The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ annual insect celebration, BugFest 2021: Plan Bee!, will be mostly virtual this year.
Wildlife
‘Celebrating the Banker Ponies’ at Elizabeth City museum
Elizabeth City’s Museum of the Albemarle will be “Celebrating the Banker Ponies” Sept. 11 with the premiere of the film “The Secret of Corolla: The Gift from the Outer Banks,” and book signing with children’s book author, Kelley Grinder Horton.
Interior expands Mackay Island Refuge hunting access
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has expanded hunting access for Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge on Knotts Island and other national wildlife refuges.
Aquarium field trip grants application deadline Sept. 8
Teachers at Title I public schools can apply for the latest round of Aquarium Scholars mini-grants to help fund field trips to North Carolina Aquariums facilities.
Carteret proposed as critical habitat for rufa red knot
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating all Bogue Banks beaches as critical habitat for the rufa red knot, a threatened small sandpiper.
Cape Lookout duck blind lottery Aug. 12 is online
An online lottery is set for this month for permits to build temporary duck blinds at Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Core Sound to highlight Foundation for Shackleford Horses
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center is hosting a porch talk Thursday celebrating 25 years of the Foundation for Shackleford Horses.
Birding cruises through Swansboro estuaries on horizon
Once a month through November, bird watchers can check out the wildlife in Swansboro’s estuaries from aboard the Lady Swan ferryboat during a special birding cruise.
Umstead Bridge speed limit lowered to protect birds
The speed limit on the William B. Umstead Bridge has been lowered temporarily at dusk and in July and August to protect the migrating purple martins.
NC Aquariums make Shark Week connection
Work by research scientists at N.C. Aquariums will be featured this week on shark-themed television programs.
Though it’s Shark Week on TV, sharks are year-round in NC
Coastal Review is recognizing Shark Week this week with a special Nature Notes on the sharks that inhabit North Carolina waters.
Photo contest honors Foundation for Shackleford Horses
The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center is honoring the 25th anniversary of the Foundation for Shackleford Horses with a photo contest and exhibition this summer.
Drones allow scientists a bird’s-eye view of seabird colonies
Instead of trekking on foot, a Duke University team used drones to count large seabird colonies on a small island chain off the Falkland Islands.
Expect Coyote Sightings This Month: WRC
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reports that coyote sightings peak in May as they become more active searching for food to support their pups.
NC’s Black Bear Reports Surge
The N.C Wildlife Resources Commission said it’s seeing a spike in black bear reports this spring and residents are advised to avoid conflicts.
Kayakers Needed for Terrapin Turtle Surveys
The Terrapin Tally community science project is looking for volunteers with kayaks to survey select areas for a better understanding of the diamondback terrapin population.
