September
Hummingbird Festival; Pascagoula River Audubon Center
Friday, 09/20 – Saturday, 09/21; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The annual hummingbird festival at PRAC coincides with peak hummingbird migration!
This event includes a variety of outdoor and family-friendly activities, including hummingbird and songbird banding, activity tables, and a native plant sale. For more information, follow the event Facebook page here.
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Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area, Jackson County
Saturday, 09/28; 7:30 am – 11:00 (depending)
Leader: Lisa Price (lisavollmer@bellsouth.net // Cell: (228) 238-4648)
Ms. Price will be leading a MCAS-sponsored field trip to look for migrants and resident birds and wildlife in and around the Pascagoula River in the Wade-Vancleave area. The field trip will be on Saturday, September 28th and will run from 07:30 am – 11:00 am, depending on how birdy the area is that morning! It is a beautiful and scenic area!
Note (PLEASE READ): A Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area permit is required. The permit is available for purchase at Walmart Sporting Goods desk for $15.00 for a calendar year. Since there are no restrooms accessible at this site, please plan accordingly. The site may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear and bring bug spray just in case. Don’t forget your binoculars and a spotting scope can be helpful if you have one. Brush up on your bird calls, particularly warblers, vireos, & flycatchers!
Contact Lisa directly (cell or email) if you have any questions or have trouble finding the Ranger’s station on-site.
Place & Time: We will meet at the Ranger’s station on Wade-Vancleave Road (turn right off Highway 57 at 12 miles north of the interstate or turn left off Highway 63 at the Waffle House/Wade intersection at the traffic light, then travel a few miles to find the station by the boat ramp at the river on the south side of the road) by 7:30 am to register before starting out and car-pooling.
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October
Seaman Road Lagoons, Jackson County
Saturday, 10/12; meet at 7:15-7:30 am
Leader: Sharon Milligan (2sharon123@gmail.com // (228) 861-1622)
Seaman Lagoons is one of our most popular field trip venues, not otherwise open to birders – always a great variety of birds, with good opportunities for photos! Bring your binoculars, scope, refreshments, etc.
Place & Time: We will meet at the Park & Ride at I-10 exit 50 (map), Ocean Springs next to Denny’s between 7:15 am and 7:30 am.
Conditions: It’ll be slow driving with stops; some groups will walk alot.
Important: This is a working facility. You must stay with the field trip leaders while on-site. Call Sharon (see phone number above) if you have questions about the policy.
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November – EXCLUSIVE TO MCAS MEMBERS
MS Sandhill Crane Refuge NWR, Jackson County
Saturday, 11/23; 8:00 am
We will do a van tour first, which will last about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Everyone will want to wear comfortable clothing and shoes as there may be opportunities to get out of the van during the trip. We are hoping for a lot of birds, but as you know, that is never a guarantee. If bird sightings are good, and the group is comfortable and happy, the tour could last a bit longer. Once the group returns to the visitors center, they are free to look around the exhibits, watch the movie and hike the trail. They can also eat lunch under the oaks if they’d like. The visitor center closes at 3:00 pm, but refuge grounds are open until sunset.
Notes: Bringing a lunch is optional, but feel free to do so if you’d like to hang out on the property after the tour. Dress appropriate for the early morning temps as well as the potential to warm up later in the day.
*This trip is exclusive to MCAS members only. Be sure to join for member exclusives!*
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December
Grand Bay NERR/NWR Birding Trip, Jackson County
Saturday, 12/7; meet at 7:30 am
Leader: Mark Woodrey // mark.woodrey@msstate.edu
Place & Time: The group will meet at the boat launch at the Bayou Heron boat ramp. This is the same road as the Grand Bay NERR office but at the south end of the road.
The focus of this trip is finding waterfowl, shore, wading and marsh birds and we will be getting out of the boats and walking through some small sections of marsh and on sand flats. Thus, rubber knee boots or other footwear you can get wet and muddy are highly recommended.
If you need a physical address, please visit our Facebook event page for this field trip or use the Grand Bay NERR office address as a starting point (6005 Bayou Heron Rd., Moss Point, MS 39562)
Registration: This trip is LIMITED to 15 participants and requires pre-registration. To register, please send Mark an email with your name, # of people in your group, your email and your cell phone number. Spots on the trip will be filled first come, first serve on the date and time Mark receives an email.
NOTE: There is a $40 per person fee for this trip. Details about your payment will be made once you are officially signed up for the trip.
For any questions pertaining to this trip, please reach out to Mark.
