in the heart of rural Pender County. This low-impact exploration allows participants to explore grand expanses of long leaf pine savanna and cypress-rimmed pocket pond habitats with close-up first hand views of Venus’ fly trap, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and other rare and unique species.

Special tours and educational programs may be arranged for groups. Please note there may be fees attached to these tours. For more information and to schedule tours, please contact:

Andy Wood, Education Director
Audubon North Carolina
7741 Market Street, Unit D
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-7527

Please note:

• Trip fees are per person and include equipment and tour transportation.
• Meeting location and additional information will be provided with registration.
• Outdoor safety and awareness are important in all Audubon programs. Trips are contingent upon the weather. Thunderstorms and severe weather may result in cancellation or time change. Refunds will be made for Audubon-canceled programs. No-shows cannot be refunded without 24-hour prior notification.
• Suggested items to bring include sunscreen, drinking water, hat, comfortable shoes (not sandals), and camera. Some binoculars will be provided.