Your Land Campaign a Spectacular Success! - Spring 2021

SAvINg ThE IrrEpLACEAbLE murChISON STEpS up

YOur LANd CAmpAIgN A SpECTACuLAr SuCCESS

By Vann Pearsall, Coastal Land Trust Director of Development

Thanks to the generosity of its dedicated donors across the country, the Coastal Land Trust has successfully completed the single largest conservation effort ever to protect and restore the North Carolina coastal plain. The Your Land campaign raised more than $35.8 million to strengthen the Coastal Land Trust and make a lasting impact on the conservation of North Carolina’s coast — now and for the future.

When the Coastal Land Trust created its strategic plan in 2015, it was the beginning of an exciting, more intentional approach to land conservation. The focus on protecting the Top 40 priority conservation lands in the Coastal Plain would require a more robust investment in conservation to complete these projects and to prepare the organization to protect them in perpetuity.

The Your Land campaign focused on protecting the best, most endangered lands that are critical to the health of our coast and the quality of life in eastern NC. Over the past four years more than $31 million was raised for land acquisition allowing the Coastal Land Trust to complete nine priority conservation projects protecting more than 11,700 acres. Each of these places will benefit the public

as state game lands in Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, and Gates counties; as the new Salmon Creek State Natural Area in Bertie County; or as additions to Coastal Land Trust’s managed preserves. Two other priority projects are currently under contract and scheduled to close this summer.

During the campaign, more than $1.7 million was committed to endowment accounts which allow the Coastal Land Trust to continue managing the lands in its care. Special gratitude goes to Nancy and John Bray who established a new $1 million operational endowment to fund the Director of Stewardship. This is a key position, responsible for maintaining landowner relations and monitoring the current CLT land portfolio.

In January 2020, the Board of Directors renamed the Stewardship Endowment to honor the founder’s extraordinary legacy of conservation. During the Your Land campaign, more than $700,000 from private donors has been committed to the Camilla M. Herlevich Legacy Stewardship Fund. This allows the Coastal Land Trust to carry on Camilla’s commitment to preserving, maintaining, and sustaining these irreplaceable lands forever.

Alongtime

Coastal Land Trust volunteer, current board member and past president of the Board of Directors stepped up in January to head the Coastal Land Trust.

Linda S. Murchison has served as Interim Executive Director of the Coastal Land Trust while the board’s Search Committee continued its process of choosing a successor to founding Executive Director Camilla Herlevich. Camilla retired in December after leading the Land Trust for 30 years.

“We’re grateful to Linda Murchison for her willingness to step up and serve the Coastal Land Trust on a temporary basis during this time of transition,” said Melanie Allen, president of the Board of Directors. “Linda’s talents and experience make her uniquely qualified to meet our current need, and she has the full confidence of the Board of Directors and staff.”

A Minnesota native, Linda graduated cum laude from

Linda Murchison Interim Executive Director

Croatan National Forest photo by Stuart borrett

NEw FACES AT ThE L ANd TruST

Williams College. She spent almost two decades as a licensed clinical social worker with Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.

In addition to her work with the Coastal Land Trust, she volunteers with the Wyoming chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Help Hub at the Harrelson Center and the Spiritual Growth Commission at St. James Episcopal Church.

In accepting the position, Linda said, “My goal during this transition is to work with our board, dedicated staff and community partners to build on our strengths while remaining energetic and focused on our mission as we anticipate new opportunities that will come to the Coastal Land Trust with its next Executive Director. And, it’s possible that by the time you are reading this newsletter there will be exciting news to share about who the next executive director will be.”

“The staff all know Linda personally and respect her diligence, her passion for land conservation and her generous commitment to the Coastal Land Trust,” said Jesica Blake, Associate Director of the Coastal Land Trust.

Newest Honorary Development Team Member

Coastal Land Trust staff welcomes the newest honorary development team member: Wilder Armstrong Wilson was born at 5:30 a.m., January 25th, 2021. He weighed 8lbs 9oz at birth and was 21.5 inches long. His proud parents are Laura (CLT Development Officer) and Coe Wilson.

Board members serve three, three-year staggered

NC

President Melanie Allen Durham, NC

Vice President robert Perry raleigh, NC

Secretary and Vice President Laurie McComas king Wilmington, NC

Treasurer Maggie Ashburn Wilmington, NC

MURChISON continued from page 1

Maggie Ashburn, Treasurer

Coastal Land Trust Board of Directors

Thomas, Judy, & Tucker (TJT), a North Carolina based CPA firm, has hired Maggie Ashburn as partner to lead its Wilmington office. The firm also has offices in raleigh, Durham, and Emerald Isle.

Maggie is the treasurer of the Coastal Land Trust Board of Directors, a former treasurer of the Historic Wilmington Foundation, and a graduate of Leadership Wilmington.

Previously at rSM, Maggie has seventeen years of public accounting experience, serving clients based in Wilmington and throughout the country.

In a press release announcing Maggie’s appointment, TJT’s managing partner

L ANd TruST LEAdErS

Chris Judy said, “We feel blessed to have Maggie’s experience, passion and talent as we grow and expand our reach in the Wilmington market.”

“I particularly appreciate that TJT now has five women partners, which demonstrates that the firm truly values the leadership qualities women bring to the table,” Maggie said.

The office is located at 4010 Oleander Drive. Maggie is working with the Coastal Land Trust to decorate the office walls with original coastal photographs, a visual reminder of the rich resources of this area.

Maggie is excited for the opportunities ahead: “Embarking on a new path as a TJT tax partner, opening an office in Wilmington, and continuing to practice public accounting have all been rewarding so far in 2021.

I look forward to serving TJT clients for years to come.”

rare Trees planted during Thanksgiving holiday

On November 25th and 30th, 2020, Mote Forestry, Inc. planted over 33,000 Atlantic white cedar seedlings on 50 acres of the Coastal Land Trust’s Waccamaw Preserve located south of Lake Waccamaw State Park in Columbus County. Atlantic white cedar, a native coniferous tree (also known as “juniper”), grows in dense stands on acidic wetland soils sometimes growing as tall as 75 feet. This majestic tree has fan-like scaly, flattened green or bluish-green leaves that are highly aromatic. While Atlantic white cedar was once common along the Waccamaw river, it now occurs only in small patches. Indeed, this once highly valuable lumber species, has declined significantly across its historic range along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast to Mississippi with the acreage now estimated to be less than 5% of its original extent. With funding support from the International Paper Foundation, another private foundation (anonymous) and the u.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a grant from the N.C. Coastal Federation, the Coastal Land Trust is doing its part to help restore this rare coastal tree treasure.

Join our rolling wheels ambassadors and sport a specialty Coastal Land Trust license plate. In the calendar year 2020, the Coastal Land Trust received $32,840 from residents like you who love cruising the coast.

For more information on how you can get your specialty plate today, visit www.Coastal LandTrust.org/licenseplate.

Atlantic white Cedar seedlings: Amazing growth!

Left: AWC seedling planted in November, 2020. right: AWC seedling planted in 2019.

ThANK YOu FOr YOur COmmITmENT TO YO ur LAN d : SA v IN g T h E I rr E p LACEA b LE

YOur L ANd CAmpAIgN CONTrIbuTOrS

prior to Jan. 31, 2021

$1,000,000+

Nancy and John Bray Fred and Alice Stanback

$100,000 - $999,999

Duke Energy Foundation International Paper Linda and reid Murchison

Mr. Michael Murchison and Ms. Barbara Sullivan

Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc. The Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation Mrs. Nancy Stanback Anonymous

$50,000- $99,999

randy and Betty Ann Beardsworth CJB Foundation

The Harold H. Bate Foundation Greg and Eden Honeycutt Alice and George Horton

The True North Foundation robert E. Wells

$10,000 - $49,000

Agnes r. Beane

Bruce Barclay Cameron Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Capps

Cedar Hill West Bank Heritage Foundation

Christy and John Mack Foundation Dr. I. Alan Craig

Dan Cameron Family Foundation

Bob and Lindy Emory F. M. kirby Foundation, Inc. Charlotte Noel Fox

Ms. Frances Goodman

Camilla Herlevich and Jim Brier

Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Hannah and Stephanie Holt

Mrs. Patricia A. Horstman

Paul and Liz Hosier

Otis* and Theresa B. Hurd Ms. Elaine r. Jordan

The Longleaf Foundation

Christy and John Mack Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. J. Dickson McLean

Mr. and Mrs. Brian J. McMerty

Edward and Susan Norvell

Orton Foundation LLC

Mr. and Mrs. Chad Pearson

Caroll Gray-Preston and Anna Gray Stark Mr. Willis Slane and Ms. Caroline Chiles

Bryan, Cheryl and Peyton Smith

Annie Gray Sprunt

David and Wesie Sprunt

The Conservation Alliance

The Jandy Ammons Foundation

The Paynter Law Firm PLLC

Mr.* and Mrs. John W. Thomas Jr. Triangle Community Foundation Mr. and Mrs. John Ward William A. Stern Foundation Anonymous

$5,000 - $9,999

Janice and Dave Allen Mr. Michael C. Brown Jr. and Ms. Jane Haskell Fox Peter and Cay Davis Jen Esham

Gael M. Hawkins David Huffine and Susan Stern Bob Jones and Peggy Sloan Mr. W. Daniel Martin III Mr. Andrew k. McVey Ms. Laura Padgett robert Perry and katherine Crawford William Purvis Ms. Suzanne Nash ruffin Ann and Bland Simpson Ben and Beth White Steelman George and Lynda Wood Anonymous

$2,500 - $4,999

Ms. Guenevere Abernathy Maggie Ashburn Dr. katherine L. Bick Mr.* and Mrs. Eric r. Calhoun Sr. Ella Ann L. & Frank B. Holding Foundation Dr. and Mrs. John H. Haley III royster and kathryn Hedgepeth Ms. kathryn B. Howd Julia Hutcherson and Tommy Hutcherson Mrs. Edythe Ledbetter Bob and Carol Mattocks Jane M. McNeer Stephanie and John Mitchell Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund of the North Carolina Native Plant Society Mr. and Mrs. David Paynter Linda and Sam Pearsall Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan S. Phillips Mrs. Teeny Tait Jim Wallace, Jr.

$1,000 - $2,499

Dr. John Anagnost and Ms. kathleen Jewell Capt. and Mrs. Ben Bowditch Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Brownlow Campbell Global LLC Berry Collier Diana G. Corbett

Mr. and Mrs. Miles Coxe Ms. Patricia Farnham and Mr. Charlie Hines Mr. and Mrs. Skip Fry John Fussell Mary and Dean Gornto Martin and Cynthia Hichens Mr. and Mrs. robert E. keith Mr. Thomas S. kenan III

Jason and Erica kesler Dr. and Mrs. Aaron king Lee and John Leidy Dr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Leonard Dr. and Mrs. Harry MacDonald Jr. Point Clan LLC

The Joanna Foundation Mrs. Pat rowlett

Dr. and Mrs. robert Sherman Mr. and Mrs. Trawick Stubbs Jr. Jane and Scott Sullivan Mr. Scott Taylor

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wakild Mr. John r. Weaver

Dr. and Mrs. kenneth W. Wilkins Jr.

$100 - $999

Ms. Melanie r. Allen

Angel Oak Creative, LLC Mr. David Arneke

Mrs. Natalie Baggett Mr. William S. Barbour Ms. Connie Barden

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Barker

Blue Heron Asset Management

Mrs. Elizabeth W. Boyce

Mr. and Mrs. Julian H. Burnett Mr. Bruce B. Cameron IV

Ms. rachel L. Cameron

Mr. and Mrs. William Campbell

Mr. Chris Canfield and Ms. kate Finlayson

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Watts Carr III

Mr. and Mrs. David Chaika

Betty Clarke

Stephen and Louise Coggins Mr. W. Thompson Comerford, Jr. Sam and Sherry Cook

Mr. E. B. Cox

Ms. Amy Edge Dr. and Mrs. Darwin Ferry Michael and Diane Foster Ms. Elizabeth Frankenberg

Wilson and Martha Garrish

Dr. and Mrs Gregory S. Georgiade Ms. Christine Goebel

Mr. and Mrs. robert Golden

Mr. ken Goldsmith

Ms. Carol J. Green

Ms. Miriam Hage

Deloris and Bobby Harrell

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Harris

The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina

Mr. Gregory Holley and Ms. Julia S. Worth

Mr. Tom Hollinshed and Ms. katherine Lange

Joe and Gloria Hughes

Mr. Tommy Hughes

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Humenik

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Huntsman

Dr. Donna Hurdle

Mrs. Susan P. Jackson

Dr. and Mrs. Vance knight

Mr. Edmund T. knott

Dr. Gary G. koch

Mr. Brent Lane and Mrs. Deborah Watts

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Larson

Many donors made undesignated donations to support the organization “where the need is greatest.” The Board of Directors used almost half of those gifts to establish a $400,000 Operating reserve Fund to sustain the organization in the face of unexpected economic downturns or other disasters. A portion is designated for current and future projects including $50,000 for endowment funding of new projects and up to $50,000 for the campaign to restore reaves Chapel.

The Coastal Land Trust is grateful to Your Land campaign chair Michael Murchison for his leadership and to the members of the campaign committee who were essential in the success of the campaign: Bob Emory, Jane McNeer, Linda Murchison, robert Perry, Ann Cary Simpson, and George Wood. The staff would especially like to recognize the extraordinary work of royster Hegdepeth who served on the campaign committee and volunteered his remarkable talents as a campaign consultant, advisor, and friend.

Mrs. kitty Lassiter

Mr. Thomas r. Leidy

Mr. and Mrs. robert J. Lorenz

Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Marlin

The Honorable and Mrs. Charles k. McCotter Jr.

Hannah McOwen and Philip r. Forslund

William and Susan Meggs

Edgar and kivi Miller

Donna and Tom Moffitt

Ms. Julie H. Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Skip Morgan

COL Malcolm B. Morrison rob and Nancy Moul

Ms. Mary B. Myers and Mr. John Howard

Ms. Cathy Neilson Ms. Margaret Newbold

Mr. and Mrs. robert Parsley

Vann Pearsall

Mr.* and Mrs. Howard A. Penton Jr. Piedmont Land Conservancy

Mrs. and Mr. Cotesworth Pinckney

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pizer

Dr. Jack ramage

Mr. and Mrs. Walker H. rayburn Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. kevin redding

Mr. Jim reddoch

Dr. and Mrs. Stan riggs

Dr. Norm robinson and The reverend Hannah Vaughan Mr. Michael W. rodelius

Mr. and Mrs. Charles roe

Mr. and Mrs. Charles rogalski

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel r rose

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Schaeffer

Mr. Michael Scisco

Ms. Lora Sharkey and Mr. Warren Whitley

Mr. and Mrs. DeWayne Singleton

Mr. Steven Skavroneck

Ms. katherine Skinner

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Smith

Mr. Michael Snyder

Mr. and Mrs. robert Stout

Bill and rosie Sweeney

Ms. Sandra Sweitzer

Mr. Benjamin N. Taylor

Mr. Odell Thompson and Ms. Gay Whitehurst Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Todd

Gary and Jennings Trawick Alysson Troffer and Tim Clemmer

unique Places to Save LLC

Mr. Peter Vankevich

Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden

Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Walser Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Warren Mrs. Pam Watkins

Dr. and Mrs. William Webster Mr. Dewey Wells

Mrs. Linda F. Wert Mr. and Mrs. Brian West Laura and robert West

Ms. Tyanna West Mrs. Carolyn Whitehurst Ms. Jessica Whitehurst Dr. and Mrs. Mark Wilde- ramsing Ms. Sara E. Winslow Ms. Mara Wooten Mr. and Mrs. Clark Wright Anonymous

$1 - $99

Ms. Barbara V. Alexander Ms. Nancy Allred Ms. Heather Beard Mr. Horace Beasley Mrs. Lillian Benton Dr. William r. Berry and Mrs. Julia Berry Ms. Patricia C. Beyle Mrs. Pat Beyle Ms. Emily B. Blount

Stephanie and Stuart Borrett Mr. robin J. Boucher Ms. Heather Brewer LB and Emily Brier Ms. Angie Carl Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cole

1st. Lt James J. Coyne (uSMC ret.) and Mrs. Martha E. Coyne Mr. Lewis Dancy

Mr. Jay DeChesere and Mrs. Heather Smith Mr. and Mrs. William C. Duke Mr. Ted Fillette and Ms. M. Ellen Holliday Cassie Gavin reggie Hall Mr. Lee Hawely Ms. Sandra Hoffman Ms. Penny Hooper

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Huff Dr. and Mrs. S. Bart Jones Mr. L. Brent Lawrence

of Site X

Mrs. Gail Leonard

Page and Herb Lowry

Ms. Abigail Lucas

Dr. Nina Marable and Dr. Noelle kehrberg Ms. Jane M. Martin

Mr. Palmer McIntyre

Ms. Stephanie Miller

Mr. and Mrs. richard Misner Ms. Cecelia Moore

Ms. kahla Nelson

Nancy and John Nunn

Jenny Owens

Mr. Terry G. Pridgen

Mr. kieran roe

Frie and Liz Schulz

Ms. Laura Beth Sedlock

Mr. James Shelton

Mr. Douglas L. Sligh and Ms. Mary Ann Parham

Ms. Laura Solomon

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sparacino

Ms. kathryn Stockdale

Mr. Jeff Sturm

Mr. Matthew H. Thuman Dr. G. Earl Trevathan Jr. Ms. kathryn Tucci Dr. Margaret Turner Dr. Van Vagianos and Mrs. karen L. Vagianos

Wynn Wagenseil

Mr. richard Weisman and Ms. Michelle Bannan

Mr. Les Whitten

Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Willard

Anonymous

Public Support for Top 40 Projects

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

NC Department of Justice Environmental Enhancement Grant Program

NC Division of Parks and recreation

NC Department of Transportation

NC Land and Water Fund

NC Wildlife resources Commission

Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board

uS Air Force

uS Fish and Wildlife Service

uS Navy

Overlooking Albemarle Sound and the location

By Janice Allen, Director of Land Protection

Dr. Stan riggs likes to tell stories. As a preeminent coastal and marine geologist, Distinguished research Professor at East Carolina university, and all-round conservationist, Dr. riggs’s tales are not only fascinating to hear but highly educational, and always research-based.

One story he told me pertains to the colonial history of his own backyard. Standing atop a bluff overlooking the Tar river, Dr. riggs explained that this area, known as rainbow Banks, was once the location of a busy ferry landing where products such as tobacco and naval stores (i.e., tar, pitch, and turpentine harvested from longleaf pine) were shipped by schooners headed down river to the Caribbean during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. And the fields and forests of his 70-plus acre property east of Greenville were once part of the vast Chatham Plantation (circa 1750) owned by John Simpson, a prominent politician and planter.

As we hiked through his scenic swamp and upland forests, he pointed out a tangle of vegetation across a farm field on neighboring land that contained the old Simpson cemetery where John Simpson was buried.

As the present owners, Stan, and his wife, Ann, are making their contribution to the story of this land. Not only have they carefully managed their Pitt County property for research, education, wildlife

habitat, and passive recreational uses, but in 2008 they donated a perpetual conservation easement over 49+acres of their land along the Tar river forever protecting it from development, timbering, and other major human disturbances.

In December 2020, Stan and Ann donated a second conservation easement over an additional 10+acres of the most highly developable portion of their land along the Tar river at rainbow Banks. Minigrants from the N.C. Land and Water Fund (formerly N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund) facilitated these donations.

SAvE ThE dATE

The Coastal Land Trust is ever thankful to Dr.

for their generous conservation contributions protecting this ecologically and historically rich, special place on the Tar river. To us, these landowners are conservation heroes not only conserving their own backyard, but tirelessly working to educate others, often through vivid stories, about the amazing history and beauty of our coastal lands. Perhaps, 50-100 years from now, someone will stand atop rainbow Banks and tell Stan and Ann’s land story. I think so.

Due to the uncertainty of planning events at this time, please check www.CoastalLandTrust.org/events for the most up-to-date information and details about virtual and in-person events.

Stan and Ann riggs

Stan riggs at rainbow Banks

SCrApbOOK

Photos from the Field 2020

Photo by richard Broadwell

richard LeBlond

photos by Tom Earnhardt

dONOr mAKES bEquEST TO hELp prOTECT “ONE OF ThE mOST bEAuTIFuL ArEAS IN ThE wOrLd”

I grew up in Texas going to visit my grandmother on the Gulf Coast of Texas. I think that I fell in love with the beach and the ocean before I could even walk. As a youth, I lived almost 5 hours from any beach, and I relished every opportunity to get to the coast.

Through college, I would hop on any opportunity to go to the beach, and it wasn’t for the party college atmosphere. It was to appreciate the beauty of the ocean, relax to the sound of the waves, and search for beautiful seashells.

I met my husband in 1991, and I told him at that time that I was going to live at the beach before I died. In late 2011, I got my wish when we moved to Pine knoll Shores. When I drove over the Atlantic Beach bridge, I thought — “THIS is where I belong.” I felt at home.

keeping the coast natural and beautiful for my daughter and her children and their children is of vital importance to me.

To me, it is the one place where you can really see the wonders of the world – the incredible ocean which can be fierce and angry one day and tranquil the next day – and witness the beauty of the creatures that live in the ocean: dolphins, beautiful shells, sea turtles….

I became involved with the Coastal Land Trust when I met Camilla in 2003. I am currently serving my second three-year term on the Board of Directors. The Land Trust is saving the coastal lands and I knew that I wanted to be very involved with this organization.

I have given contributions since 2003, pledged to the capital campaign and I decided to leave part of my estate as a

An official event of the NC ScieNCe Festival, Pollinator Palooza! will teach participants all about pollinators, the important role pollinators play in nature (and our food supply!), and the threats that pollinators face. Participants will learn how they can help provide for and protect pollinators, and the importance of conservation for creating healthy pollinator populations.

Students in 3rd-5th grades in New Hanover County can sign up to

receive a take-home DIY gardening kit that will include everything needed to create their very own mini pollinator garden! In addition to the kits, we will post educational videos on our website about creating pollinator gardens, the importance of native plants and pollinators, plant anatomy and other educational content.

And on Saturday, April 17th at 10am, join us on Facebook or Instagram for Pollinator Palooza Livestream, from one of our nature preserves, to get a first-hand look at plants that attract pollinators.

More details online: www.CoastalLandTrust.org/pollinators

bequest to the Coastal Land Trust because with this step, I know that I am continuing to help protect one of the most beautiful areas in the world — even when I am not around anymore.

Cheryl bradley Smith pine Knoll Shores, NC

April will feature a new education event, brought to you by the Coastal Land Trust!

photo by Tom Earnhardt

3 Pine Valley Drive Wilmington, North Carolina 28412

grazing areas.

island to island

and swim from

dig for fresh water

islands, the horses

survive on these

and sea home. To

sliver of land between sound

have called this

the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs,

the Outer Banks,

–residents of

and endearing

most enduring –

For 500 years, the

and Crystal Coast.

the Outer Banks

Wild horses roam

U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 316 Wilmington, NC

Today, these rare birds are known to nest in large swamp forests in fragmented populations from South Carolina down through Florida and west to Louisiana. In 2013, N.C. wildlife resources Commission biologists documented the first Swallowtailed kite nest along the Cape Fear river in bladen County.

This Swallow-tailed kite was spotted by Craig Sasser down on the waccamaw river in South Carolina. be on the lookout for Swallow-tailed kites along the waccamaw and Cape Fear rivers.

in search of fresh SwALLOw-TAILEd KITES SOAr AgAIN

Photo by Craig Sasser

The historic range of Swallow-tailed kites once included much of the Southeast, including North Carolina and extending up the mississippi river to as far north as minnesota, and as far west as Texas. however, populations plummeted due to habitat loss and pesticide use by the early 1900’s.

Photo by George Wood

ON THE ISLANDS