Wings Over Water

The Outer Banks, and the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in particular, is known as one of the best bird watching destinations in the world, and the annual Wings Over Water celebrates this distinction like no other local festival. The weeklong event, which is held each October, features a wide range of educational programs, lectures, and opportunities to meet and greet with fellow birders. During this year's festival, attendees will also have the opportunity to go on guided birding trips, attend art and photography workshops, take a tram or kayak tour of National Wildlife Refuge, visit an ancient maritime forest, and much, much more. A complete schedule can be found online at the organization's website, and attendees should note that some programs do cost a small fee to participate.

The festival and accompanying programs take place throughout the Outer Banks, particularly at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island and at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland. As a result, festival attendees can easily join in the fun regardless of where they're staying on the Outer Banks. Potential visitors will want to register beforehand for their favorite trips or workshops online to ensure a spot, as space is limited for many of the programs. Essentially, Wings Over Water is a fantastic way for newcomers and birding experts alike to come together and discover, in detail, the inherent wild nature of the Outer Banks at its best. With plenty of tours, trips, workshops and seminars to choose from, every nature lover will find an enticing reason to join in the fun.