At Occano, the Sound is a gift we unwrap day after day—and share with the ones we love most. And we look forward to sharing it with you.

Good news, North Carolina! The annual hummingbird migration is nearly underway and we’re ready to begin spotting the graceful Ruby-throated hummingbird in backyards around parts of the Tar Heel State! Make sure your backyard is ready by setting up one of the best hummingbird feeders possible for these oncoming beauties. Each fall, thousands of these exquisite, winged creatures migrate south from as far as Canada all the way down to Central America, Mexico, and parts of Florida – until it’s time to head north again in the spring to breed. So, if you want to see hummingbirds in North Carolina, read on… Read More »

Tickets are now available for the authentic, one-of-a-kind Viking Experience Festival happening right here in North Carolina on March 25-26, 2023. This second-annual event will take place at The Barn at Vino, a breathtaking vineyard with rolling fields and elegant ponds, featuring talented reenactors, a Fairy Glen, food, two stages, vendors, and music in the Great Hall. Let’s take a look inside this magical experience. Walking into this long-ago kingdom is nothing less than extraordinary. Come see for yourself, and before you know it you are a part of something bigger — and something much, much older. Try on the… Read More »

Summer vacations have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean all work and no play. With cooler weather, beautiful scenery and an array of local festivals, fall is the perfect time of year for weekend getaways close to home. For travel ideas, activity suggestions and trip planning, visit www.Recreation.gov. A partnership of 12 federal agencies, including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Archives, Recreation.gov offers advance reservations at 2,500 federal areas for more than 60,000 facilities and activities. The website’s interactive maps and searchable database make it easy to discover parks, forests,… Read More »

Invasive species are plants, animals and microbes that are introduced into a non-native ecosystem and cause, or are likely to cause, harm to the economy, environment or human health. An invasive species that colonizes a new area may gain an ecological edge since the insects, diseases, and foraging animals that naturally keep its growth in check in its native range are not present in its new habitat, according to Audubon International.             Audubon International offers these suggestions to help prevent the spread of invasive species: Find out what the most troublesome invasive species are in your local area. If you don’t… Read More »

Did you ever wonder how all of the geese that are congregating on the golf course are affecting the ecology of the ponds? How about the effect they may have on us or our animals? Considering each goose can produce 1 to 2 pounds of droppings each day, and a typical Canada goose may poop 28 times a day, it doesn’t look good for anyone. In fact, Geese are major contributors to Phosphorus and Nitrogen in ponds. These nutrients come directly from goose excrement and cause pond eutrophication. Pond eutrophication is a natural process that all bodies of water experience. It is… Read More »

  Driving at night can be tricky—especially through neighborhoods or dimly lit landscapes—so it’s important to keep in mind a few basic guidelines to make sure you and your vehicle both are well-prepared for the trip. Consider the following suggestions to help get you to your destination safely. Ensure headlights are aimed properly. If you think your headlights are casting light too far above or below your line of vision on the road, you may need to adjust their aim. You can do this either by following instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual or seeking help from a vehicle maintenance… Read More »

There are 37 species of snakes in North Carolina and seven are venomous. There are basically three families of snakes in North Carolina. The first to consider is the non-venomous Colubridae, which includes the garter snakes, king snakes and rat snakes. These snakes are technically harmless. They don’t have a potent venom that could hurt a person or pet. The Elapidae is the fixed, front fang venomous snake family. Cobras are in this family, but we don’t have cobras in North Carolina. We do have the coral snake, but only in the most southeastern part of the state. They’re small… Read More »

The Kudzu vine is a rapidly rising weed problem in the southeastern United States and is frustrating to manage due to how quickly it spreads and how difficult it is to totally eradicate. Kudzu is a persistent weed that can grow up to 100 feet or more if there is no intervention. It has been noted that the invasive vine is growing in the area, particularly on the waterfront properties with vegetation. Such as Salmon Creek, the entrance to Salmon Creek, and Albemarle Sound. Here is a brief history and how to remove it from your yard if you find… Read More »

The association understands you have a soft heart and good intentions, but feeding deer is not in their best interests, or yours. Depending on what you feed them, deer may actually be harmed by your feeding. Some foods will kill them within a few days or debilitate them enough to be easy targets for predators and automobiles. Feeding is a way of domesticating deer. Tame deer create a host of other problems. Because they no longer fear people, they become vulnerable to hunters. They are emboldened to eat the shrubs in your vicinity. They will bring more deer into your… Read More »