Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Black Skimmer
The places to catch the excursion ferry to Ship Island are Gulfport Yacht Harbor, US 90
at US 49 (the phone number is 601-864-1014); and next to the Buena Vista Beach Club Inn
in Biloxi, US 90 at the I-110 loop overpass (call 601-432-2197). The trip across Mississippi
Sound takes a little over an hour, and the ride is a good opportunity to watch gulls and terns
and to look for possible magnificent frigatebirds. Weekends can be crowded, and tickets go
on a first-come, first-served basis; weekdays offer a much less crowded experience.
Horn Island
Many diverse habitats occur on large Horn Island, making it an excellent location for birds.
One reason it is so good for birds is that it is a designated wilderness area which is very in-
accessible. There is a ranger station in the middle of the island, but other than that, there is
no human presence on the entire island, and birds take full advantage of the ponds, marshes,
forests, and beaches. The only way to reach Horn Island or any of the other islands in the Na-
tional Seashore (other than West Horn Island) is by private boat, either your own or a charter.
It can take days to explore all of Horn Islands habitats and bird species. Birds that have
been seen on Horn Island include gray kingbird, burrowing owl, common moorhen, winter-
ing ducks, wintering rails, gulls, terns, plovers, sandpipers, osprey, and peregrine falcon. In
winter, northern gannet can be seen offshore, and pelagic birds such as magnificent frigate-
bird, masked booby, and brown booby have been sighted. For more particulars on Horn and
