By Chelsea Reed
If you’ve ever come to the Outer Banks in North Carolina before, you have probably seen quite a bit of local wildlife! With plenty of national parks and pristine beaches to go around, it’s no surprise that this special place is teeming with hundreds of wildlife species. There’s plenty of wildlife to see too in Seaside Art Gallery’s 27th Miniature Art Show! We’ll cover a few that you can also see in the Outer Banks area.
The brown pelican is one of three pelican species who live in America, including the Outer Banks. Did you know that it can dive into the water as high as 65 feet? A person might get hurt if he tried that over and over, but brown pelicans have special air sacs under their skin that they inflate just before impact to protect themselves. This miniature watercolor etching of a brown pelican by David Hunter is beautiful and scientifically accurate.
Another common Outer Banks water bird, the great blue heron is probably best known for its majestic appearance and huge 6-foot wingspan size when it takes flight into the air. It’s an awesome sight for bird watching! Fledglings can begin to fly when they’re as young as 60 days old. Check out this gorgeous and unusual graphite miniature drawing of one by Sue deLearie Adair.
Many people are familiar with the local sea turtles who nest in the Outer Banks, but have you also met their land-dwelling neighbors? The Eastern Box Turtle is North Carolina’s state turtle and likes to live in quiet undeveloped wooded areas in the Outer Banks. This miniature sculpture by Cara Bevan captures the striking colors of one very well.
Doesn’t it feel like you’re flying right alongside this miniature colored pencil osprey by Betty Hendrix? Also known as “seahawks,” ospreys are a common (and very cool!) sight in the Outer Banks, but it wasn’t always that way. They were almost lost to extinction during the 1970’s DDT epidemic. Thanks to preservation efforts, they are now thriving and here to stay.
The wild horses of Corolla and Shackleford Banks have called this ribbon of sand home for five centuries. Descended from Spanish mustangs, these herds have adapted into a wild breed of their own that survives the unique coastal environment here. Conservation efforts continue to strive to preserve this special species. This amazing Acryllic miniature painting by Judy Lalingo is a great recap of their story into one picture.
To see more wildlife in Seaside Art Gallery’s 27th Miniature Art Show, take a look now in our gallery online. You might even find one that’s the perfect fit for you or for a friend! You can also stop by in the gallery and see these little beauties in person. See you there!
Chelsea Reed is a freelance copywriter. She writes articles, blogs, websites and online content from her base in North Carolina.
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