Wood storks, or Mycteria Americana, are found in the Coastal Plains region of southeast North Carolina during the birds' non-breeding season, which is typically during the winter. These birds are protected by North Carolina and the Fish and Wildlife Service. As a measure of protection, many wood storks are tagged so they can be traced by ornithologists. The primary reasons for the wood stork's endangerment is habitat loss and water degradation.
Also known as Charadrius melodus, the piping plover is found on the coastal region of North Carolina during the winter; the bird migrates from the Great Lakes region of the United States and Ontario, Canada. These endangered birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Piping plovers are songbirds and are known by their "peep-lo" call. When protecting these birds, the government closes certain beach areas where piping plovers are known to nest. Habitat destruction is the main cause for the piping plover's endangerment.
The Roseate Tern, or Sterna dougallii, is a seabird found on the shorelines of North Carolina during the winter season. This endangered bird is protected under the Endangered Species Act. In North Carolina, the roseate tern occurs in the counties of Carteret and Dade. These small birds have white feathers and are approximately 15 inches in length. When it is time for feeding, roseate terns have a reputation for stealing fish from other birds.
Ranging from Florida to Virginia on the Atlantic Coast, the red-cockaded woodpecker has an overall estimated population of 15,000 birds. These endangered birds are usually found in soft pine forests. The major causes for the endangerment of red-cockaded woodpeckers are deforestation and agricultural development. Red-cockaded woodpeckers are federally protected. Conservation groups, such as the North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership (ncscp.org), raise awareness for the preservation of these birds.
The Kirtland's warbler, or Dendroica kirtlandii, is a songbird that has been seen only three times in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Ocracoke Island, according to Duke University (duke.edu). The first of these sightings was the in the early 1980s. This bird is protected by the federal government. Due to the government's protective measures, the Kirtland's warblers have seen an increase in population. This increase has changed this bird's status from critically endangered to endangered.