Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 2012 National Wetlands Inventory Habitat Classification

In the face of sea level rise and as climate change conditions increase the frequency and intensity of topical storms along the north-Atlantic Coast, coastal areas will become increasingly vulnerable to storm damage, and the decline of already-threatened species could be exacerbated. Predictions about response of coastal birds to efrfect of hurricane will b eessential for anticipating and countering environmental impacts. This project will assess coastal bird populations, behavior, and nesting in Hurridane Sandy-impacted North Carolina barrier islands.. The porject comprises three components: 1) ground-based and airborne Lidar analyses to examine site specific selection criteria of coastal birds; 2) NWI classificaiton habitat mapping of DOI lands toexamine habitat changeassociated with Hurricane Sandy, particularly in relation to coastal bird habitat; and 3) a GIS-based synthesis of how patterns of coastal bird distribution and abundance and their habitats have been shaped by storms such as Hurricane Sandy, coastal developements, population desnsity, and shoreline management over the past century.