Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cluding savannah, fox, vesper, white-throated, white-crowned, swamp, and song sparrows.
Along the river portion of the park, wintering waterfowl can sometimes be seen; these in-
clude Canada goose, greater white-fronted goose, gadwall, mallard, American wigeon, north-
ern shoveler, lesser scaup, hooded merganser, ruddy duck, and green-winged teal. Spring mi-
gration and early summer bring as many as 34 species of warblers and vireos to the park.
Mississippi kite is present in summer.
The entrance to this national park is well-marked. Take exit 4B off I-20; go north, and turn
right at the first traffic light into the park. A bird list, a map, and other information, about
the park can be obtaned by writing National Park Service, Vicksburg National Military Park,
3201 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180.
YAZOO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX
Made up of five national wildlife refuges under the central management of the Yazoo Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge, this complex of federal land is prime wintering waterfowl habitat
along the Mississippi flyway. These refuges offer some excellent winter birding for ducks,
geese, and other waterfowl. However, some of the refuges are more accessible to the birder
than the others. Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge is the premier one for birders, and if you can
visit only one of these five refuges, make it Yazoo. Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
would be the second choice for the birder, and the other three are smaller and more diffi-
cult to bird. Located in the midst of these refuges is Delta National Forest. Along with Delta
National Forest, these refuges protect some of the last remaining wetlands in this vital area,
as so much has been converted into farmland. Although some summer birding is possible in
these areas, particularly in the national forest, winter is when these areas really stand out for
birding.
Maps of the refuges and a bird list (with 250 species) for the entire complex can be ob-
tained by writing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
Route 1, Box 286, Hollandale, MS 38748.
