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Well marked paths in diverse beautiful national forest offering viewing of rare red-cockaded woodpecker, brown-headed nuthatch, Bachman sparrow, other pine-woods species, early morning best
Developed as a public recreation area, Dry Creek Water Park features a 150-acre lake and a 28-site public camping area.
wet pine savanna, mixed woodlands offering excellent place for beginning birding and wildlife viewing
George P. Cossar State Park offers swimming, nature trail, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, skiing, picnic area. Hiking trails include Rocky Point National Recreation Trail; nationally-designated recreation trail; 4.5-mile partially looped trail network; begins and ends at Plum Point Recreation Area; descends to sandy edge of Enid Lake; passes impressive gullies in deep woods; additional trails: Quail Run Nature Trail (2.5 miles), Beech Hollow Nature Trail (.5 miles). Cossar has 13 cabins, 84 camping pads (water and electric only), group camp, seasonal swimming pool, visitors center, nature trail, 27 hole disc golf, and 2 dump stations, fishing (no boat rental), skiing, 2 pavilions, large picnic area, 18 holes miniature golf, and an Indian historic site.
The Gloster Arboretum was founded in 1956 by the late Sara & Frank Gladney, of Baton Rouge, LA. In 1965 the Gladneys established the John James Audubon Foundation to manage the 400 acre tract to preserve the unique indigenous plant associations with special care being given to the beech, magnolias, stewartia, mountain laurel, rhododendrons, viburnums and other native species, and to protect & enhance the special population of non-indigenous plantings introduced by the Gladneys and others. Visitation hours are daylight to dark seven days a week. Self-guided tour map available at site. Free admission.
The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge are co-located in the Center. The Reserve and Refuge encompass some 25,000 acres of coastal wet pine savanna and estuarine habitats, including maritime forest, tidal salt marsh, salt pannes, bays and bayous located in coastal Mississippi and Alabama. Established in 1990’s these protected areas serve to help protect some of the largest remaining expanses of Gulf Coast wet pine savanna habitat and estuary habitat in Mississippi. The facility includes an interpretative area as well as trails and boating/fishing on site. Open Mon - Sat 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entry is free. (Closed weekends and holidays.)
Birding and wildlife viewing in a coastal marsh dominated by tidal flows, mudflats exposed at low tide; wildlife nests and feeds in the marsh, herons, rails, plovers, sandpipers, killdeer, stilts, yellow-legs, coots, loons, cormorants, grebes, gulls, terns, pelicans, owls, hawks, osprey; optimum viewing times early spring, late fall during neotropical bird migration. Note: This is a public hunting area. Check for hunting areas and seasons.
Birding and wildlife viewing in a wilderness island park; 12-14 miles offshore, beaches, dunes, lagoons; endangered brown pelicans, bald eagles, sea turtles, more than 250 species of birds use islands to nest or as stop-over habitat during seasonal migrations; lizards, snakes, rare sea turtles, alligators in marshes; charter boats to wilderness islands, ferry to Ship Island; fishing in wilderness waters; beaches, coastal marshes, and dense maritime forests.
150-acre botanical prairie in Bienville National Forest, neotropical birds, prairie warbler, indigo bunting, blue grosbeak, yellow-breasted chats, common yellowthroat, during spring and summer
This area consists of 330 areas of wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, waterfowl food plots, and moist soil units. The primary objective of this area is the development, restoration, and enhancement of waterfowl habitat with special emphasis on public access and environmental interpretation. Some of the wildlife in the area includes Fox, Gray Squirrels, White-Tail Deer, Swamp and Cottontail Rabbits, Beaver, Bobcats, Raccoon, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-Headed Woodpeckers, Opossum, Quail, Mourning Doves, various species of Ducks and Wild Turkey. A 100 acre green tree reservoir and two shorebird wading ponds are also located in this area. Trails, bridges, and observation decks provide visitors with opportunities to view an assortment of wildlife. Displays provide information about wetland habitats and wildlife species. This area is closed to hunting.