From the banks of Currituck Sound to intensive grassy marshes, previous duck impoundments, and upland maritime forests, Pine Island is residence to globally uncommon habitat that continues to stay protected against improvement.
In Might, scientists, workers, and volunteers spent a weekend counting as many species in as many habitats as potential for a neighborhood science survey referred to as a BioBlitz. We counted 91 hen species, 69 spider species, 240 bugs, 141 vegetation, and extra. In complete, 604 species have been counted from Friday to Sunday.
“This rely wouldn’t have been potential with out the wonderful specialists that traveled to the northernmost nook of the Outer Banks,” Audubon Senior Coordinator of Habitats and Services Sara Marschhauser stated. “Their observations can be invaluable for present and future conservation initiatives across the sanctuary.”
Arachnid knowledgeable Brian Bockhahn counted 66 spiders, together with three state-listed species, or species acknowledged by the state as requiring particular safety or monitoring. Bockhahn is an training specialist with the North Carolina State Park system and spent most of his time at Pine Island utilizing a marsh vacuum and headlamp to fastidiously seek for nocturnal spiders.
Lengthy-time Outer Banks birder Jeff Lewis helped observe down 85 bird species in the course of the survey, together with Chuck-will’s-widow, King Rail, and Least Bittern.
Moth specialists Sarah Toner and Larry Chen used mild to draw and rely moths. As soon as night time fell, they hung a white pop-up closet from Ikea and shone a battery-powered UV mild on the white material. Moths and different nocturnal bugs have been drawn to the sunshine and settled on the sheet, making it simpler to rely and {photograph} them. They counted greater than 45 moth species, together with a beautiful undulambia moth, which has solely been documented three times in North Carolina.
One other attention-grabbing discover was a rainbow snake, a second for the sanctuary and a species that’s exhausting to seek out as a result of it often stays hid in vegetation. We additionally documented an orange jap hognose, many cottonmouths, and delightful kingsnakes.
“It was nice to doc a rainbow snake in the course of the survey as a result of we’ve solely seen one on the sanctuary earlier than and that was over the past BioBlitz in 2014,” stated Marschhauser. “This discovering reveals the worth of those sorts of surveys and the way they may also help us adapt administration methods for sure species.”
We additionally counted all of the ticks, flies, wasps, beetles, and grasshoppers we might discover. Even the smallest critters play a giant function in ecosystem well being as they assist pollinate, are a meals supply for different species, recycle vitamins, and assist in the decomposition course of.
From migratory and resident birds to fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, pollinators, and native vegetation, our individuals encountered all kinds of species throughout the sanctuary. Thanks to everybody who trudged via mud and tall grass to assist us get a snapshot of all of the life at Pine Island.
This information will assist us higher perceive the well being, abundance, and variety of the species that decision the sanctuary residence.
