Recent grant is helping preserve Eagles Island

Across the Cape Fear River from Wilmington lies an island unknown to many. But conservationists are trying to preserve its natural beauty. A recent grant is helping them accomplish that goal.

Eagles Island is home to many threatened and endangered species, including the black bear and the bald eagle, and it lies in downtown Wilmington’s backyard.

Coastal biologist, Dawn York, said, “It also provides a significant resource for people who live in Wilmington. We have an extremely developed city. And millions of people are moving to the coast each year. As one of our very last developed estuarine islands on the east coast. I think it’s very important to keep the view from the people’s standpoint and recreation natural.”

Before the Civil War, Eagles Island was predominately rice plantations maintained by slave labor. Times changed, technology advanced, and the crop lost its economic importance. Now areas surrounding Wilmington are constantly developing and conservationists strive to protect and restore one of the largest tidal fresh water habitats on the east coast. That is why Dawn York puts her heart and soul into implementing a conservation management plan, and was just granted $10,000 to do so.

With the help of Toyota and the National Audubon Society, York hopes to develop an informational website to educate and encourage Wilmington residents to visit the 2,100-acre island and support its preservation.

Eagles Island is the gateway to the Brunswick and Cape Fear Rivers. Thousands of people drive over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge everyday, and may not even realize what a treasure they are crossing. Much of the northern part of the island is privately owned. Through grants and donations, over five hundred acres have been preserved.

“Eventually we would like to see the whole northern part held publicly so we can do a management plan and have it preserved for wildlife and hunting and recreation and fishing and have it be a public place, a park,” said Eagles Island conservationist, Marilyn Meares.

Cape Fear River keeper, Captain Doug Springer, said, “It really does serve as our gateway. And it’s a gateway not only to the Cape Fear River, but it’s a gateway to the hearts and minds of the community here.”

The Army Corp of Engineers manages 600 acres of Eagles Island as a dredge disposal area full of mud flats, and 10,000 migratory birds use it as their habitat.