Extraordinary flock of redhead ducks in migration at Pea Island Wildlife Refuge - stock photo

A dense flock of redhead ducks (Aythya americana) lifts off from the calm waters of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, their flight patterns shaped by ancient migratory instincts. For centuries, this barrier island system has provided crucial wintering habitat for redheads and other waterfowl traveling the Atlantic Flyway. However, as rising sea levels and increasingly erratic weather linked to climate change reshape coastal wetlands, the availability of suitable resting and feeding sites for migratory birds is rapidly changing. For redheads, the fate of these coastal habitats is tied directly to their own survival, making places like Cape Hatteras critical conservation priorities.