Digging in the Dirt: February Chapter Highlights 2024

Maritime Forest Autumn Olive Removal, February 24. Lower Cape Fear Wildlife partnered with the Maritime Forest Maintenance Committee to kick-off an invasive removal project at Caswell Beach. The maritime forest is identified on the WRC’s Wildlife Action Plan as a priority habitat type. Maritime forest supports many Species of Greatest Conservation Need such as the Eastern painted bunting, white-footed mouse, oak toad, Southern dusky salamander, Northern scarlet snake, Eastern coral snake and numerous plant species.

February 28, 2024

North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapter volunteers did a whole lot of wildlife watching, creek cleaning, invasive removing, seed sowing, bird counting and more in February to promote healthy wildlife habitat and inspire people to get outside.

In total, 100-plus volunteers were engaged. Over 300 people were given the opportunity to connect with nature through one of NCWF’s various opportunities this month.

Thanks to our partners for helping make these habitat restoration workdays, educational programs and nature outings possible. Explore our Events Calendar to discover where NCWF and our Community Wildlife Chapters are hosting in-person and virtual events near you. Check out a few highlights below from our conservation outreach team.

Swift Creek Bluffs Invasive Removal, January 30. Fifteen hard-working South Wake Conservationists made a dent in removing invasive species at the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve. The usual suspects were Japanese honeysuckle and Chinese privet, and in the end, twenty-four bags were stuffed full! This will give the soon-to-be-arriving native spring ephemerals room to expand, supporting local wildlife and making a glorious display.

Eagles at Jordan Lake Dam, February 3. The Tri-County Conservationists took a trip to Jordan Dam in Chatham County to see the nesting eagles and educate the public about the importance of eagles in the ecosystem. The group saw over 30 eagles in one day! They were perched in trees, swooping overhead and using their talons to scoop up fish!

EcoKids Red Wolf Event, February 9. The room was packed with 37 kids, practicing their wolf howls, as South Wake Conservationists’ Cassia Rivera spoke about red wolves and then helped the kids create their very own red wolf sculpture. The event was hosted at White Deer Nature Center in partnership with Garner Parks & Rec.

EcoKids Waterfowl Walk & Sketch, February 10. What a great day to stroll along the shore of Bass Lake in Holly Springs and see the variety of waterfowl that call this home during the winter! The South Wake Eco Kids did a walk-and-sketch on a rare near-70-degree day, learning about these birds, observing and sketching Canada geese, cormorants, ruddy ducks, and coots. The group also heard some bald eagles checking out the fish supply in the lake. The highlight of the walk was watching a cormorant capture a catfish and struggle for six or seven minutes, before it could finally figure out how to get it in its mouth!

Sow Seeds of Love for Wildlife, February 10. The Wildlife Habitat Stewards of NE NC partnered with the Spruill Farm Conservation Project and The Peanut Factory to offer this exciting Butterfly Highway seed planting and seed paper card making opportunity. After planting, participants enjoyed a guided nature walk through the trails at the Spruill Farm Conservation Project!

Birdhouse Installation, February 15. The South Wake Conservationists broke new ground by installing 4 new birdhouses at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Fuquay-Varina! The installation of the houses comes just in time for the beginning of the nesting season.

Dutchman Creek Cleanup, February 17. Lower Cape Fear Wildlife hosted a cleanup at Dutchman Creek in Southport. The small but mighty crew picked up nearly 100 pounds of garbage to promote healthy waterways along the Coast.

Pinecone Bird Treats, February 17. Thirty-five kids made high-fat treats for birds with pinecones, lard, and sunflower chips with the Charlotte Wildlife Stewards at Wild Birds Unlimited. It was a fun, easy, and sometimes messy craft that taught kids to care for the wildlife in their yards. And the pinecones can be used over and over with a fresh coating of lard (or peanut butter) and birdseed.

Harvesting Natives for Transplanting, February 17. NCWF partnered with Catawba Trail Farm to provide a unique opportunity for the public to learn how to identify native plant species in the forest and how to harvest the plants properly for transport.

CWS Invasive Plant Removal, February 17. The Charlotte Museum of History partnered with NCWF, CWS, CleanAIRE NC to remove invasive species around Charlotte’s oldest standing home and historic site. This was the first of three monthly volunteer days leading up to Charlotte’s premier Earth Day event on April 20th! These work days are helping the site to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Great Backyard Bird Count, February 18. The Southeastern Swamp Stewards explored the Fair Bluff Riverwalk while they searched for birds! The group reported 22 species including wood ducks, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, red-bellied woodpeckers and more! Their observations were submitted as a part of the Great Backyard Bird Count – an annual community science event that joins the world in connecting to birds.

Crowder Park Garden Workday, February 21. The South Wake Conservationists celebrated a beautiful spring-like day by enhancing three pollinator gardens at Crowder Community Park in Apex.

Fun with Fossils: Dissecting Owl Pellets, February 21. NCWF, Pocosin Lakes NWR and Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft partnered for a fun opportunity to learn more about barn owls and their pellets! Participants dissected pellets and used their discoveries to inspire the design of clay bones they created.

Wood Duck Workday, February 22. Volunteers with the Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards (PAWS) spent a full day installing wood duck boxes in Cherryville, NC. These wood duck boxes were installed on a working cattle ranch at Cedar Lake farm and will provide critical nesting habitat for wood ducks in Gaston County.

ecoEXPLORE Ornithology Check-In, February 24. NCWF, Pocosin Lakes NWR and Tyrrell County Library came together for this month’s ecoEXPLORE program where participants completed an obstacle course to learn more about the challenges that our bird populations face. After the obstacle course, ecoEXPLORERs checked out a collection of duck wings to help them with their duck identifications for this season’s field focus duck badge!

Diggs-Latham Garden Workday, February 24. The North Carolina Wildlife Federation partnered with NC Cooperative Extension to install a teaching garden at Diggs-Latham Elementary School in Winston-Salem. The enthusiastic crew planted a wide variety of natives including pink muhly grass, lanceleaf coreopsis, blazing star and more!