4th Tuesday
Meet & Greet: 6:00pm
Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: WEBSTER’S SALAMANDARS: Migratory Behavior in Webster’s Salamander Population located at Clinton along the Natchez Trace

SPEAKER. Tom Mann, Zoologist, MS Natural Heritage Program, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson. (Dr. Debora Mann, Emeritus Assistant Professor at Millsaps College is a collaborator in all research and information presented).

Tom will share observations of Webster’s Salamanders (Plethodon websteri) at the Natchez Trace between 2009- 2013, confirming that they are indeed migratory. He will discuss myriad observations of these animals, including tail regeneration frequency (turkeys probably being the most important factor in tail injuries), biofluorescence of post-cloacal glands of male Webster’s, and minimum estimates of lifespan based on recaptures at drift-fences.

SPEAKER: TOM MANN, Zoologist, MS Natural Heritage Program, MS Museum of Natural Science, Jackson, MS

LOCATION: Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

Saturday 8am-10am

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

LEADER: Billy Mitchell

$2.16 park entrance per person

4th Tuesday
Meet & Greet: 6:00pm
Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: LEARNING THE WIND BIRDS   
Shorebirds are some of the most enigmatic birds in the ABA Area; they also present a myriad of challenges for both novice and experienced birders alike. In this talk, I will go over how to identify shorebirds as well as share some of my observations gleaned from three years of surveying shorebirds in Mississippi.

*A shorebird ID field trip may be possible with Cullen during shorebird migration, so stay tuned for updates.* 

SPEAKER: CULLEN BROWN, Ph.D., Upper School English Teacher, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Ridgeland, MS & Christmas Bird Count Regional Editor for Mississippi

LOCATION: Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

4th Tuesday
Meet & Greet: 6:00pm
Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: RED FIRE ANTS: MORTALILTY THREATS TO BIRDS
Red Fire Ants arrived in MS around 1930. They pose a severe, direct mortality threat not only to ground nesting birds but also to cavity and arboreal nesters by devouring newly hatched chicks and eggs, causing as much as 20% or more mortality in some songbird populations therefore reducing reproduction success. Also shorebirds, beach nesting birds, songbirds and especially endangered birds are all vulnerable.

SPEAKER: Nicole Hodges, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director, Meat Inspection Division, MS Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Jackson (formerly Director of MS Natural Heritage Program, MMNS, Jackson.)

LOCATION: Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

4th Tuesday

Meet & Greet: 6:00pm

Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: SNAKES OF MISSISSIPPI

The long-awaited definitive account of the snakes in Mississippi will be published September 2026. Mississippi Snakes: Their Identification, Natural History, and Influence on the Culture of the Magnolia State is more than just an ID book about snakes. It is a new approach to understanding the natural history of one of the most biologically diverse and culturally rich states in the country. Authors Terry L. Vandeventer and Robert A. Young share facts, stories, and practical advice about the more than fifty different kinds of snakes living in Mississippi. (Books will be available to purchase $35.00 paperback.)

SPEAKER: Terry Vandeventer, Herpetologist, Educator, & Bladesmith, Jackson.

LOCATION:  Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

4th Tuesday

Meet & Greet: 6:00pm

Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: VOICES OF THE NIGHT – FROG SOUNDS
Frogs croak primarily to attract mates, especially during mating season after rain when conditions are favorable. Male frogs are the ones that croak. These vocalizations, often described as trills, whistles, or clucks, function as mating calls or territorial warnings. Joe will help sort these sounds for us.

SPEAKER: Joe McGee, Retired Biologist & Educator, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson.

LOCATION:  Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

ST. CATHERINE CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SIBLEY, MS

SPECIAL SUNDOWNER FIELD TRIP (This is one of our most popular field trips)

TIME: 5:30pm-7:40pm

MEET: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Office Parking Lot at 5:30pm. (Someone will be there to direct you to THE SWAMP VIEWING AREA.) The HQ office will not be open. The birds will start going to roost before Sunset. Sunset will be about 7:40pm.

LOCATION: 21 Pintail Lane, Sibley, MS 39165 (South of Natchez, MS)
Refuge phone: 601/442-6696

WHAT BIRDS TO EXPECT:
Sponsored by JAS and St. Catherine Creek NWR at St. Catherine Creek NWR. There are lots of birds at St. Cat this time of year. If the water levels are just right there will be hundreds of birds feeding in the 900 acres of ponds/shallow impoundments and then at sundown the spectacle begins with all birds lifting off and going to the roost site nearby. Hundreds of Neotropic Cormorants, Wood Storks, 50’s of Roseate Spoonbills, and other long-legged waders (Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons, a few Tri-colored Herons, White and dark ibis, Black-necked Stilts, etc. Be sure to watch for both night-herons flying to roost at dusk. Resident Bald Eagles, plus various migrating shorebirds stopping over to rest are good possibilities. It is quite the show. It will be HOT but worth it! For some reason there seems to always be a breeze at St. Cats. Bring a hat, folding chair, water, snacks, picnic, umbrella (just in case). This will be a great show. Don’t miss it!! We look forward to seeing you. The event is always fun!

DIRECTIONS:
From Natchez, take US Highway 61 South for 10 miles, then turn right at Sibley, MS (at the Dollar General Store) onto York Road and go 2 miles. You will see the large brown St. Cat sign. Then turn left onto Pintail Lane. Meet at Headquarters office which is the first building on your left. You will then be directed to “The Swamp,” which is marked on the refuge map. We strongly recommend you do not rely on an electronic navigation device to find your way around the refuge. Also, there is very limited phone service after you leave the Headquarters. Visitor maps are available at the Kiosk at entrance of the refuge. BE SURE TO GRAB A MAP.

LEADERS: BILL & MARY STRIPLING (601.832.6788)

4th Tuesday
Meet & Greet: 6:00pm
Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM:
BEES & BIRDS and the IMPORTANCE of NATIVE PLANTS THAT SERVE BOTH
I fell in love with honey bees at a very young age, and they have been a lifelong passion for me. My secondary passion, is birding and bird conservation. I am often asked about the best way to help honey bees, birds, and our native pollinators – and the best resolution is an understanding of how native plants can benefit all of them.

SPEAKER: DR. JEFFERY HARRIS, Associate Professor – Extension/Research/Teaching, Honey Bee Physiology & Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Science & Plant Protection at Mississippi State University, Starkville, & President of Oktibbeha County Audubon Society.

LOCATION:
Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056.
Phone: 601 926-1104

Saturday 8am-10am (or 12noon)

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

Leader: Dr. Wes Shoop

$2.14 park entrance fee per person

 Saturday 9am-12noon (Birding on Your Own! No Organized Leader)

Bring a lawn chair, lunch, and binos and watch the sky for migrating hawks passing over Fort Hill. This will be a come and go (sit) type of bird watch. Mid-September is one of the best times for hawk watching. Hundreds of hawks and their young that breed north of us move through the state at this time of year. Most numerous is the Broad-winged Hawk, which at times can be seen in kettles, of hundreds, “boiling” high into the sky. The next most commonly seen September migrants are the feisty Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Osprey, Northern Harrier and Turkey Vulture. Go to https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/birds-of-prey/hawk-watching/fall-hawk-watching for a discussion on the best weather conditions for HawkWatching.

If the weather conditions are not optimal for this day; you should try again on another day in mid Sep. Let us know what you see. Birding on your own!

TIME:  10am -12 NOON

LOCATION: LeFleur’s Bluff State Park

Campground Entrance off Lakeland

Meet at Picnic area at LBSP

LEADER: WES SHOOP Wes has identified and photographed about every spider that lurks in the park and he knows their hiding places.  Please join us for this special treat with Wes. Wes’ new book of photographs of flora and fauna of Mississippi has just been published by University Press of Mississippi.  Books are available online, Lemuria Books or the MMNS bookstore.  He will also bring copies and be happy to sign them after the walk – $50.00.

$2.14 park entrance per person

Saturday 8am-10am (or 12noon)

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

Leader: Billy Mitchell

$2.14 park entrance fee per person

MEET: At Gatehouse at Entrance to the Park

TIME: 9am -12noon

b From Jackson: Take I-20 East toward Meridian, Take exit 77, Turn left on Hwy 13 North, Travel ½ mile, then turn left into the park.

ENTRANCE FEE: $2.14 per person
Park Phone: 601-732-6316

WHAT BIRDS TO EXPECT:  
Easy birding on paved roads throughout the park with good views of the lake. Expect to see most of the woodpeckers, as well as herons, egrets, kingfishers.  Maybe a Bald Eagle. Winter and fall migrants, such as ducks, sparrows, juncos, will be arriving so should be a great birding.

LEADER: BILLY MITCHELL 

4th Tuesday

Meet & Greet: 6:00pm – Business Meeting: 6:15pm

PROGRAM: SKETCHING and PAINTING BIRDS and NATURE
Sam is retired from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science after many years working with the museum and as Exhibits Coordinator. He is also a birder and has participated in our Jackson Christmas Bird Count. His knowledge of the biological sciences enhances his ability to portray living things authentically, from botanical art to animal illustration. Sam will reveal to us his techniques and methods of painting and illustrating nature and wildlife, especially birds. He will show us how color, form, and planning can lead to successful and informative watercolor paintings. Sam will illustrate how to make quick loose sketches and notes of birds in the field. This will help reactivate your memory when looking at your sketchbook later. Sketching doesn’t just make you a better artist; it also makes you a better observer of the natural world & a better birder. It’s the best way to learn birds because you have to stop and process what you’re seeing. It helps all those field marks stick in your mind.

SPEAKER: SAM BEIBERS, Exhibit Designer, Illustrator, Painter of Nature and Wildlife, Clinton, MS.

LOCATION:  Clinton Community Nature Center, 617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Phone: 601 926-1104

Saturday 8am-10am (or 12noon)

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

Leader: Dr.Frank Hensley

$2.14 park entrance fee per person

The natural habitats and forested ecological communities of LBSP provide a unique opportunity to learn about the natural environment found in central Mississippi. This field trip will focus on the diversity of plant life and the native plants you will encounter along the trails. The park includes 460 plant species within 390 acres of natural bluff and bottomland hardwood forest, several oxbow lakes, a mile of frontage along the Pearl River, Eubanks Creek, and various other wetlands. Learning to recognize the plants in the park will enhance your understanding of the park’s unique ecosystem.

For more info about the vegetation of the park see this article online:
Ronald G. Wieland. 2000. Ecology and Vegetation of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, Jackson, Mississippi. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Vol.45, No.3, July 2000, p.150-185

TIME: 8am-11am

DIRECTIONS: Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, 3315 Lakeland Terrace, Jackson, MS 39216

MEET: Meet at Picnic area

LEADER: HEATHER SULLIVAN, Botanist, MS Museum of Natural Science
$2.14 park entrance fee per person

TIME: 8am-12noon

MEET: We will meet at Madison Landing Circle beside Cock of the Walk at the Barnett Reservoir and caravan by vehicle around the Barnett Reservoir, stopping at the best birding locations around the Rez. There are some prime locations to spot birds during November. Hope to find lots of waterfowl, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, and other wintertime specialties.

DIRECTIONS: Take Rice Road and turn onto Madison Landing Circle. Continue to parking lot near Cock of the Walk.

LEADER: BILLY MITCHELL

Saturday 8am-10am (or 12noon)

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

Leader: Dr. Wes Shoop

$2.14 park entrance fee per person

Contact Mary Stripling, Compiler, if you would like to participate in the count.

Email: Stevenswaterbird@bellsouth.net

Contact Mary Stripling, Compiler, if you would like to participate in the count.

Email: Stevenswaterbird@bellsouth.net

Saturday 8am-10am (or 12noon)

Campground Entrance off Lakeland Drive, Jackson

Meet at Picnic area

Leader: Dr. Wes Shoop

$2.16 park entrance fee per person

Contact Mary Stripling, Compiler, if you would like to participate in the count.

Email: Stevenswaterbird@bellsouth.net

Contact Mary Stripling, Compiler, if you would like to participate in the count.

Email: Stevenswaterbird@bellsouth.net