Over 71 million Americans spent nearly $45 billion on observing, feeding,or watching wildlife in 2006.
Approximately 1 in 6 Americans observe birds to identify species or study their habits around the home. *
Approximately 1 in 6 Americans observe birds to identify species or study their habits around the home. *
North Carolina is a premier bird watching state. Birders have long known that North Carolina has some of the finest birding hot spots in the region. The Crystal Coast is one of those ideal places for bird watching. Carteret County is now part of the Coastal Plain Region of the North Carolina Birding trail with 12 designated sites.
The trail nearest the John & Lucille Country Retreat is part of the Croatan National Forest at the boat ramp area on the White Oak River. This is a 1 mile long loop trail that provides opportunities to view salt marsh and pine/hardwood species of birds and waterfowl. The trail is a combination of boardwalks and paths crossing the marsh and pine/hardwoods as well as along the edge of the river. There are herons, egrets, and osprey. The best birding opportunities is late April through early June. There is great parking, picnic tables, and bathrooms near the trail. The following link is an excellent brochure about the Cedar Point Nature Trail and the wildlife there. http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/cedar_point.pdf
Species of birds seen on this trail: Red-headed woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, Painted Bunting, and wading birds.
Directions: From the intersection of NC 24 and NC 58 in Cape Carteret, take NC58 North for 0.7 miles. Turn left on VFW Road. Go 0.5 miles and turn left at the Croatan National Forest Sign.
Species of birds seen on this trail: Red-headed woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, Painted Bunting, and wading birds.
Directions: From the intersection of NC 24 and NC 58 in Cape Carteret, take NC58 North for 0.7 miles. Turn left on VFW Road. Go 0.5 miles and turn left at the Croatan National Forest Sign.
Travel for about 1 mile to the end of the road.
Additional Notes on Birding:
This past Spring a Painted Bunting and an Indigo Bunting was sited feeding at the home of Ron and Mary Howard on Goose Creek. The only Painted Bunting I have seen is in the North American bird display at the Museum of National History in Washington, DC. So I was very excited to know that here in Carteret County we have these exquisite birds that migrate
through the coastal area.
In April I saw a Pilated Red Headed Woodpecker at Mike Carroll's home at Geoffrey Branch pounding on the siding of his house. Mike wasn't thrilled at the constant pecking sound or the thought of what this huge bird was doing to the siding. However, this bird was spectacular because of his size and brilliant color. Pilated woodpeckers are much larger than the common Red-headed Woodpecker.
Here at the John & Lucille Country Retreat, the Eastern Bluebirds are seen frequently as well as Robins and Mockingbirds. There are many Killdeers at the Farmhouse too. Killdeers are cute birds that use the "broken wing" act to distract anyone from their nest. They breed in open areas and often on gravel. The eggs look like stones so the eggs can be found in the slightest depression in a graveled driveway blending it into the surroundings. 
Websites of Interest on Birding
* 2006 US Fish and Wildlife Service National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (2007) (http://federalasst.fws./gov/surveys/surveys.html )
