Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival is one of the premier wildlife festivals in the United States. It is comprised of over 60 birding, paddling, photography, art and natural history trips, tours and programs. Participants come from all over America and the world to enjoy the beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife.
Wings Over Water takes place over a six county northeastern North Carolina area. It includes six national wildlife refuges-Alligator River, Pea Island, Pocosin Lakes, Mattamuskeet, Mackay Island and Currituck National Wildlife Refuges.
The festival maintains reasonable fees per trip. Programs are kept small so that participants can easily get instructions and ask questions. There are both outdoor and indoor events.
Program leaders are all experts in their field and nearly every one is a volunteer, generously giving their time and energy in support of this annual refuge fundraising event. WOW leaders come from across North Carolina and the region. Wings Over Water has a high return rate of participants. One reason they come back year after year is because of our high-quality leaders.
The Wings Over Water region is part of the Atlantic Flyway, in which over 400 bird species live or migrate. Besides being a haven for birds, Wings Over Water participants have the potential of seeing a variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals such as, black bear, river otter, alligators and the endangered red wolf.
Wings Over Water Festival
Main session – October 14 thru 19, 2025
WOW Encore – December 5 thru 7, 2025
Keynote speaker: Brian Patteson
A native of Virginia, Captain Brian Patteson has been organizing pelagic birding trips since 1986, eventually moving full-time to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1995. A complete list of his contributions to our knowledge of seabird biology, distribution and identification would fill a book and, indeed, has been featured in many books. Thousands of birders have seen their first Black-capped Petrels and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels on his trips, but, through the 1980’s, sightings of those species were quite rare. Brian’s efforts added greatly to our understanding of their timing and distribution out in the deeper waters, and both species are seen on most trips in the warmer months.
In addition to his fieldwork, Patteson has played a crucial role in educating people about seabirds and their offshore ecosystems. His ability to let people experience these birds firsthand has been transformative, earning him and business partner, co-captain, and marine biologist Kate Sutherland a reputation as some of the best pelagic operators in the world.
The Main Event in October
The main body of the festival is held in October (dates vary from year to year). This is when the potential for mild weather exists and when there is less road traffic and lodging rates are lower. There are birding, paddling, art, photography and natural history activities.
Wings Over Water Encore in December
We also have a Wings Over Water session in December called Wings Over Water Encore (dates vary year to year) just for birding. Wings Over Water Encore is held in what is often colder weather especially for birders and photographers. The hope is that there is a better possibility of seeing large flocks of migratory birds and waterfowl over what is present during the October session.
What is the Wings Over Water Festival?
Wings Over Water is an annual refuge fundraising event sponsored by Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society. The CWRS is a non-profit group who exist to support regional national wildlife refuges.
Besides providing educational grants to schools, the CWRS is a part of many refuge support projects such as maintaining trails and signs and other refuge structures. Also, CWRS provides volunteers and staff who are essential to the maintenance and operation of regional national wildlife refuges visitor centers.
Steve Brumfield
Wings Over Water Coordinator
252-216-9464
wingsoverwater.org
