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Page 2 of 4 <br /> V <br /> t <br /> _ a <br /> r <br /> v' <br /> si <br /> r a fa+ u <br /> F <br /> Matt Born - AP <br /> Ted Wilgis with the N.C. Coastal <br /> Federation examines an oyster reef in Dick's Bay near Masonboro Island, part of <br /> a large-scale, $6 million oyster-habitat restoration project. <br /> WILMINGTON Kneeling in 6 <br /> inches of muddy water in Dick's Bay behind Masonboro Island, Ted Wilgis hoisted <br /> a large clump of Eastern oysters in one rubber-gloved hand. <br /> "To me, <br /> this is fantastic," he said. "This is very exciting." <br /> As a coastal <br /> education coordinator for the N.C. Coastal Federation, Wilgis is accustomed to <br /> oyster sightings. But seeing them healthy and thriving in Dick's Bay is still a <br /> relatively new experience. <br /> Seven of the <br /> eight reefs sprinkled throughout the shallow bay were created four years ago by <br /> the federation in conjunction with the state Division of Marine Fisheries and, <br /> at the time, there was no guarantee the oysters would take to the new beds. <br /> "That's why <br /> you can't grow oysters in an aquarium," Wilgis said. "They're <br /> picky." <br /> 3/19/2012 <br />