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Welcome to MCAS
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Site
News and Events

Fox Sparrow, Vancleave, MS
Photo by Claire English
Newsletter!
Our Winter newsletter is
now online! Check it out for activities available to
you.
LOCAL EVENTS
February 4, 2010, 7:00-8:30 PM,
photographer Tom Ulrich will be presenting at the
Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs. The presentation
will be in the auditorium in the Caylor building. His photos
are incredible and he goes to some very interesting places around
the world. FREE
February 9, 2010, 6:00 PM Libby Graves "Big
Year". Libby will present photos from her big
birding year in 2009. This presentation will also be held in the
Caylor auditorium at Gulf Coast Research Lab. FREE
DOCUMENTATION
Ever wonder what is considered a "rare bird" in Mississippi? Here's a list
of review
species and other birds in need of
documentation.
FIELD TRIPS GALORE!
Print up a
MS
Coastal Bird Checklist for your
next outing.
 Jan.
30: Singing River Island (old homeport), Jackson Co.
Wintering water birds & other goodies. 7:30AM at
facility entrance. Please read the note below. Requires a
notarized
HOLD HARMLESS
AGREEMENT. A notary is
NOT available at the field
trip. If the form is not notarized, you will not be allowed
to attend. Don't
forget the bug spray...they are still ferocious. Leader: Don McKee (228) 238-2473
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NOTE:
All birders attending any Singing River
Island or Greenwood Island field trip must complete this
HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT
and have it notarized prior to the field
trip. This is
only good for the calendar year for field trips to Singing
River Island and Greenwood Island.
A notary is not available at the field
trip -- bring the notarized form with you and turn in to the
field trip leader. If it is not notarized, you will not
be allowed to attend.
Birder Behavior:
For the present, birders
wanting to go to either of these locations will only be
allowed on these properties when there is a MCAS sponsored
trip to these properties.
We need to build a good rapport and follow all rules
concerning our use of their properties. We must always give
a one (1) week notice before a planned event.
We ask that
birders NOT
venture into the Coast Guard
base which is now located on the island. But we can go on the
surrounding properties such as the parking lots. If in doubt,
don't go where there is any potential for a problem to
develop. The field trip leader can provide additional
guidance.
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 Feb.
6: Beaches of Harrison Co. Ducks, shore
birds, raptors. 7:30AM at Courthouse Rd Pier area. Jan
Dubuisson(228)216-0568
 Feb.
20: MS Sandhill Crane Refuge. Henslow
and other sparrows, refuge birds & facility tour.7:30AM at the
Refuge. Mark Woodrey (228) 697-0460
 March
13: Seaman Road Lagoons. Early
migrants and lagoon residents.7:30AM at Park&Ride, Ocean Springs
exit 50 or at the facility. Gerry Morgan (228) 239-6787
 March
27: Upper Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area.
Migration in the swamp. 7:30AM at gas
station on NE corner intersection of Hwy 63 and 614. Jake
Walker (228) 697-7157
 April
3: Hancock Co. Logtown and environs.
Migration in woodlands. 7:30AM at I-10 Welcome Center, Exit 2. Ned
Boyajian (228) 332-1329
 April
17: Dauphin Island, AL. Shell Mounds,
Fort, beaches, park for migrants. 7:30AM at Cadillac Park (later
if you want, just call for locations) Don McKee (228) 238-2473
 April
24: DeSoto National Forest. Woodpeckers,
sparrows, other specialties. 7:30AM at Ocean Springs exit 50 Park
& Ride. Jake Walker (228) 697-7157
 May
8: Hancock Co. Ansley and vicinity.
7:30AM at I-10 Welcome Center, exit 2. Ned Boyajian (228) 332-1329
 May
22: Boat trip with Bennie McCoy from
Pascagoula River Audubon Center. 8:30AM. $25/person. Kites on the
river. Millie Page (228) 324-8317
More
Web Resources
have been added to our site! Check out the newest links.
MCAS holds public programs every other month (January, March, May, July,
September, November), normally on the third Monday of the month. Keep
watch here for the next program!
Coast Birds Annotated Checklist:
Special thanks to Ned Boyajian for his contribution to collecting and compiling
records of birds sighted on the coast! A never-ending project, what
we trying for here is an annotated checklist of the birds of the six coastal
counties of Mississippi in a form that can be periodically monitored and
updated. Ned has compiled data from several sources, and continues to
collect information on bird sightings on the coast. This annotated
checklist is located on our Coast Birds
webpage.
In Memory of
Photo by Claire English
Judith Toups
November 30, 1930 - February 27, 2007
Online Tribute: http://judithtoups.blogspot.com
Stories may also be sent to daughter, Christine. "There
is no limit on length. As mom always used to say to me, write until the story
is told."
We received an article from Tracy Grazia on studies
done with the White-naped
Cranes of Mongolia.
Read it here . . .
Read "Cull of the Wild" ~ an
editorial by
SCOTT WEIDENSAUL
Got a
question? Check our FAQ "Frequently
Asked Questions" page!
NEWS FLASH: WMA User Permit now required!
When visiting a Mississippi Wildlife Management Area (WMA),
visitors are now required to have an annual "WMA User's Permit on
their person -- see the
PUBLIC NOTICE
explaining the age and disability exemptions.
"Users exempt from purchasing a hunting or fishing license (MS
Code 49-7-5 and 49-7-9) are also exempt from purchasing the WMA
User Fee Permit."
The User
Permits are valid from date of purchase to 30 June 2008.
See the
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
- Licenses page
for more information. WMA User Permits may be purchased
wherever fishing/hunting licenses are sold.
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About
Us
Since its charter in 1976, Mississippi Coast Audubon Society has
played an active role in many areas – conservation and protection
of natural resources, advancing student educational services,
partnering with other organizations and agencies for habitat
enhancement and wildlife preservation such as the Prothonotary
Warbler Trail at Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area. MCAS
members also fill the volunteer ranks at festivals and other
outdoor events.
From its inception in 1975 to the present, under the Nest in Peace
project, the chapter has taken the lead in gaining and maintaining
safe mainland nesting areas for beach-nesting birds, such as Least
Terns and Black Skimmers.
Though our major fund-raiser is the annual Yard Sale in the fall,
we also participate in other fund-raising opportunities. In turn,
we proudly dispense the majority of such funds to various
worthwhile causes.
Within the chapter there are experts on many facets of nature,
from birds to bees and everything in between. MCAS keeps a full
and varied schedule of field trips at which non-members are always
welcome. While most trips take place within the six southernmost
counties – our “member counties,” some plan-ahead field trips go
as far as Louisiana and Alabama. Our public meetings (see meeting
schedule) are spiced with appealing subjects.
MCAS
Constitution and
Bylaws
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