The 13th annual Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival offers dozens of reasons
to join other nature enthusiasts on the Outer Banks of North Carolina from
Nov. 3, through Nov. 8, 2009, which includes Veterans' Day weekend.

Birders who prefer to use their binoculars and scopes will be offered more
opportunities than they can possibly take advantage of during the six-day
event. Birding trips are planned for locations throughout the northeastern
part of the state including but not limited to Mackay Island National
Wildlife Refuge in Currituck, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Ocracoke
Island and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife refuges, both in Hyde County,
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on mainland Dare County and Cape
Hatteras National Seashore.

The long list of different birding trips offers a wide assortment of
viewing possibilities including shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl, and even
Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. Some of the sightings reported during recent
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festivals include Eared Grebe, American White
Pelican, Fork-Tailed Flycatcher and the Magnificent Frigatebird.

But Wings Over Water isn't just about birds. History is explored, kayaks
and canoes are paddled, black bear and red wolf habitats are visited, and
there is a lighthouse to be climbed.

Just can't seem to get close enough to get that perfect shot of a pintail?
Both hunters and photographers can get up close and personal to waterfowl
by learning how to use decoys and calls on the Pea Island "Duck Hunt."
Participants in this three-to-four hour class will sit in a duck blind
while learning how to bring the waterfowl into range. Cameras welcomed;
guns are not.

Nature photographers who want to improve their skills can join one of
several professional photographers including Mark Buckler, program director
of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla, for a wildlife
photography class. Buckler, also a professional photographer, will show
participants how to catch the morning light while exploring for wading
birds, fall migrant songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds. He also will be
the keynote speaker at this year's keynote dinner to be held at Roanoke
Island Festival Park.

The Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Carolina Bird Club, the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society,
Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Outer Banks Sentinel.

To learn more, visit www.wingsoverwater.org or call 252-216-9464
(252-216-WING) to order a program book complete with trip descriptions and
registration forms.