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  • A young harbor seal pup lays on the winter beach along the Outer Banks of North Carolina Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by: Jared Lloyd
    harbor seal outer banks-3331.jpg
  • a harbor seal pup lays on the beaches of the Outer Banks in the winter Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by: Jared Lloyd
    harbor seal outer banks-3366.jpg
  • A cluster of Carolina Jasmine flowers against a black background. Also known as woodbine.
    Carolina-Jasmine-6.jpg
  • A cluster of Carolina Jasmine flowers against a black background and a starburst from the setting sun behind. Also known as woodbine.
    Carolina-Jasmine-5.jpg
  • A rare adult harp seal on the beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina A rare adult harp seal rests on the beach along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals like this are an unusual sight this far south. A pack ice species of the far north, harp seals usually do not travel south of the Gulf of Maine in the winter. When they do, however, it tends to only be the pups or juveniles that migrate so far south as they follow their summer time food sources. However, in the winter of 2011/2012, adult harp seals showed up all over the beaches of the Outer Banks along with adult harbor seals and adult gray seals.
    harp seal outer banks-1899.jpg
  • A rare adult harp seal on the beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina A rare adult harp seal rests on the beach along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals like this are an unusual sight this far south. A pack ice species of the far north, harp seals usually do not travel south of the Gulf of Maine in the winter. When they do, however, it tends to only be the pups or juveniles that migrate so far south as they follow their summer time food sources. However, in the winter of 2011/2012, adult harp seals showed up all over the beaches of the Outer Banks along with adult harbor seals and adult gray seals.
    harp seal outer banks-1758.jpg
  • a two year old common loon floats on the blue water of a tidal creek along the coast of North Carolina
    common-loon-5.tif
  • A red Carolina pigmy rattlesnake lies on the forest floor of Eastern North Carolina
    red-pygmy-rattlesnake-0755.jpg
  • A red Carolina pigmy rattlesnake lies on the forest floor of Eastern North Carolina
    red-pygmy-rattlesnake-0754.jpg
  • A young harbor seal pup stretches out on the beach along North Carolinas Outer Banks Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by: Jared Lloyd
    harbor seal outer banks-3257.jpg
  • a two year old common loon floats on the blue water of a tidal creek along the coast of North Carolina
    common-loon-4.tif
  • a two year old common loon floats on the blue water of a tidal creek along the coast of North Carolina
    common-loon-3.tif
  • a gray phase eastern screech owl peers out of an old red-cockaded woodpecker cavity inside of a longleaf pine in Croatan National Forest, North Carolina
    eastern-screech-owl-1271.tif
  • a gray phase eastern screech owl peers out of an old red-cockaded woodpecker cavity inside of a longleaf pine in Croatan National Forest, North Carolina
    eastern-screech-owl-1270.tif
  • Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by Jared Lloyd
    _DSC3176.jpg
  • A rare adult harp seal rests on the beach along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals like this are an unusual sight this far south. A pack ice species of the far north, harp seals usually do not travel south of the Gulf of Maine in the winter. When they do, however, it tends to only be the pups or juveniles that migrate so far south as they follow their summer time food sources. However, in the winter of 2011/2012, adult harp seals showed up all over the beaches of the Outer Banks along with adult harbor seals and adult gray seals.
    harp seal outer banks-1703.jpg
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-8.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-3.tif
  • A pine woods tree frog sits perched on the lip of a yellow pitcher plant at night in a pocossin swamp along the coastal plain of North Carolina Yellow pitcher plants are an insectivorous species of plant found in low nutrient soils all across North America. Interestingly, they also happen to have a symbiotic relationship with various species of frogs as well. The way this works is that the pitcher plant lures in insects by both the smell of the liquid inside of the pitcher plant and also the promise of water. The liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the pitcher plant is full of digestive enzymes that the plant then uses to break down the bodies of any unsuspecting insects that fall for this trap. However, from time to time a frog, such as this pinewoods tree frog can be found inside of the pitcher plant exploiting all of the pitcher plant's hard work of luring in the insects. At face value, you would think this is just a matter of the frog parasitizing the pitcher plant. However, as it turns out, the pitcher plant actually benefits from helping the frog. The frog eats the insects that come in and is then able to digest the insect much faster than the plant ever could. And as a result, the frog then excretes a steady supply of nitrogen and other nutrients the plant is looking for by luring in insects to begin with. Being that the frog has done the hard work of digestion, the plant can then more readily make use of those nutrients after they have been processed by the frog. Photo by Jared Lloyd
    pinewoods-treefrog-.jpg
  • A pine woods tree frog sits perched on the lip of a yellow pitcher plant in a pocossin swamp along the coastal plain of North Carolina Yellow pitcher plants are an insectivorous species of plant found in low nutrient soils all across North America. Interestingly, they also happen to have a symbiotic relationship with various species of frogs as well. The way this works is that the pitcher plant lures in insects by both the smell of the liquid inside of the pitcher plant and also the promise of water. The liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the pitcher plant is full of digestive enzymes that the plant then uses to break down the bodies of any unsuspecting insects that fall for this trap. However, from time to time a frog, such as this pinewoods tree frog can be found inside of the pitcher plant exploiting all of the pitcher plant's hard work of luring in the insects. At face value, you would think this is just a matter of the frog parasitizing the pitcher plant. However, as it turns out, the pitcher plant actually benefits from helping the frog. The frog eats the insects that come in and is then able to digest the insect much faster than the plant ever could. And as a result, the frog then excretes a steady supply of nitrogen and other nutrients the plant is looking for by luring in insects to begin with. Being that the frog has done the hard work of digestion, the plant can then more readily make use of those nutrients after they have been processed by the frog. Photo by Jared Lloyd
    pineforest-treefrog-.jpg
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-7.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-5.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-4.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-2.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-1.tif
  • a lone coyote is partially hidden by the tall grass of an unkept field in North Carolina
    Coyote-meadow.jpg
  • a young harbor seal pup stretches in contentment as he basks in the warmth of the sun on the outer banks of North Carolina
    Harbor-Seal-5.jpg
  • a lone coyote is partially hidden by the tall grass of an unkept field in North Carolina
    Coyote-meadow.jpg
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-11.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-10.tif
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-9.tif
  • a blue flag iris found in the swamps of North Carolina
    blue-flag-iris.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-2.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-4870-2.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-4863.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--11.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-6.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--6.jpg
  • A young harp seal rests on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harp seals are a pack ice seal and not usually found as far south as Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, in the winter 2011 / 2012, there was a gigantic influx of many different species of seals that showed up on the beaches that year. Most often, it's the young seals or the pups that migrate this far south. Adults tend to stay much further north in the winter months, while the pups travel long distances as they pursue their summer food sources such as hake and herring. Photo by Jared Lloyd.
    harp-seal-pup-OuterBanks-6.tif
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-3.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-4870.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--13.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-7.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--10.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--9.jpg
  • a stand of heavy red viened yellow pitcher plants grows in Croatan National Forest along the coastal plain of North Carolina
    pitcher-plants-Croatan-7928.jpg
  • two black skimmers work a shallow pool of water on the Oregon Inlet spit along the Outer Banks of North Carolina
    _DSC4358.jpg
  • a young harbor seal pup lounging on the beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the winter
    Harbor-Seal-2.jpg
  • A yellow butterwort with two mosquitoes trapped in its sticky resin, in the Green Swamp of North Carolina
    _DSC6081.jpg
  • a harbor seal pup lays on the beaches of the Outer Banks in the winter. Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by: Jared Lloyd
    harbor seal outer banks-3090.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-7.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-6.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-4.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--22.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--20.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--19.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--18.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--17.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--15.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--7.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-5.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-4.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-3.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2-2.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-2.jpg
  • a red dun mare from Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve wades through the salt marsh along the coast of North Carolina
    Wildhorses-outerbanks-128.tif
  • a stallion postures in high winds and blowing sand along the coast of North Carolina
    wildhose-OuterBanks--93.tif
  • a male painted bunting sits atop of his perch inside a martime forest along the coast of North Carolina
    painted-bunting-12-.tif
  • a male painted bunting sits atop of his perch inside a martime forest along the coast of North Carolina
    painted-bunting-11-.tif
  • a male painted bunting sits atop of his perch inside a martime forest along the coast of North Carolina
    male-painted-bunting-10-.tif
  • an old female loggerhead sea turtle crawling back into the Atlantic Ocean after laying her eggs in the sand on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
    Loggerhead-Sea-Turtle-0019.jpg
  • a young harp seal pup on the beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the winter
    Harp-seal-7.jpg
  • a pink ladies slipper in full bloom along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina against a pure white background
    _DSC5764-Edit.jpg
  • a pink ladies slipper in full bloom along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
    _DSC5200.jpg
  • a harbor seal pup lays on the beaches of the Outer Banks in the winter Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter. Photo by: Jared Lloyd
    harbor seal outer banks-3070.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-8.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-estuary-5.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--21.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--16.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--14.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--12.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--8.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--5.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--4.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--3.jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher--2.jpg
  • a two year old common loon floats on the blue water of a tidal creek along the coast of North Carolina
    common-loon-2.tif
  • a male painted bunting sits atop of his perch inside a martime forest along the coast of North Carolina
    painted-bunting-13-.tif
  • two black skimmers work a shallow pool of water on the Oregon Inlet spit along the Outer Banks of North Carolina
    black-skimmer-4358.jpg
  • a black and white treatment of an American alligator found in Merchant Millpond State Park, North Carolina
    _DSC9817.jpg
  • a comb footed spider crawls across the delicate flowers of the small purple fringed orchid along the edge of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
    _DSC8867.tif
  • a blue flag iris found in the swamps of North Carolina
    _DSC0050.jpg
  • Harbor seals are more typically associated with the beaches of Cape Cod than they are on Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1976, however, harbor seal numbers have been on a steady rise as their population begins to approach preindustrial levels in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The result of this has been a steady uptick in seal sightings during the winter months across more southerly beaches. Typically, harbor seal adults will stay closer to their summer feeding grounds throughout the winter than the young pups and juveniles. Less adept and hunting, the pups will often follow their summer food sources such as herring and hake as they make their annual migrations south to Cape Hatteras. And as a result, many of these young seals can be found lounging on the beaches throughout the winter.  Photo by Jared Lloyd
    Harbor-Seal.tif
  • a mature pelican's flys over the Pamlico sound behind the Outer Banks of North Carolina, with wing tips just inches from the surface of the water
    _DSC1687.jpg
  • A pine woods tree frog peers out of a yellow pitcher plant in Croatan National Forest along the coastal plain of North Carolina Yellow pitcher plants are an insectivorous species of plant found in low nutrient soils all across North America. Interestingly, they also happen to have a symbiotic relationship with various species of frogs as well. The way this works is that the pitcher plant lures in insects by both the smell of the liquid inside of the pitcher plant and also the promise of water. The liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the pitcher plant is full of digestive enzymes that the plant then uses to break down the bodies of any unsuspecting insects that fall for this trap. However, from time to time a frog, such as this pinewoods tree frog can be found inside of the pitcher plant exploiting all of the pitcher plant's hard work of luring in the insects. At face value, you would think this is just a matter of the frog parasitizing the pitcher plant. However, as it turns out, the pitcher plant actually benefits from helping the frog. The frog eats the insects that come in and is then able to digest the insect much faster than the plant ever could. And as a result, the frog then excretes a steady supply of nitrogen and other nutrients the plant is looking for by luring in insects to begin with. Being that the frog has done the hard work of digestion, the plant can then more readily make use of those nutrients after they have been processed by the frog. Photo by Jared Lloyd
    pine-woods-treefrog-pitcher-plant-29...jpg
  • An American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, forages along the edge of an oyster bed in a North Carolina estuary. Oystercatchers are a protected species in the state, their population dramatically falling over the last few decades due to disturbance of nesting areas by both off road vehicle use along the beaches as well as rising sea levels born of climate change. Oystercatchers are the only shorebird capable of prying open oysters and clams, which means many other species of birds will often follow oystercatchers as they forage in hopes of picking up scraps. These birds are one of the species that the Audubon Society and Southern Environmental Law Center sued Cape Hatteras National Seashore for allowing the oystercatcher population to go unprotected for many decades.
    oystercatcher-4870.jpg
  • A gray tree frog sits on the small branch of a loblolly pine tree in Eastern North Carolina
    pinewoods-treefrog-3039.jpg
  • A gray tree frog sits on the small branch of a loblolly pine tree in Eastern North Carolina
    pinewoods-treefrog-3006.jpg
  • A gray tree frog sits on the small branch of a loblolly pine tree in Eastern North Carolina
    whitetail-deer-rut-2632-2.jpg
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