The Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail
The Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail (MCBT) was originally created in 2003 by local bird watcher and writer Judith “Judy” Toups. Now, the trail is known for having some of the best viewing sites for Coastal birders. Toups went on to charter the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society chapter.
Now, the trail is sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Grants and partnerships also help to keep the trail alive. More specifically, Pascagoula River Audubon Center works with local partners along the Coast to keep up with and spread awareness of the MCBT in the six coastal counties.
Spots on the trail are deemed long-term stewardship sites, meaning that the Audubon Society and other organizations with similar missions of nature conservation take care of these areas. The end goal of the MCBT is to have a statewide network of trails that encourage environmental tourism, while also amplifying stewardship options to help with upkeep for our local birds.
The MCBT also features designated Important Bird Areas; basically, a place that is important to a species of birds. For example, the Least Tern has an Important Bird Area in Gulfport and is a prominent site along the trail because it is home to one of the largest colonies of Least Terns on the Gulf Coast.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has a high diversity of birds—almost 400 species! Some common species, like the Least Tern mentioned above, include:
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Canada Goose
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis • Black Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Clapper Rail
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowleg
Willet
Bonaparte’s Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Skimme
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Crow
