Pine Island marshes
Welcome to

Donal C. O’Brien Jr. Audubon Sanctuary and Center at Pine Island

A stronghold for our coast's untamed past and a model for future resilience.
Discover adventure, birds, and how to make a difference at an Audubon center.

300 Audubon Drive, Corolla, NC 27927

Nature Trail:

Open Hours: Sunrise - Sunset

About Us
Explore the Center
Our Local Birds
Plan Your Visit

The Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Sanctuary at Pine Island is one of the last pieces of untouched property on the northern Outer Banks, preserving 2,600 acres of globally rare habitat, including marsh and upland maritime forest, as well as the region’s historical beauty. The sanctuary is 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 public can enjoy Pine Island through guided kayak tours, limited public programs and a 2.5 mile nature trail. 

Tundra Swan

Birds of Pine Island

Take a deep dive into the birds of Pine Island and Currituck Sound.
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Latest Updates from the Sanctuary
Pine Island lodge. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon
Pine Island Year in Review: Habitat and Infrastructure Upgrades Prepare Sanctuary for the Future
November 12, 2025 — This year we made significant updates to make the sanctuary more resilient and improve habitat.
NORTH CAROLINA
Short-billed Dowitcher. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon
Audubon, Chapters Join Global Wildlife Tracking Network to Help Birds
November 12, 2025 — NC chapters and our Pine Island Sanctuary are taking advantage of an easy and affordable way to get involved in cool bird science, and it’s paying off.
NORTH CAROLINA
Wood Ducks
Inside Look: Restored Pond and Waterway at Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary
September 12, 2025 — NC Land and Water Fund-supported project already welcoming back birds.
NORTH CAROLINA
Sara Marschhauser playing callbacks during a secretive marsh bird survey. Photo: Ben Graham/Audubon
This Year at Pine Island: Motus Tower, Nesting Birds, and More
June 06, 2025 — We started the year with important projects to improve bird habitat, just in time for the breeding season.
NORTH CAROLINA
Black Rail. Photo: Julio Mulero/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Rolling out the Welcome Mat for Black Rails at Pine Island
March 04, 2025 — Create habitat and they will come. That’s the hope as we develop the perfect breeding ground for Black Rails at our Outer Banks sanctuary.
NORTH CAROLINA
Sara and Robbie on Currituck Sound conducting secretive marsh bird surveys.
Pine Island Year in Review: Marsh Research, Wildlife Surveys, and More
November 19, 2024 — We launched new research and advanced restoration projects at our Outer Banks sanctuary, with the help of new partnerships, staff, and volunteers.
NORTH CAROLINA
Sara holding a hawk with its wings outstreached
New Habitat Coordinator Takes Flight at Pine Island
May 10, 2024 — Meet the newest member of our team who is doing everything from implementing marsh restoration projects to tracking box turtles and counting secretive marsh birds.
NORTH CAROLINA
Behind the Gates: Winter at Pine Island
January 09, 2024 — There’s more to winter at Pine Island than cold weather and waterfowl. Join award-winning photographer Bryan Putnam for a tour.
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Brown Pelican chicks on the Cape Fear River. Photo: Photo: Madeline Gray
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