Can Find the Unexpected at CVS!

A quick trip to our neighborhood CVS brought an unexpected find - a gorgeous hawk atop the building. His call alerted me to his perch. High atop the building, he scanned the surroundings. I wasn't the only one watching. As I looked behind me, a large group of pigeons sat motionless on the power lines keeping a wary eye on him. As I wondered what species he was, I was, quite naturally, in the car without our binoculars. The pigeons, I'm sure, could have cared less about his species - only that they weren't on his lunch menu.

Pascagoula River Audubon Center

I was fortunate to be able to attend a lecture here at the Ocean Springs Library by speaker Mozart Dedeaux of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. He explained that the Pascagoula River is the last unimpeded river in the 48 continuous United States - meaning no dams are placed along the river and it flows uninterrupted to the Gulf of Mexico. What that equates to is a diverse ecosystem and a migratory bird flyway. At present, the center is a small house, but fundraising is underway to finance the construction of a 3-story center. Mr. Dedeaux, who is the Education Coordinator, and Dr. Mark LaSalle, Center Director, currently educate young and old alike about the biodiversity along the river. Two to two and half hour tours are available for those who want to see the river via guided boat tour. How fortunate we are that Audubon has such plans that we might enjoy this natural treasure up close!! You can visit the website and learn more at:
http://www.msaudubon.org/prac/

Handsome Fellows

Well, spring is surely around the corner! Depending on where you live, you've probably begun to notice little buds on bushes and trees, little wildflowers popping up with their pastel blooms, and the birds singing with a little more gusto.

As it begins to warm, we change our outer clothing to something a little more suitable - short sleeve shirts or, at least, shed that heavy coat.

So it is with the birds. While some of them wear the same "look" year-round, like the Northern Mockingbird, others "gussy up", as we Southerners sometimes say, for courting. Three species of birds, we have noticed, have already put on their courting suits! The Great Blue Heron has his breeding feathers, as does the Great Egret. Great Blue's feathers drop from his neck down over his chest. Great Egret's white plumage drapes down his back creating a wispy look. Both are sure to catch the eye of their ladies.

The Brown Pelican has also begun to change. Mature Brown Pelicans have off-white feathers over the top of the head and down the back of the neck. In springtime, though, it's time to stand out! The pelicans develop a nice light brown stripe up the back of the neck and a yellow patch at the base of the front of the neck.

The result of all these fancy feathers? A new group of youngsters who, after hatching and maturing at nesting sites, will appear at our shores - forever continuing this precious cycle of life.