Brunswick Islands Birding

Eight sites along the North Carolina Birding Trail are located in the Brunswick Islands.  The Brunswick Islands' location along the coast of Southeastern North Carolina and its varied ecosystems make it a natural haven for hundreds of species of birds.  350 bird species have been spotted in Brunswick County.  Listed below are the NC Birding Trail sites located in the county and the species of special interest specific to each one.  Click here to view our short YouTube video on birding in NC's Brunswick Islands.

Please note that many shore birds nest in the sand on the beach. They tend to blend in so they can be hard to see, especially the babies. Nesting season runs from April through August, so when visiting the beach be sure to use only designated beach accesses through the dunes and avoid marked nesting areas.  

Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve - Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting

Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site - Bald Eagle, Prothonotary Warbler, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Painted Bunting

Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve - Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, winter sparrows

Southport Riverwalk & Pier - White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Seaside Sparrow, Painted Bunting, raptors, terns

Bald Head Island Conservancy - Wilson's Plover, Piping Plover, Sandwich Tern, Least Tern, Painted Bunting, wintering waterfowl

Green Swamp Preserve - Chuck-will's-widow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Swainson's Warbler, Bachman's Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow

Brunswick Community College -  Location 50 College Road, Bolivia, NC aquaculture ponds behind building H - Bald Eagle, Anhinga, Red-headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Prothonotary Warbler

Sunset Beach - Horned Grebe, Wood Stork, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Painted Bunting, winter sparrows