​Ocracoke Island sits at the southern end of the of the Banks, 25 miles from the mainland. With only a total area of 10 square miles, this roughly 13-mile-long island is known for its simplicity, tranquility and unspoiled beauty.  Since ninety percent of the island is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore it provides habitat for a variety of marine and wetland animals as well as wild Banker ponies. And of course, birds, almost 300 different species use the island at some point during the year. 

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MAS prodigal son, Matt Jansen, who has been working as a naturalist on the island since 2024, along with Karen Rhodes, local artist and photographer, will be joining us at our November meeting to discuss the birds of island and their new book – Ocracoke Untamed: A Photographic Peek into the Island’s Birds, Wildlife and Ecosystems.