NC National Estuarine Research Reserve: Currituck Banks
This earthcache is 100% handicap accessible. The walk is along an elevated boardwalk through the maritime forest to the sound side of the reserve.
Throughout recent geologic time, Currituck Banks has been a dynamic barrier landform, moving or “migrating” in response to sea level changes. While the Banks was once a series of islands, it is currently part of a complex barrier spit that extends about 70 miles from Virginia Beach to Oregon Inlet. Behind this barrier spit, extensive marshes have built up from inlet deltas and overwash fans that were submerged by rising sea level. The mixing of the warm Gulf Stream current and the cool Labrador Current off Currituck Banks creates a climate where northern species reach the southern limit of their ranges and southern species reach the northern limit of their ranges. As a result, a diversity of species from both regions is found here. The habitats are ocean beach, sand dunes, grasslands, shrub thicket, maritime forest, brackish and freshwater marshes, tidal flats, and subtidal soft bottoms. There is a rich community of both commercial and game fish species. In addition to the abundance of fish species are many birds, including wading birds, shore birds, songbirds, and birds of prey. The Currituck Sound is located within the Atlantic Flyway, and the site is especially important for migrating waterfowl. Some birds of special concern are the osprey, Wilson’s plover, black skimmer, and least tern. Currituck Banks is also part of the North Carolina Birding Trail System.
The Currituck Banks site is an excellent example of a low-salinity estuarine system. The site lies in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, ten miles south of the Virginia border and three-quarters of a mile north of the village of Corolla. Bounded by the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, the site encompasses 960 acres. The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service own neighboring tracts to the north. Currituck Banks was one of the three original NERR components dedicated by NOAA and the Division of Coastal Management in 1985.
Upon your visit to this location you will need to gather information from each sign to answer the questions below. Be sure to email me your answers before you log the cache online. The sign locations have been included as additional waypoints to help in the transfer to your handheld GPSr.
Questions and Coordinates
#1 - Welcome N 36*23.374 W 075*49.853
To whom is the boardwalk dedicated and how old as he or she?
#2 - First Colonizers N 36*23.372 W 75*49.853
What type of “first colony” is this area?
#3 - Maritime Forest N 36*23.378 W 075*49.860
What were the primary activities, during the 1930’s, that destroyed the maritime forest?
How many acres of the maritime forest are left in North Carolina?
#4 - Fresh Water N 36*23.388 W 075*49.875
Where does the wildlife of the area get its freshwater?
#5 - Forest Communities N 36*23.400 W 075*49.992
As the loblolly pines begin to form a complete canopy - what tree species die out and is replaced by red bay and American Holly?
#6 - Maritime Swamp Forest N 36*23.400 W 075*50.062
How are wetlands important to “man” as well as other forms of wildlife?
#7 - What is an Estuary? N 36*23.384 W 075*50.126
If water which flows into the estuary is contaminated with chemicals or other wastes what does it affect?
In relation to regular sea water, how does the water within Currituck Sound compare in salinity?
#8 - Life on Currituck Sound N 36*23.401 W 075*50.181
What is the name of the island that is a nesting grounds to heron and egrets?
What is another name for a “nesting grounds?”
While not required anymore it should sure be nice of you to post a photo of yourself at the end of the boardwalk with Currituck Sound in the background, with your online log. Please understand that managers of the reserve will be watching this listing so be sure to include your experiences here in you online log.
There is a parking lot available very close to the posted coordinates. But please note that this lot is for use of visitors to the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve. While there is a single trash can at the entrance to the boardwalk please exercise “Leave No Trace Ethics” during your entire visit. Remember take only pictures and leave only footprints.