Photos: Prescribed burn, wildlife at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge in Knotts Island

KNOTTS ISLAND, N.C. — As evening approached on Saturday, March 4, it was business as usual for wildlife at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, while a planned burn was winding down in another area.

Geese flew away from the causeway as the sun began to set, and, elsewhere, a number of other birds were seen in the refuge. They hunted, rested and hunted some more.

The images of the burn are seen from Marsh Causeway Road near the refuge, while the images of the birds were taken inside the refuge itself.

The prescribed burns are meant to keep the marsh ecosystem healthy and create fresh vegetation for snow geese, among other things, accordinging to the refuge.

Smoke

A tall trail of smoke rises above the marsh.

Burn

Smoke rises above the refuge during a prescribed burn.

Causeway

Traffic on the causeway at evening during a prescribed burn at the refuge.

Heron

A heron hunts within the refuge while the sky begins to darken.

Blackbird

A blackbird clings to a resting spot amid marsh grasses.

Geese

Geese head away from the causeway as the sun begins to set.

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