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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Grand Bay Coastal Research Reserve/NWR

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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.

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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.

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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.  ;))

57 MS Sandhill Crane NWR1The 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.IMG_8780We 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.

57 MS Sandhill Crane NWR2As 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

17 comments:

  1. Glad to here you are feeling better, I'm getting cabin fever and need to get out and walk around in the woods.

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  2. glad you got out of the rig and headed out into the land of birds and sun!!

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  3. We have those toilets in the medical building here in town. Unfortunately I found that I had to flush it at least twice for it to work properly.

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  4. What a great place! I'll be adding that to my list of "must see's!" I wonder if those recycled water bottles are available for purchase. Heading to google!

    Happy Trails, forever!
    Cyndi & Stumpy @ RVly Ever After

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  5. So glad that you are feeling better and got to get out and roam around a little!

    That looks like a really nice place...

    Stay safe...

    Kerri in AL :-)

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  6. Glad you are feeling better and getting out and about! Looks like a great place.

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  7. Those "green" toilets are starting to be a common sight in new buildings. Our local library was built with them.

    Your warbler collage was great! I'm happy that you were able to enjoy your outing.

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  8. After a period of internment due to illness what better way to feel better than to head outside & smell that fresh air, feel the warming rays of the sun & hear the twittering of many happy birds in the trees. Kinda makes things worthwhile doesn't it.........:))

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  9. Yea! - you were able to get out and enjoy some fresh. Who was more excite - you or Emma?

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  10. Happy you are feeling better and getting out again. Thanks for the tour of “Grand Bay”, looks like a nice quiet place to visit.

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

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  11. "Butter Butts" are always entertaining by the way that they flit from one place to another! Great collage!
    I'm glad you're feeling better to enjoy the sunshine and refuge!

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  12. All systems up and running now, and it's great to see you and Emma bonding with the birds again. Those toilets are intriguing...I did laugh outloud though. Do you have to press both buttons simultaneously if both "numbers" are involved?...just askin'.

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  13. So glad you're feeling well enough to be out and about.

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  14. Must have felt great to get outside again and walk around a bit.

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  15. Glad you are feeling better. Is that a board-walk next to the visitor's center? If so, how long is it? I may want to add this to our bucket list.

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  16. Glad to hear the weather is improving and you r health is improving. What a way to celebrate that then to be outside. :)

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  17. I have seen those toilets with two buttons (not the rain water), and they had a very funny note above them explaining the purpose of the two.

    Nice tour and I won't ask which button you tried :)

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