Currituck Outer Banks

LOCATION:
Coast
Currituck County

SIZE IN ACRES:
6,875

INVOLVEMENT IN ACRES:
6,875

Peregrine falcon

Snow geese over Currituck Banks (© TNC)

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP:
Corolla, Jarvisburg, Mossey Islands

Topographical maps are available by contacting:
NC Geographical Survey.
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612.
(919) 715-9718
www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/

ACTIVITIES & AMENITIES:
Hiking / Birding / Fishing / Small Boats

OWNERSHIP & ACCESS:
Site Manager:
N.C. Coastal Reserve
P.O. Box 549
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-8891

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge
c/o Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 39
Knotts Island, NC 27950
(252) 429-3100

SITE INFORMATION:
Heading north from Duck, NC 12 follows Currituck Banks, a twenty-two mile stretch of barrier island separating Currituck Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. Currituck Banks consists of a medley of coastal natural communities, including beaches, dunes, interdunal ponds, maritime shrub thickets, estuarine bays and coves, and vast brackish and freshwater marshes. Biogeographically, this is a transition area, containing southern-ranging sea oats and northern American beach grass. This area is also experiencing intensive development.

Currituck Sound and its surrounding wetlands are important feeding areas in the Atlantic flyway for migratory waterfowl. Large numbers of migrating land birds and raptors, including hawks and peregrine falcon, pass through the area during the fall. A number of waterfowl winter in the area, including diving and puddle ducks, snow geese, and tundra swans. Kayaking is a good way to view the area without disturbing the wildlife.

CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS:
The North Carolina Chapter has been involved in an ongoing effort to protect Currituck Banks since the chapter was formed in 1977. Ownership is split between the N.C. Division of Coastal Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with The Nature Conservancy retaining ownership of a small parcel. Nags Head Woods, a Nature Conservancy preserve, is a few miles south of here and is included in this site.

DIRECTIONS:
Currituck Banks is located north of Duck on NC 12 and north of the road’s terminus. There are no paved roads north of Corolla. You can walk to the beach from Corolla or drive in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.