The STAR Center sea turtle hospital at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island reopened to visitors Monday, weeks after a mass stranding of cold-stunned sea turtles overflowed the facility. There are now 88 sea turtle patients in the center’s care. In mid-January, more than 100 sea turtles were found cold-stunned on the Outer Banks [...] Island Features |  Full Article

A bald eagle remains in critical condition after being rescued in Camden County on Feb. 9 by Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation’s Lou Browning. Suffering from lead poisoning as well as dehydration and malnutrition, Browning said the raptor has little chance of survival, but is currently being treated in an ICU chamber at his Hatteras Island [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue volunteers conducted a recent beach clean-up along a stretch of Rodanthe shoreline that was cluttered with leftover debris from late fall storms. Working over the course of several days, the team of volunteers filled up a total of four dumpsters, and had to utilize an additional 40-yard container provided by [...] Island Features |  Full Article

As estimated 500 locals and visitors headed to the edge of Oden’s Dock in Hatteras village on Saturday afternoon to take part in a shell-ebration that has been going strong for seven years. The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the traditionally [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Due to the relatively new and welcome addition of oyster farms in our estuarine system, this cherished bivalve is available year round, even when there is no “R” in a month. But “the season” continues to be heralded with excitement and celebration. It represents a time for communities to bundle up and gather in our [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The constellation Orion is famous for for M42, the Orion Nebula, but there are a lot of lesser-known nebulae in this constellation. M42 is located at the second star of Orion’s sword, but if you look at the first star of the belt you will find the Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) and the Flame Nebula, [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Living on the thin, shifting ribbon of sand known as the Outer Banks, many residents encounter a variety of unusual items that wash up along the coastline. For example, back in 2006, a massive amount of bags of chips washed ashore, to the surprise and delight of beachcombers. There are many forces in nature like [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Hurricane Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout Aug. 27, 2011. As the storm tracked across eastern North Carolina, the waters of Pamlico Sound first drained to the south and west, flooding the coastal mainland. When the winds shifted, a 6-foot-high wall of water crashed onto the dunes of Pea Island, flowing across the sand toward [...] Island Features |  Full Article

For the past several months, a remarkable group of students from Cape Hatteras Secondary School Drama Club have been working every day after school to create this year’s production of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. For these dedicated high school and middle school students, this has meant sacrificing most other after-school activities, as well [...] Island Features |  Full Article