Grand Bay Coastal Research Reserve/NWR

One of the other refuges, along with Mississippi Sandhill Crane, in the SE MS Refuge Complex is Grand Bay.  Since the sun finally came out this afternoon, Emma and I hopped in the car to make a visit.

It is one of twenty such Estuarine Research Reserves in the country.  Scientists come here to study the coastal Mississippi/Alabama estuary.  Estuaries are important areas for many reasons including being the breeding grounds for birds, fish, crabs, and shrimp.  The building, itself, is considered a “green” structure because of the way it is constructed, and the materials used to do so.  I was given a very informative tour of the entire building and surrounding outside area.

The green planning of this facility also included the bathrooms.  The sink counters are made of recycled plastic water bottles, and the toilets are high efficiency models that use water that is collected from rain water coming off of the roofs!  See those two buttons on the top?  They are for flushing.  The one on the left is for #1, and on the right, #2.  ;))

The visitor’s center for both the Grand Bay Refuge and the Research Reserve are also located in this building.  There are quite a few interactive displays to help educate visitors about the different habitats and their inhabitants along the coast.  They don’t get very many visitors here, and I think it’s because it’s off the beaten path, and not very many people know about it.  I found it well worth the visit, and who knows, I may even have to work here on some Saturdays.  Emma waited patiently in the car while I enjoyed my tour.We headed a little further down the dead end road, and stopped at the Oak Grove Birding Trail.  We were both ready to stretch our legs.  February isn’t exactly the most birdie time of the year to take this trail, but it was good to be out in the woods without the recent rains.

As we walked along the trail, dozens of yellow-rumped warblers flitted around us.  It was such a relief to be well enough to get out of the rig and enjoy the afternoon’s dodder in the coastal woodlands.

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy