New Technology Brings Bird Monitoring to the Next Level at Pine Island

This spring our Pine Island Sanctuary on the Outer Banks welcomed again nesting Osprey, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, and extra due to volunteers who cleared out nest packing containers and made the sanctuary prepared for our feathered pals. 

We additionally put in particular recording gadgets to assist us establish secretive marsh birds and revolutionize the way in which we monitor for species like Black Rail, King Rail, and Least Bittern.  

Together with our common monitoring and survey work, habitat restoration tasks proceed to take form with fast advantages for birds and different wildlife, together with at our newly reconstructed pond.

“We have been excited to see turtles lastly having the ability to use the pond so quickly after our restoration work,” stated Heart Director Robbie Fearn. “The arduous edges of the outdated impoundment offered poor habitat for them however now, with a pure shoreline coated with native crops, turtles have discovered a house finally.” 

Get the complete replace on every part we’ve got happening at Pine Island this 12 months. 

Taking Fowl Monitoring to the Subsequent Stage 

Each spring our staff heads into the marsh throughout the early morning and late night to hear for the grunts, squawks, and chuckles of secretive marsh birds like Virginia Rail, King Rail, and Least Bittern.  

We repeat these surveys in the identical spots to trace secretive marsh hen inhabitants traits. However simply since you don’t hear them, doesn’t imply they’re not there. 

“It’s type of just like the outdated saying, if a tree falls within the woods and nobody is round to listen to it, did it make a sound,” stated Senior Coordinator of Habitat Administration Sara Marschhauser. “So, we wished a option to detect these secretive birds even once we weren’t round to hear for them.” 

That’s why we put in Autonomous Recording Models (or ARUs) to assist us hear for these secretive marsh birds at key survey factors. The ARUs are set to file each hour after which constantly throughout the survey window. 

The info gathered from the surveys goes in the direction of the Nationwide Stock of Marsh Birds coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We’re additionally utilizing the information to set up a baseline of what birds occupy areas close to our four marsh restoration pilot projects so we will see how hen populations reply. 

“The ARUs will likely be particularly useful for our Black Rail administration work,” Marschhauser stated. “We put in them alongside the excessive marsh edge the place Black Rails wish to forage and breed. We’re hoping they may help us discover out if they’re calling in the midst of the evening when nobody is round.” 

In all, these recording items will assist us get a greater concept of the extra secretive species that use key areas of the sanctuary. This knowledge will then assist information our marsh restoration and administration work. 

Night time Jar surveys additionally continued this spring which permit us to assemble knowledge about this enigmatic, nocturnal household of birds that features Chuck-will’s-widows. The surveys happen throughout a five-day window centered round full moon. 

We even have field turtles that simply wakened from their winter naps and are roaming the sanctuary. We mark and observe many turtles however two even have radio telemetry transmitters hooked up to their shells so we will higher perceive their territories and what areas must be protected for his or her use. 

One of many turtles hibernated in the very same spot as final 12 months, exhibiting robust web site constancy—one thing that we might solely know by monitoring them. The info we collect goes to the to the Box Turtle Connection as they’re a susceptible species in North Carolina and might inform us quite a bit concerning the well being of the habitats wherein they reside. 

Marsh Burning and the Return of Nesting Birds 

One other key a part of habitat administration at Pine Island is marsh burning. Managed burns assist us handle the unfold of invasive species, preserve wholesome root techniques, enhance plant species variety, amongst many different advantages.  

This winter we burned two islands for the primary time in seven years as a part of our effort to decide the burn frequency that advantages the crops and animals that stay there. 

Our wonderful volunteers visited the sanctuary this spring to organize nest packing containers for the arrival of Purple Martins and Tree Swallows. Nest packing containers across the sanctuary are additionally utilized by Jap Bluebird, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, Prothonotary Warbler, and Wooden Duck. 

We have already got two pairs of nesting Osprey on the sanctuary. One pair returned to construct their nest on the lodge’s chimney and the second on a platform overlooking the character path. 

Historic Lunch was Served Throughout a Waterfowl Heritage Weekend 

The weekend celebrates the area’s deep connection to waterfowl searching, decoy carving traditions, and coastal conservation—pillars of Currituck County tradition because the late 1800s. 

The lunch hosted at Pine Island included Cream of Chestnut “Cappuccino,” Wild Recreation Charcuterie, and Duck Leg Confit.  

“We loved internet hosting this distinctive lunch celebrating the wild historical past of the Outer Banks,” stated Fearn. “We hope the habitat and infrastructure work we’re doing helps protect this wealthy tradition for generations to return.” 

Methods to Go to Pine Island 

Guests are inspired to join a commercially guided kayak trip in Currituck Sound and to discover the sanctuary’s 2.5-mile nature path, which is positioned south of the sanctuary’s gates (not contained in the gates) and is open to the general public day-after-day of the 12 months, dawn to sundown.  

Discover extra information about Pine Island and plan your journey here.