River Walk
Learn about the ecology of the Cape Fear River on a new walking tour
TBY EMORY RAKESTRAW HE CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH
(CFRW) recently added a one
hour guided walking tour of
downtown Wilmington to its
ecological offerings that include kayaking
tours of Eagle Island and Greenfield Lake.
“Because not everyone feels com-fortable
kayaking, I realized we needed
to incorporate a tour of the Cape Fear
River that was via a leisurely walk while
staying safe during the pandemic,” CFRW
environmental education and project
manager Kay Lynn Hernandez says. “A
downtown walking tour had been drafted
by former CFRW interns over the past
year and we finally have the opportunity
to implement it.”
While strolling through downtown
Wilmington and along the Riverwalk,
participants learn the various fish and wildlife species found in the Cape Fear River and factors impacting their habitat. Eagle Island, an
expanse of brackish marsh and swamp forest between the Brunswick and Cape Fear rivers, is also discussed, along with facts about the
Battleship North Carolina.
Hernandez already sees an
impact.
“These additional programs for
small groups of adults have greatly
benefited Cape Fear River Watch’s
education mission by enabling us to
disseminate important ecological
information about the Cape Fear
River basin to a wider audience,”
she says.
The educational walking tours
take place 5-10 times a month at
3 p.m. on weekdays, and will con-tinue
throughout the spring and
summer.
To book a walking tour or any
other CFRW tour, including Eagle
Island paddles, walking ecotours of
Greenfield Lake, and paddling tours
of Greenfield Lake, contact Kay Lynn
Hernandez at kaylynn@cfrw.us.
S H O R T S
Participants
learn the
various fish
and wildlife
species found
in the Cape
Fear River
and factors
impacting
their habitat.
Taylor Henderson of Cape Fear River Watch leads an informative guided tour along and near the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington
in February.
may 2021 18
WBM
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH