Volunteer

MCAS members volunteer their time for a wide variety of birding activities. These activities give members an opportunity to support the community and showcase the work of MCAS.  Here are some of the activities in which MCAS members are involved.

Christmas Bird Count

Mississippi Coast Audubon Society enthusiastically participates in the world’s longest-running Citizen Science effort, National Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  Across the country, teams count all the birds they can in a 15-mile-diameter circle in a single day.  Each Count takes place between mid-December and early January.  MCAS sponsors two circle counts, one in South Hancock County and one in Jackson County.

The Counts are rigorous but fun, and there is always the possibility that a rare bird will be sighted, like the Painted Redstart logged in the 2012 count.  All data from the Count go into a national database that is used to identify population trends, range changes, and conservation needs for our birds.

CBCs are not for beginners, but if you have solid birding skills and relish being in the field all day whatever the weather, consider joining one of our Counts!  You can learn more about the Count at National Audubon’s website, at this link: www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.  Dates and contact information for the two MCAS circles will be posted there, advertised at MCAS’s Facebook and web pages, or you can contact mscoastaudubon@gmail.com to volunteer or get more information.

Surveys at the Sewage Lagoons

Every week since April, 1993, members of MCAS have conducted weekly bird surveys at the West Jackson County Regional Land Treatment Facility.  The facility, listed as ebird hotspot Seaman Rd Sewage Lagoons, contains a variety of habitats which provides critical habitat for both resident and migrant birds. This long-term record has been entered into eBird, making it one of the longest running surveys in the US. This record provides valuable data to help in documenting the changes in bird population of the Gulf Coast Area.  Read Ned Boyajian’s 25-year summary of these weekly surveys.

In 2001 after 9/11, the treatment plant was closed to general public due to security concerns. To allow the birding community in the area access to the lagoons, Mississippi Coast Audubon Society has made special arrangements to conduct several trips to the facility each year as part of our Field Trip schedule.

Beauvoir Birding Guide

Since June, 2015, members of MCAS have been conducting regular bird surveys at Beauvoir, home of Jefferson Davis and popular tourist attraction on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Representatives of Beauvoir and members of MCAS are working to produce a “Birds of Beauvoir” checklist and book “Birds of Beauvoir.” The book will contain pictures taken by MCAS volunteers. The checklist will be updated annually based on the bird surveys, and the site is being added to the Mississippi Coast Birding Trail.

Support to Pascagoula River Audubon Center and Audubon Mississippi Coastal Bird Stewardship Program

Members of MCAS provide support to the activities of other parts of the Audubon Society.  Members volunteer their time and effort as birding guides at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point.  Members also provide support to the  center.  MCAS members also serve as survey coordinators for the Audubon Mississippi Coastal Bird Stewardship Program and participate as volunteer surveyors.  Least Tern nesting colonies are managed with the help of MCAS members.  Contact msauduboncoastalbirds@gmail.com for more details or to volunteer.