Not only is the Outer Banks a popular destination for visitors, coastal North Carolina is also a favorite for thousands upon thousands of migrating waterfowl each year.

After wintering in southern climates from Central America to the Caribbean, migratory birds follow flyway routes that span the length of South and North America, finding multiple stopping points during their migration to rest. One of four flyways, the Atlantic Flyway, runs along the eastern seaboard across North Carolina and brings hundreds of species of birds to our coast throughout the year.

You can spot birds up and down the coast, but some areas are better than others for amateur and experienced birdwatchers. Whether you are looking for a short walk to a viewing point or a paddle through the beautiful wetlands of the Outer Banks, these three destinations are not to be missed for Outer Banks birdwatching enthusiasts.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in the 1930s to provide a habitat for migratory birds such as greater snow geese and endangered species like the Loggerhead sea turtle. Today, it’s home to more than 365 bird species throughout the year, as well as many mammals, reptiles, and a few amphibians. The refuge encompasses 5,834 acres of land and 25,700 acres of proclamation boundary waters on the northern end of Hatteras Island.

A favorite sight for many visitors to Pea Island is the brown pelican, which can be seen along the shore or flying low over the water. Great blue herons wade in the water in search of fish, protected piping plovers run along the surf and tidal flats and “crooked-winged” ospreys hover over the water and plunge beneath the surface – the only raptor to do so in search of fish.

Two short, accessible wildlife trails in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge can take you to overlooks for spectacular views of the refuge, and during the summer, you can take guided canoe tours for a close-up of the wetlands.

The half-mile North Pond Wildlife Trail is best during the fall and winter, while the shorter Salt Flats Wildlife Trail offers great views of both the Salt Flats and the North Pond. During the cooler months, you can see the American kestrel perched high in the trees, predatory peregrine falcon hunting smaller birds, and whimbrels burrowing for fiddler crabs along the shore.

At the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on Highway 12 – between Oregon Inlet and Cape Hatteras National Seashore – there are plenty of programs centering around environmental education, wildlife photography, bird watching, and more.

Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary

On the northern beaches, the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary is made up of nearly 3,000 acres on the stretch of Highway 12 between Duck and Corolla, a great place for Outer banks birdwatching. It was created to conserve and restore the area’s natural ecosystems, and waterfowl arrive in the Currituck Sound by the thousands each year. The word “Currituck” is actually derived from a Native American word meaning “where the wild geese fly.”

Birdlife has always played a part in Outer Banks history, particularly in Corolla where you could find many private hunting clubs in the early 1900s. But it wasn’t until 1977 that conservation efforts were made to protect the waterfowl.

It was a March morning at Pine Island lodge when the chairman of the National Audubon Society’s board of directors Donal C. O’Brien saw thousands of birds taking flight at dawn – pintails, Canada geese, black ducks, mallards, and green-winged teal. He knew right away that the property had to be protected, and in 1979, Earl Slick, the owner of Pine Island donated the land to the National Audubon Society. North Carolina’s first Audubon Center, the Donal C. O’Brien Jr. Sanctuary and Audubon Center opened in the area more than 30 years later.

Today, Pine Island’s maritime forest, brackish marshes and sandy beaches are home to more than 190 species of birds, including about 100 climate-threatened species like the black rail, saltmarsh sparrow, and American black duck. Many of the birds that are particularly threatened in terms of long-term survival guide conservation efforts at the sanctuary.

In keeping with the Currituck Sound’s history of hunting, the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary works to maintain a balance between conservation and hunting, allowing limited hunting in a sustainable way with about 30 duck blinds along the sound available to privately invited hunters. After all, some of the first conservationists were hunters.

Bird watchers can look for blue-winged teals beginning in September, brown-and-gray-feathered gadwalls in October, and greater scaup in December, among others. The tundra swans are one of the greatest sights in Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary as one of only two native North American swan species.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Further inland, another refuge was established to protect and preserve unique wetland habitats and species. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on Highway 64 near Mann’s Harbor clocks in with more than 250 species of birds, another great place for Outer Banks birdwatching. It’s also a habitat for endangered red wolves, black bears, and as the name suggests, American alligators.

In the spring, black-throated green warblers are active and can be found by listening for their buzzy song. You might spot them in stands of American white cedars and bald cypress trees, high in the branches of the conifers. Numbers of red-tailed hawks increase in the fall and winter, and you can find great blue herons along the canals and waterways or in crude stick nests over the water and in trees.

There are several places in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge where you can launch a kayak, canoe, or shallow-draft boat, including the south end of Buffalo City Road and the intersection of Milltail Creek and Milltail Road. From the paddling trails, you can spot many waterfowl including the beautifully colored wood duck. The permanent resident of the refuge nestles in tree cavities near or over the water.

Self-guided walks along two wildlife trails with an app and ranger-led programs are available to help visitors learn more about the resident and migratory birds and the refuge’s ecosystems. Additionally, there are opportunities for hunting, fishing, and photography, as well as a wildlife drive.

Beyond these three sanctuaries, there are many opportunities to spot birds from Corolla to Ocracoke and inland of the Outer Banks. Take a walk along Cape Hatteras National Seashore, visit Mackay Island or Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, or get lost in the Currituck Banks Estuarine Research Reserve. Keep in mind that some visitor centers and offices may be closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most parks are still open for nature walks and, in some cases, activities like kayaking.

You can take an easy hike in Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve if you’re staying on the central beaches or see avian life at iconic sites like Jockeys Ridge State Park and the Wright Brothers Memorial. Hundreds of species of birds visit northeastern North Carolina each year, so grab your binoculars and engage in some Outer banks birdwatching.