Find out what makes the state park our naturalist Sam Bland’s favorite place and why he’s glad it’s getting bigger.
Our Coast
Our Coast’s Food: Chicken-Necking
A good crab boil starts with a chicken-necker. That’s someone who uses a dip net, a piece of string, a fishing weight and a chicken neck to catch blue crabs. We tell you how.
Democracy Honeybee Style
Fountain Odom doesn’t belabor the metaphor, but he does seem to appreciate the workings of democracy with honeybees more so than those of his former colleagues in the N.C. General Assembly.
Horseshoe Crabs: Our Coast’s Living Fossils
Conch fishermen, little shorebirds called red knots and flu vaccinations all share something in common. That’s right. Horseshoe crabs.
Remembering the ‘Library Lady’
Sarah Hamilton is remembered for her environmental activism, volunteerism and dedication to the N.C. Coastal Federation, but most of all for her love of books.
Thunder Moon
Our naturalist Sam Bland explores the lure of full moons on coastal animals and residents and takes stunning photos of a recent “supermoon.”
Coastal Sketch: John Runkle
Meet John Runkle, an environmental attorney and the only person to serve on the N.C. Coastal Federation’s board of directors for all 32 years.
Sanctuary Could Include Almost All Shipwrecks
Expansion of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off Cape Hatteras could encompass nearly all of the existing wrecks off the N.C. coast.
A Wetland for Wood Storks
Our naturalist Sam Bland kayaks through a wetland along our southeast coast and into the heart of a wood stork rookery. Here are his story and amazing photos.
Coastal Sketch: Ernie Foster
Meet Ernie Foster, whose father launched the charter fishing industry on Hatteras Island. He represents the watermen of the Outer Banks on the N.C. Coastal Federation’s Board of Directors.
Our Coast’s Food: Soft-Shell Crabs
Dust with flour or dip in the lightest batter and then sautée the crabs until their lacy crusts turn honey brown. Now, bite into heaven.
Great Blue Heron
Statuesque and graceful in movement, the great blue heron is one of North America’s most familiar and adaptable wading birds.
Coastal Sketch: Orrin Pilkey
Orrin Pilkey spent his life fighting for the world’s beaches. Duke University honored one of its most distinguished professors by naming a new research lab for him.
Coastal Sketch: Lauren Hermley
If you live in Beaufort, you likely know her. If you don’t, you might like to get to know the vice president of the N.C. Coastal Federation who dives shipwrecks and travels the world.
Our Coast’s Food: Southern Biscuits
A warm biscuit, golden buttery around a soft center, shaped by a loving cook’s hand, remains a much-desired serving of tenderhearted Southern hospitality.
Saving a Piece of Down East Carteret
A move is afoot to preserve the legacy of an old clam house in Williston in eastern Carteret County as a symbol of a proud heritage and as a memorial to The Clam King.
