Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Conduct pelagic bird surveys in areas outside of the Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet region, both in the cold-water zone north of Oregon Inlet and the warm waters (including the Gulf Stream) south of Hatteras Inlet.
• Review ultra-high resolution digital imagery collected for offshore wind energy projects using the Remote Marine and Onshore Technology (ReMOTe) data management system to address knowledge gaps about pelagic species (Normandeau Associates 2025) .
3.11.7.2 Monitoring Long-term monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health over time and gauging the resilience of organisms to continued impacts to waters of the state. Studies include identification of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from conservation or development activities. These efforts will inform species and habitat management decisions. Long-term monitoring sites need to be identified and monitoring protocols developed for all priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Initiate species-specific monitoring for pelagic seabirds that occur off the North Carolina coast. Audubon’s Shearwater Roseate Tern Black-capped Petrel • Increase monitoring of seabird bycatch to inform related policy needs; monitor mortality and morbidity of seabirds wherever it occurs.
• Identify and monitor important foraging, migrating, and wintering seabird areas.
• Obtain seasonal population estimates, distribution, and abundance information for seabirds in the southeastern US Continental Shelf.
• Increase monitoring and reporting of stranded seabirds. Bird islands Dredge spoil islands • Obtain seasonal population estimates, distribution, and abundance information for seabirds in the southeastern US Continental Shelf.
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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