Ocracoke nature: Avian Triptych
Vultures and gulls are scavengers and have a role in removing carrion from the ecosystem.
A Turkey Vulture is eating what appears to be...
Sea turtles have another banner nesting year but beware of the...
By Peter Vankevich
In the dark hours of May 4, a loggerhead sea turtle ventured out of her expansive ocean home and crawled onto the...
Beach bird nesters have bad year, sea turtles faring well
An Oystercatcher parent and chick feed along Ocracoke beach. Photo by Amy Thompson
Peter Vankevich
The downward spiral in the spring nesting season on...
An island home companion
Ocracoke does not have many nesting warbler species. One of these is the Prairie Warbler, an early arrival. Males, like the one above, are...
The five sea turtles of the Outer Banks
This is a supplement to an earlier feature on the nesting success of sea turtles.
By Peter Vankevich
Worldwide, there are only seven species of...
The weary diamondback terrapin’s latest foe: Phragmites
throughout much of the Outer Banks, faces another foe: Phragmites
Be on the lookout for cold-stunned turtles this winter
The ocean and sound waters surrounding the Outer Banks play host to wintering sea turtles, especially young green turtles and Kemp’s ridley. Sea turtles...
Loggerheads and other nesters do well with a little help from...
This story has been updated
By Peter Vankevich
As the 2021 sea turtle nesting season winds down, it turns out to be a very good year...
Spotted on Ocracoke: The cannonball jellyfish
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By Peter Vankevich
In the last few weeks someone walking along Ocracoke’s beaches, especially at Springer’s...
Ocracoke’s seldom seen but much esteemed Atlantic ribbed mussels
By Pat Garber
Hidden among the roots and stems of Spartina Alterniflora (cordgrass) in Ocracoke's marshes live clusters of a little-known bivalve.
Atlantic ribbed mussels (Gaukensia...