Observations from Howe Creek

By: Andy Wood The biodiverse Southeastern North Carolina region is a place that supports 1,500 different plant species, arranged in a diverse array of natural habitats, but more than 70% of those habitats are now lost, mostly due to human land alteration for roads, buildings, farming, and other uses. It’s no secret this ecoregion’s land… Continue reading Observations from Howe Creek

A Note From Habitat Manager Andy Wood

Southeast North Carolina has long been recognized as an area of unrivaled ecological wonders. This place is home to more different kinds of plants and animals than anywhere in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, north of Florida.  Now more than ever, the Northeast New Hanover Conservancy needs your financial support to maintain and preserve this special… Continue reading A Note From Habitat Manager Andy Wood

A Note From the NENHC President

I hope this note finds you safe and healthy and that you enjoyed some outdoor time this year.   We are grateful to our donors and appreciate your continued support of our singular work to protect the last best pieces of New Hanover County’s natural heritage for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.  Below are… Continue reading A Note From the NENHC President

Landfall Lake

Several Landfall residents have expressed their concern about Upper Lake’s (next to  Horseshoe Lake) appearance, notably the seemingly low water level. Discussions were  recently held with the Corps of Engineers to ask about raising the lake’s water level some six  to eight inches above its current static level. The Corps deferred to the NC Department… Continue reading Landfall Lake

Landfall Nature Trails Update

NATURE TRAILS  A winter woodland in Landfall supporting several dozen plant species along with songbirds, turtles, and  amphibians. Note the storm-wrought debris that needs to be removed and mulched to reduce fire risk and  create walkable trail surfaces.  In recent years, our nature trails, within Landfall especially, have suffered from storm damage  that accompany hurricanes.… Continue reading Landfall Nature Trails Update

Field Notes by Andy Wood

Andy Wood, NENHC Habitat Manager  As mentioned in the introduction, the Northeast New Hanover Conservancy’s area of interest  is a roughly 20-square mile area of, as our name implies, northeast New Hanover County,  NC. The properties we manage include some of the last best examples of this region’s  natural heritage. For quick orientation, southeast North… Continue reading Field Notes by Andy Wood

A CONSERVANCY CONVERSATION

A CONSERVANCY CONVERSATION By: Andy Wood, Conservation Ecologist A young Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) surveys a rainpool inside a Northeast New Hanover Conservancy property in the gated Landfall community. This sharp-eyed bird of prey eats mice, frogs, lizards, snakes, and other small animals. Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephala) were on the hawk’s menu this day.… Continue reading A CONSERVANCY CONVERSATION

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Landfall Nature Trail Update Our nature trails within Landfall have suffered from storm damage over the years.  They were originally designed as walking trails with vegetative mulch used to create a raised and smooth surface.  The climate is causing the wetlands to fill more than normal so that some of the nature trails have some… Continue reading Untitled

Landfall Lake

Landfall Lake is a 12 acre impoundment that was constructed as an infrastructure to receive stormwater from upland areas within Landfall. Landfall Lake is now a richly diverse ecosystem that supports several kinds of fishes, frogs, and turtles, along with river otter, mink, and gray fox. The lake and its fringing wetlands also draws thousands… Continue reading Landfall Lake

Monarch Butterflies

A Monarch Butterfly conservation project was implemented at Landfall Lake, with a generous donation from a Lake neighbor. The project involved planting more than 6,000 wildflowers, including 1,500 Scarlet Milkweed, Asclepius curassavica, seen below with a monarch butterfly and Ruby-throated Hummingbird feasting on flower nectar. We had tremendous support from Landfall residents and it was… Continue reading Monarch Butterflies