Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A hotline for rare bird sightings along the Mississippi coast is available. That number is
601-467-9500.
BIRDING IN THE DEEP SOUTH
The legend of the South as being hot and humid is certainly true during the summer, which
is rather long. Unless there is a unique cool spell, I do not recommend going on any strenu-
ous birding activities during the summer here. There are plenty of easily accessible locations
where one can bird without arduous walking, such as along the beach or in areas easily ac-
cessible from your car. A long walk in the woods or swamps can be a miserable, even deadly,
thing during the summer in Alabama and Mississippi. The heat and humidity really do reach
epic proportions from late May through early September; heatstroke and heat exhaustion can
overwhelm the unprepared person who takes to the woods.
Further, the poison ivy, mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers are ubiquitous during the summer.
Although rarely seen by most people, poisonous snakes such as a variety of rattlesnake spe-
cies, copperhead, water moccasin, and coral snake all live down here; watch where you step
and where you put your hands when in the woods and swamps. Also, particularly when in
fields, one must watch out for fire ants; their gang attacks and multiple stings can be a danger,
but if you do not disturb their mounds, they will leave you alone. Another summer danger
that is relatively insignificant but must be considered anyway in these states is the American
alligator. In marshes and swamps in the southern parts of both states, alligators have made a
good comeback, and they do live in the kinds of habitats that make for good birding. Since
they can be in any wet area, watch for them; they do not want to deal with people and will
usually stay out of your way.
Seeing nesting hooded and prothonotary warblers deep in a swamp has been my reward for
hard-core birding during the summer in Alabama, but I do not plan to do that again, as there
are easier places to find such birds. Unless you are at the beach or in the mountains of north-
eastern Alabama, where it is surprisingly much cooler, I do not recommend birding most of
the areas of Alabama and Mississippi during the summer months if any significant walking
is involved. Stay off the major trails and try those places that are accessible by car.
However, what cruelties Alabama and Mississippi impose during the summers are re-
deemed by the pleasant winters. While much of the country is frozen, these states provide
what can be some of the finest winter birding anywhere. The temperatures are moderate; the
bugs and poison ivy are gone, and many northern bird species find this area a great place to
spend the winter. Hiking through the southern woods in winter is as comfortable as being out-
doors can ever be, and winter can bring you birds as diverse as common loons, ducks, numer-
ous sparrow species, and bald eagles. Often a light jacket or a sweater is all you will need for
warmth. The only drawback to winter birding in Alabama and Mississippi is that on certain
