In January 2018, Wilmington, NC experienced many inches of snow for the first time in years! The pine trees, marsh grasses, sand beaches, and roads in our coastal region were blanketed with snow for almost 6 days in the first week of the new year.
For an area that closes public schools before it actually snows, it goes without saying our bustling town went quiet for the cold week– complete with children sledding on boogie boards and making/eating “snow cream!”
It was beautiful! The deer were active, as well as the woodland and shore birds.
One bird species did not appreciate the snow so much. The Woodcocks were stunned by the prolonged freezing weather– laying on the forest ground for days, intermittently flying with the appearance of a broken wing. It is common for Woodcocks to behave like this when highly stressed or feeling threatened.
Amy from Skywatch Bird Rescue said, “we have received more woodcocks in the last 4 days than we have all year long. This cold weather has really affected them.” She also advices “if you find a bird like a woodcock,” to notify Sky Watch, and ” please make sure to keep them in a small, warm, dark, quiet place.”
Aside from some downed trees and an extended Christmas vacation for schoolchildren, there was no major damage from the winter storm Grayson, also known as the 2018 “Winter Bombcyclone!”
(Via Vox)
Check out aerial video footage showing snow-covered Wrightsville Beach by Jeff Loveless!
Futch Creek Reflections 