Protecting Wildlife and Habitat at Pine Island

Amid the pressures of climate change and coastal development on the Outer Banks, the Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary at Pine Island stands out as both a stronghold of the untamed past of our coast and a model for what coastal conservation and resilience can look like in the future. 

The sanctuary protects 2,600 acres of globally rare habitat on Currituck Sound—from extensive fresh water marshes to upland maritime forest—making the sanctuary one of the most important places for birds in the hemisphere. 

We work alongside community partners and researchers to manage and restore the sanctuary’s habitats for the future, while honoring the rich waterfowling legacy of the property and Currituck Sound.