The author takes time to study the quietness of the forest and the unique qualities of its inhabitants.
- story by James Inabinet, PhD

Winged blue jays were doing bird-things: eating muscadine berries, building nests in early spring, picking aphids off of stems, and singing songs.  Wiggling earthworms were doing earthworm things: tunneling just below the surface of the ground, eating leaves, feeding armadillos, squirming when encountering ants or sunlight. 

Hopping frogs were doing frog things: sitting on lily pads, hunting insects, swimming, calling for a mate, and feeding snakes.  Crawling fence lizards were doing lizard things: running over the ground, hunting, slipping tongues in and out of their mouths, performing push-ups to show off blue underbellies, feeding birds, digging under leaf mats, and remaining motionless when the shadow of a bird passes over.  ​

​Rooted red maples were doing maple things: limbs reaching toward the sun, growing tall in moist bottomlands, flowering and seeding in mid-winter, and feeding squirrels.
 
The initial goal of the investigations was simply to make careful and detailed observations of anything that captured my interest. 
 
In the goldenrod field, for instance, I sought the unique character of goldenrod so as to understand its process of becoming, to understand how it became what it is.  Not a form frozen in time, goldenrod grows and becomes, changing every day.  Through detailed observations I noted how goldenrod expressed itself: basal rosette of fuzzy green leaves, long straight stems, robust yellow fall flowers. 
 
In the beginning, all goldenrods looked the same.  Over time, the more I looked, the more I began to notice variations.  I noticed that goldenrods in the field were usually small in stature, but large in flower while those in the forest tended to be large in stature and small in flower. 
 
Further investigations revealed individual differences.  No two goldenrods were alike.  I was eventually able to detect particulars for each one, a unique and individual character–though detecting that individual character was often difficult.
 

After many forays watching animals, I noticed that after an organism’s needs were met, she would often sit idly, perhaps resting in a protected nook.  A coyote near the bayou with a rabbit once panted under the low-lying limbs of wax myrtles. 
 
A frog-fed copperhead curled up on the creek bank in the shade of titi limbs.  Satiated towhees sat on limbs, either singing or resting quietly.  A finch left a bush half-full of berries and never returned - unless she slipped in and out without my noticing. 
 
It seemed that nearly all of the organisms I chose for careful study rested when not hunting or hiding or escaping.  With no dire call to incessantly hunt and store food, enough seemed to be enough.
 
In these ways and myriad others, I noticed that the characteristics of each organism amalgamated into a unique expression.
​
​Deathcaps of the forest floor displayed a unique sense of fungusness unlike that of puffballs.  The squirrels of the canopy displayed a unique sense of squirrelness, an identity unexpressed by any other organism.  Water oaks displayed a sense of oakness unique to their kind, an expression that I became so familiar with that I could eventually distinguish water oaks from others by gazing at twilight silhouettes from far away.
​

I called each organism’s manner of being its identity.  Each organism in the forest possessed a unique identity, unique as species, unique as individuals.  The primary inclination of each individual seemed to be to express its unique identity as individual in its forest home. 
 
I longed to find out what humanness must be like in my forest home.  I longed to find out my identity, to find out what Jamesness must be like if it were to be fully realized.

​While 16 species of hummingbirds breed in the Northern Hemisphere, there is only one species that regularly inhabits our area, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The male is an iridescent green with a white underside and a red gorget (throat). As light is reflected off the gorget, it appears a fiery red; out of direct light, it appears dark.

​With wings that beat about 70 times per second, hummingbirds can indeed hover as well as fly backwards and upside down. They are interesting to watch and worthwhile to attract to your yard.
 
There is no trick or special formula to attract hummingbirds. You just need to understand that all living things require three things to survive: food, shelter, and water. If you provide those things for hummingbirds, they will visit your yard, too.
 
First, let’s talk food. Hummingbirds subsist on a combination of insects and the nectar from tubular-shaped flowers. While you probably won’t be able to set up an insect diner for the hummers, supplying nectar is as simple as putting out a hummingbird feeder.
 
The feeder needn’t be fancy, or expensive; most wild bird stores and many garden centers have inexpensive feeders available. When selecting a feeder, be sure to choose one that is easy to clean, because you’ll be cleaning it often. My personal favorite is the Aspects Mini HummZinger (shown). It is extremely easy to clean and fill, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. 
​

​Fill the feeder with a nectar solution made from one part sugar to four parts water. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to boil the mixture; just stir until the sugar dissolves. Mix only as much nectar as you need at that moment.

And please, don’t use commercially available nectar formulations from the home center. They cost a fortune and include red dye and other unnecessary chemicals that may negatively affect your little lodgers. Hang your feeder in a semi-sheltered location such as under the eaves of the house, if possible, to keep rain water from contaminating the nectar.
 
Clean your feeders often – at least once a week in cool weather, and more often in warmer weather. If the nectar looks cloudy or shows any mold growth, it’s past time to clean.
 
The usual reason for lack of success in attracting hummers is setting out the feeder too late in the spring. Reports are already coming in from neighboring communities that the first hummers are back!

​Males return first to stake out breeding territories. If they find your feeder and the area looks safe, one may take up residence. In a week or two the females will return, looking for love – and an attractive territory.
 
The right food plants can also make your yard more attractive to hummers. If you are planning on adding to your landscape, you might want to keep these plants in mind. (See list at the end of this article.)
​

​Shelter is the second requirement for attracting hummingbirds. If you have numerous trees and shrubs on your property, the birds have plenty of places to construct a nest or hide from predators.
 
Water is the third requirement. A simple birdbath can be constructed from almost anything – a plate, a trash can lid (clean it first, please), a shallow plastic bowl. Again, be sure to keep the birdbath clean and shallowly filled.
 
In our area, your first guest should appear in early March. You may not see regular activity at your hummingbird feeder for quite some time while the birds establish their territories.

​Once you start seeing the birds, note how territorial they are: One male will not allow another to use “his” feeder. If you hang more than one feeder, try to locate them so that they are not in direct view of each other, so one male cannot monopolize two feeders.
 
Do not be surprised if your “guests” disappear several times during the summer season. When their favorite flowers bloom, they will feed only from the flowers, rejecting your finest offering. Don’t worry; they’ll be back.
 
Also, breeding activity may keep them from being active in the garden. But just wait: if you provide them with suitable nesting habitat, you can enjoy watching the young hummers cavort around your hard all summer long, until they begin their southbound migration in September. Their games are enchanting to watch.

As autumn approaches, you will see less and less of your guests as they begin their long migration to the tropics. You have helped make this trip possible by supplying them with the energy they need for this arduous trip. Do not be sad at their leaving; if all goes well, the same birds may reappear next year.

Fall is the time to double up on your feeders; you will probably need to refill them daily to keep up with demand.  Then, as hummers migrate south from the rest of North America, get ready for Invasion of the Migrants! An entire continent’s worth of hummers will stream past, pausing before making the arduous trip across the Gulf of Mexico.

​The amazing video above was taken at a Waveland feeder in mid-September. Keep your eyes open for rare migrating Western hummingbirds that occasionally lose their way and end up along the Gulf Coast.
 
Hummingbirds make an attractive and interesting addition to any summer garden. It is well worth your while to invite them to spend their summer vacation at your “resort,” where they fascinate and captivate. All it takes is a few pennies’ worth of sugar – and a little patience.

A giddy newcomer and seasoned bird-watcher finds a wildlife bonanza here on the Gulf Coast.
- story by Dena Temple

Black Skimmer feeds by dragging its lower mandible through the water, trolling for fish.
​

“Tu-a-wee!” A flock of Eastern Bluebirds frolicked in the front yard.
 
Yes, we are birders. Bird-brains. Bird nerds! In fact, our fascination with feathered fauna helped drive our southern migration. And as birders, we weren’t looking for a home so much as a “habitat.”

​​The pretty brick house on the tracks in Waveland fit the bill perfectly – lots of land bordered by dense woods, near a bayou. We signed the papers just before Thanksgiving, and by Turkey Day we were unpacking our binoculars and setting up feeding stations.
 
We’re also a little competitive. And by “little,” I mean very. We compete with other bird nerds to see how many species of birds we can ID in our yards. We re-started our 2018 list when we moved to Waveland – and by the time the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, our list stood at an astounding 52 species. In five weeks!

​While all seasons along the Coast provide excellent opportunities for wildlife-watching, perhaps the best kept secret is the diversity here in the winter.
​

Joining the resident species of the Gulf are thousands of birds that spend their summers breeding farther north. As lakes and bays freeze over, species that rely on aquatic habitat are forced to head south.
 
In addition, land birds that eat insects must migrate to follow the food source. So, while spring and fall offer the best variety because of the migratory birds passing along the Mississippi Flyway, winter birding delights savvy Gulf Coast residents who are “in the know.” 
​

​​Gulls, terns and particularly shorebirds flock to the Gulf beaches, much like our snowbirds do, for the Gulf’s agreeable climate and excellent dining. Everyone eats seafood along the Coast!
 
Ducks, too, migrate south for the winter. Many only go as far as necessary to find unfrozen water, so they can find food. Some, however, make their way to our coastline and local ponds.
 
Commonly seen from our beaches are Bufflehead, tiny black ducks with white bonnet-like caps, and Common Loons, looking drab in their “basic” winter plumage.
 

​One of my favorite places to look for birds is the Washington Street Pier in Bay St. Louis. What makes any location excellent for birds is habitat diversity, and this spot has it.
 
Along the beach you’ll see lots of terns, gulls and shorebirds. Try to pick out the Willet, a large shorebird with drab, brown plumage – until he flies, revealing a distinctive and brilliant white wing stripe.

​​Walking to the end of the pier, scan the water for the aforementioned ducks, along with Horned Grebes, which are common in the Sound in the winter, and Red-breasted Mergansers, ducks with a distinctive dagger-like bill. 
​

​​Next, scan the rocks at the pier for Ruddy Turnstone, a medium-sized shorebird with orange legs and an unusually patterned chest. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and spot a Purple Sandpiper in the rocks, a rare visitor from the North.
 
While you’re out there, scan the distant skies for the beautiful white Northern Gannett, a large, graceful booby-like bird that nests on island cliffs but spends its entire winter over the water.
 
Back on land, patiently check the dune grass for birds like Marsh Wren, sparrows and Scaly-breasted Munia, a non-native, pet-shop escapee that has been spotted here recently.
 
There are many places along the Gulf Coast where beginners and pros alike can enjoy looking at, and learning about, birds. 
​

​A great source is the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society, which hosts mostly free field trips to various locations in the area. Attending one of these trips is a great way to meet like-minded people, increase your local knowledge, and learn about conservation and habitat protection.
 
If you’d rather strike out on your own, you can find information on the website for the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail . The website identifies more than 40 prime birding locations in the six southern counties of Mississippi. It’s a great resource, and I’ll be working my way through that list myself.
 
If you are the type who likes to volunteer, there are opportunities through both MCAS and the National Audubon Society for winter shorebird monitoring.
 
Also coming up February 15-19 is the Great Backyard Bird Count, which encourages individuals to count birds in their own backyards (or a local park or hotspot), then report your findings online through a special website, www.birdsource.org. The event is held over Presidents Day weekend, which may give you an extra day to venture out and enjoy what our area has to offer.

A local naturalist and zen explorer experiments with ways to consider the world from another living creature's perspective - and discovers a new way of seeing. 
- by James Inabinet, PhD, illustrations by Margaret Inabinet

Mouse-seeing is an innocent way of seeing that begins with an empty mind, a “beginner’s mind,” one open to anything as Zen master Suzuki describes: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”  

To begin mouse-seeing, thinking is suspended through meditation or prayer.  A quieted mind allows the “seer” to become more mindful of what’s happening right now, right here.  With an empty mind one becomes like a hollow bone, ready to be filled with possibility.
 
Several years ago, I ritually began my first journey into mouse-seeing in the goldenrod field.  After sitting in meditation for a while, I dropped down and put my nose close to the ground like a mouse to see the field up close the way she would.  

​I could see thickets of grass and goldenrod stems. With lowered head, I crawled for a while seeking mouse roads below the grass and goldenrod “canopy” and experience being in mouse habitat as I moved mouse-like through the field.
 
After a half hour or so, I became bored and noticed that I had been thinking about home and work.  I meditated and began again.  Soon I stumbled onto what appeared to be a tiny trail.  I slid onto my belly to look closer and discovered a mouse trail, a round hole through grass “trunks.”  Opening back into the grass, the trail disappeared in shadow.  Perhaps a tiny nest was back in there but I would never know. To get close enough to gaze at it would certainly destroy it.  

I turned away and crawled towards the early sun.  It struck me that humans are upright strangers that blithely walk through woods and fields as hawks, seeing from afar, from on high.  We rarely see a mouse or even her signs and yet mice are legion, numbering in the thousands in this place alone.  There on mouse roads they run, doing the doings of mice everyday unnoticed until someone gets down on her belly and looks with mouse eyes.  Only then can mice and their way of being truly begin to exist for us.  
 
As infants, we once possessed unmitigated body-knowing, as innocent as a mouse on her mouse-road – I only have to remember how to do it.  Maybe I can return somehow to an infant’s sense of wonder, alert and curious – like a mouse.  Intimate with her world, she sees clearly only what is right in front of her feeling, smelling nose.
 
I moved closer to the stems of the grasses and goldenrods; I touched them with my face, feeling their roughness.  Nose to the ground, I smelled the dark, damp earth where it was exposed. I listened closely while simultaneously smelling, feeling, looking.  The mouse way is a doing way.  

 Energetically, I moved through the field, stopping only for brief moments. I alternately blurred my vision and then focused.  In blurring, movement can be detected, vital in a mouse world that includes hawk shadows and snakes.  With blurred images, one feels more than sees.  Blurring interdicts thinking.
 
With closed eyes I laid down and focused on feelings.  A surprisingly rough grass stem was touching my face.  I tried to move into that feeling of roughness–without thinking. Moving my face to the side, I felt the mat of dry grass that covered the bare earth, again focusing on feelings. 

Moving forward a few inches I felt a grass stem on my forehead, focusing on feelings even as an image appeared, an image of what that grass might look like.  I continued in this way for about an hour and had moved only about six feet. 
 
At the end of this experiment into mouse-seeing, I knew that particular feelings had arisen in me about the nature of the beings of the field, but I could not clearly recall them.  It occurred to me that by purposefully suspending thinking, these feelings could not easily become thought and/or words.  Something, though, was felt, something known, but I could not say exactly what it was.  

​Even so, my relationship with this place deepened.

Crossing paths - and then following  - a snake hunting dinner in the woods sparks a contemplation on how humans can relate to other beings in our world. 
- by James Inabinet, PhD

The immovables joined in; scale insects covered moist, succulent stems: goldenrod, asters, Joe-Pye weed.  Spittlebugs ensconced below; basal leaves pushed back revealed frothy hide-outs.  Cocoons were packed snugly inside rolled-up leaves or dangled under them.  
 
A golden silk spider web blocked the way, a micrathena orb-web right behind it, a spiny-orb weaver web next - signs of late summer.  Contorting my body, I went under them.
 
I made my way down the bluff overlooking the creek.  Barefoot, I sloshed downstream on the sandy bottom; water just covered my ankles. The roar of cicadas drowned out the rippling water as I approached the confluence of bayou and creek through a tunnel of overhanging limbs and branches.
 
A clearing signaled my approach to the bayou ahead.  Movement along the bank next to the trunk of a smilax covered gallberry at the water’s edge revealed a slithering water moccasin.  The poisonous snake wended his way into the bayou, hugging the edge.  
 ​
I followed – at a distance. Excited, I watched him slither, weaving back and forth, and then suddenly stop.  Motionless except for a wagging tail, he steadied himself, apparently watching something.  He remained this way for a long time, several minutes (!), and then struck blindingly fast. A frog jumped to safety, disappearing near the edge while the snake frantically searched.  
 
After a minute or so the snake resumed his journey downstream.  It occurred to me that this must be the dance of a snake.  I followed him, wondering what it might be like to be a snake and slither in the water in this way.

Later, I thought about: “What is it Like to be a Bat?” an essay by the cognitive scientist Thomas Nagel who famously wondered about the consciousness of creatures like bats, forms of consciousness very different from that of humans.  

He surmised that there must be “something it is like” to be that organism.  In order to determine “what it’s like” to be another being, humans use human points of view by imagining the other to have experiences that are similar to their own. 
 
Bats experience the world through sonar, a mode of experience profoundly unlike anything in human experience. 

Nagel found no reason to believe that batness is like anything “we can experience or imagine.” Concluding his thought experiment, he declared that there is simply no way to know what it is like to be a bat. I presume that knowing what it’s like to be a snake to be no different.
 
Should I forget about the snake?  This question cuts to the core of my research of the past 25 years, which is to come to know a forest ecosystem and its inhabitants deeply, even mystically, like a forest monk.  The goal: to become a functioning human component within in an ecosystem, a functioning part of its wholeness - to fit in - like our snake or a bat or even a tree for that matter. ​

If Mr. Nagel remains distant from nature, sitting in his ivory tower armchair watching bats circle a streetlight through a window, he will never know batness and will conclude that no one else can.  He could never experience a forest in the way I am seeking.  
 
Because consciousness is subjective, all about me, the experience I have of another being, even a human one, remains difficult to describe.  How can someone get to know “what it’s like” for another being?  To know “what it’s like” there must be elements of experience where the one is like that of the other.  There must be elements of experience we both hold in common. 
 
This is what empathy is – feeling the experience of the other.  I tear up when you cry because I feel it.  Nagel seems to reduce experience to thinking; indeed, he seems to elevate thinking to the order of actual experience wherein what passes for knowledge arises from thinking alone. 
 
To look at experience this way is to impose a purely “mental” form of consciousness onto humanity, leaving only a shell of experience.  “Thinking” about bats becomes the only way to know about batness at all.  You don’t even have to go outside and watch them.
 
Of course, experience itself is always richer than thinking and speaking about it.  Thinking about my love, for example, is one thing, but getting a hug from her is so much better.  I propose that there are other valid, more experiential, ways of knowing than Nagel’s mental knowing.  
 
I propose that “body-knowing” is one of those ways.  We have all felt parts of our bodies tightening up or relaxing in the face of profound experience, like the feeling of dread in a place that feels “off.” With body-knowing we know something even though we cannot say what we know - and no amount of thinking can help us to tell.  
 
Another way of knowing that I propose is what I call “heart knowing.”  It’s a profoundly feeling-oriented, emotional, and empathetic way of knowing, not unlike feeling love for a partner.  I have found that you can actually look at and dwell-within another being - even a non-human being - in this manner.  
 
If there is any way for humans to experience snakeness, it would seem to require one or both of these other ways of knowing.  I am paraphrasing the philosopher Bruno Snell when I add that perhaps a human might never be able to experience a snake or a bat in a “human” way if she did not first experience herself - a human being[!] - in a “snake” or “bat” way.  
 
For experience to rise to that level requires more than just thinking about snakes or bats.  Following Snell’s ambitious challenge, I have become determined to try a more embodied path to the experience of snakeness and see where that may lead.  
 ​

Bay St. Louis is the hub of a five-state Gulf Coast plastic use reduction campaign.  Find out who started the movement, who pioneered plastic-free in BSL and what local café is part of a pilot program.
​- story by Ellis Anderson 

Other Bay eateries will be joining  PFGC as well, in a campaign offering drinking straws only-by-request.  PFGC organizer Elizabeth Englebretson with the Gulf Coast Design Studio says that several have already agreed to participate in the effort to become more sustainable.  Restaurants also benefit from building customer good-will and getting positive press exposure.  

Englebretson says the effort stems from the fact that plastic pollution is continuing to increase, despite efforts to curb it.  Calling it “a pandemic,” she believes the only way to stop the pollution is to cut back use of it to begin with, by using biodegradable options like paper and sugarcane-based “plastic.” 

The Mockingbird Café pilot program is being funded by a small grant through the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.  Some of the grant money is being used to help pay for biodegradable non-plastics during the weaning away period.  Customers are also being asked to pay a quarter extra.  

The pilot program grew out of inspiration from the Starfish Café’s successful effort to go plastic-free.  The Starfish (211 Main Street) is a project of the non-profit, Pneuma Winds of Hope.  Di Fillhart is the organization’s executive director and manager of the Starfish Café.  Fillhart says the café started going plastics-free four years ago.  

“We polled our customers and asked if they’d mind paying extra for biodegradable to-go containers,” says Fillhart.  “Unanimously, they said, ‘no problem.’ 

Fillhart believes that the straws by request only is a good way for a business to get its feet wet in the burgeoning new green-market economy.  “Our first step was to start with paper straws.  Now we’re using a plant-based plastic straw.”  

Cutting back usage of the seemingly insignificant drinking straw might seem like a wasted effort.  How could that alone make a dent in the enormous amount of waste produced in this country?  But Englebretson says that US citizens alone use 500 million plastic straws each day.  To put it in perspective, in a single year those straws could fill Yankee Stadium.  

Not once, but nine times over. 

By tackling the drinking straw problem, the group hopes to raise awareness to let people know that they can add a fourth “R” to the saying “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.”  That would be “Refuse.”  

Bay St. Louis is the hub of the pilot program that is slated to spread across the five Gulf Coast states, and the city is also the birthplace of PFGC itself.  The organization began in 2016 as a project called Plastic-Free April.  Three local women concerned about plastic pollution - Kerr Grabowski, Carole McKellar and Ann Weaver - led a public challenge asking people to go without using plastic for one month.  ​

Last year, the group began working with the Gulf Coast Design Studio and Englebretson .  The name of the group changed from “April-free” to “Gulf Coast” as the ideas blossomed.  The movement now has partners in each of the five Gulf Coast states with ambitious plans for projects in them all.  

“In the Gulf states, we don’t have a green economy where people have access to plastic alternatives,” Englebretson says.  “We’d like to create one.  And we’re even finding that some of the alternatives to plastic are now less expensive.” 

“It’s not about going completely plastic-free right now.  There are times you can’t avoid using it,” Englebretson says.  “But it’s about making changes that eventually become part of your life.” 

The Mockingbird has already explored sustainable-practice options through the years.  The newly launched program, overseen by manager Whitney LaFrance, has is pushing the sustainability-business model envelope.  Owner Alicein Schwabacher found herself asking, “Do we even need some of these products?  And if if we do, can we replace the plastic with something less harmful to our ecology and customers?”

“All of us at the Mockingbird want to be part of the solution,” said Schwabacher.  

Englebretson believes that sort of attitude can lead to big changes.  

“We just all need to work together and support each other,” she says.  “We can make this happen.” 

A state monitoring program tests the waters of the Mississippi coast and issues advisories if needed.  What are they testing for and where?  We have the info and the links to make it easy to check before you swim. 
- story by Lisa Monti

​Doug Upton, chief of MDEQ’s field service division that does all monitoring across state, said the water samples are collected at least once a week by staffers at MDEQ’s regional office in Biloxi. The samples are analyzed at a private lab in Ocean Springs and results are typically reported in 24 hours.
 
What they’re looking for is Enterococci bacteria, which Upton calls “an indicator organism” that signals pollution caused by stormwater runoff, wildlife, boating waste or sewer overflows. High winds and heavy rainfall can also increase bacteria levels in our coastal waters. That’s why the Beach Task Force recommends not swimming during or within 24 hours of significant rainfall.

​When Enterococci bacteria levels exceed federal water quality standards in two consecutive samplings, MDEQ will issue an advisory using warning signs at the beach location itself and through the news media and social media. The goal is to let people know that if they come in contact with the contaminated water, there is a higher risk of infections of the ear, eye, skin and respiratory system. Gastrointestinal illness and even meningitis and hepatitis could occur through water contact.
 
You can still enjoy the sand beach section but, MDEQ says, you swim at your own risk.
 
The advisory is lifted after two daily samples show acceptable levels.
 
Very seldom does MDEQ issue beach closures, Upton said. “We do from time to time have sewage releases into the Sound from infrastructure failures. Then we will immediately issue an advisory and out of an abundance of caution, we make the advisory area probably bigger than it should be and assess the impact and monitor it daily until the threat is no longer there.”

Warmer weather also brings concerns about Vibrio or “flesh eating” bacteria, which multiply as water temperatures rise, the same time more people are swimming and boating. Upton said MDEQ doesn’t monitor for Vibrio bacteria because those bacteria exist naturally in brackish waters and they are not linked to pollution.
 
Upton said MDEQ puts great emphasis on its beach monitoring public notification system and website which contains current and historic data going back to 2000 for its sampling locations. The public can sign up to receive email notifications, automatic text messages and Twitter blasts about the beach advisories.
 
“The whole emphasis for beach monitoring is to make sure beachgoers know the condition of the water they will be swimming in,” he said.
 
To receive beach advisories, send an email to [email protected], text "MDEQbeach" to 95577, or follow MDEQ on Twitter: @MDEQ.

We rarely glimpse these nocturnal neighbors, but when we do, it's another reason to appreciate life on the coast.  Find out what makes these critters good neighbors and ways you can help offset shrinking wildlife habitat.  
- story by LB Kovac and Ellis Anderson 

• Four friends in an SUV are heading out to dinner at a restaurant.  It’s just after dark.  They pull up to a stop sign at St. Charles Ave., when one notices movement in the wood strip just ahead where the road curves.  It’s a fox! they breathe in awe, sitting at the stop sign, the headlights illuminating the creature.  Time stretches, as they watch it watch them.  Finally, the fox slips into the underbrush and vanishes.  The friends drive on, understanding they’ve been gifted by nature on this night.  ​​

​

​One of the charms of Bay St. Louis is that the humans coexist with an astonishing variety of wildlife.  Bald eagles and foxes, owls and ospreys, turtles and pelicans, squirrels and geckos and possums and raccoons – to name only a few. 

In fact, Mississippi is home to a substantial number of land mammals alone: 63. For reference, the Magnolia state beats Louisiana, the state closest in land size, by 11 species. Some of our furry neighbors, like the gray squirrel or the eastern cottontail, are a welcome sight no matter where you see them--be it on a nature trail or in your own backyard.

Yet some people may be dubious about critters like foxes, raccoons and opossums, critters important to the delicate Mississippi ecosystem.

Missy Dubuisson, owner of Vancleave-based wildlife rescue organization Wild at Heart, says that these are some of the animals her organization most often sees. She says, “we receive calls from federal, state and local law officers, and the general public” on a regular basis.

Dubuisson has been rehabilitating animals since she was a little girl growing up in Pass Christian. Her love for wild animals, especially America’s only marsupial, has earned her the nickname “the Possum Queen.” 

According to Dubuisson, some homeowners erroneously believe that opossums, raccoons and foxes are aggressive or carry infectious diseases like rabies.  Both turn out to be myths.
​ 
“Many people see a possum and they think they’re going to attack. That’s not going to happen,” Dubuisson promises. She goes on to explain that they’ll only get aggressive if they’re on the defense.  “Rightly so.”

As for rabies?   The state has been surprisingly rabies-free for the past fifty years.  According to the Mississippi Department of Health, “Land animal rabies is rare in Mississippi. Since 1961, only a single case of land animal rabies (a feral cat in 2015) has been identified in our state.” Experts found that the cat had contracted rabies after being bitten, not by another land mammal, but by a bat.

Possums, foxes and raccoons mostly live invisibly alongside humans in urban or semi-suburban areas like Bay-Waveland. All three creatures are dubbed opportunistic eaters.  Possums feed on everything from roaches to slugs. Raccoons have a varied diet too, eating crawfish to berries.  Much of a fox’s fare consists of invertebrates, like grasshoppers and caterpillars. 

Fortunately for their human neighbors, all three eagerly devour nuisance rodents.  The fox, in particular, is valued for its superlative ability to catch rats and mice. 

But as more lots and wooded areas are cleared for development along the coast, the habitat for native wildlife is rapidly disappearing.  The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has several programs in place to offset shrinking habitats by encouraging individuals and communities to create new ones.   

​Individuals can participate with the 40-year-old program, Garden for Wildlife.  This step-by-step program guides homeowners in transforming an ordinary yard into a haven for birds and mammals that we love to watch.  NWF even offers a certification once their checklist has been fulfilled.  Signage celebrates the efforts and encourages neighbors to do likewise. 

Schools, college campuses and place of worship also have wildlife habitat programs, tailored specifically for them.  Entire cities, like Bay St. Louis or Waveland, can apply to be official Wildlife Habitat Communities.  In addition to practicing more sustainable, nature-friendly lifestyles that benefit both humans and animals, these communities receive positive national recognition. 

If Bay St. Louis or Waveland chose to participate, we’d be in good company:  Disney’s Epcot Center is a showcase Habitat Community.  As is the Denver Zoo.  And in Maryland, “Baltimore Gas and Electric has created habitats along its power line rights of way.” 

For more information on participating, click on the links above.  In the meantime savor another sighting: 

• Driving home from a college class in New Orleans one night, a woman crosses the tracks at Ballentine, heading toward the beach.  The moon is full, so movement in a vacant field catches her eye.  She stops the car.  Two foxes freeze, their coats of red glowing, even in the blue moonlight.  The human and animals regard each other calmly.  There’s no fear on either part, only recognition as fellow beings sharing this extraordinary place and time.  When the foxes decide they have better things to do, they move on out of sight.  The woman slowly drives on toward her home, understanding that this brief encounter will be treasured for the rest of her days.  ​

The park surrounding the historic Bay St. Louis City Hall and the shoofly oak is named after a woman who left a lasting legacy of loveliness. 
​- story by LB Kovac, photos courtesy Holly Vegas

She did missionary work with primitive Indians in the rainforest. She slowed down a little to have four kids. All of this under, as Holly puts it, “a hail of gunfire:” Guatemala was in the middle ofa brutal civil war, one that would only be settled a little before Carol Vegas’ death. But the war didn’t stop her; Carol Vegas did what needed to be done.

​When she finally got to Bay St. Louis, she didn’t settle down into the role of quintessential Southern housewife so prevalent in the 1960s. The only hallmark of that image she retained was her penchant for hats. Holly says, “She loved her hats; any time there was a significant event, she would find a way to wear a hat.” She was 5’3” and had fire-licked hair out of a bottle, something women at the time just didn’t do. 

And this beautification business that Carol Vegas is now so famous for? Holly says it all started because of trash. “She was infuriated by people throwing their junk out,” she says. And, once again, she did what needed to be done. “She wanted the new place she called home to be a better place.” Carol and three other ladies organized a group of kids who would pick up trash in the mornings and on the weekends. “That’s what I remember about growing up: always being dragged around to pick up litter.” 

“She would never not do the right thing,” says Holly, and this strong sense of ethics is something the daughter feels she inherited from her mother. “And, if there was something to be done – a party or whatever – she would do it to the nth degree.” 

It’s around this time that she met Ellis Cuevas, long-time publisher and editor of the Sea Coast Echo. The two “fell in a good friendship,” as Cuevas puts it, and, over the year’s served on many committees, boards, and task forces together. Cuevas can attest to Carol Vegas’ long list of accomplishments. “It was a hell of a journey [working with her],” he says.

 “[Her] biggest project was anti-litter.” Of course, where this litter was mattered little to Carol Vegas, or Cuevas. Together they served on the Bay St. Louis Beautification Committee, the Hancock County Beautification Committee and the Marine Debris Taskforce, where they helped on numerous projects that made the neighborhoods, roads and beaches less trash-filled and more beautiful. 

Independent of Cuevas, Carol Vegas also served on several highway landscaping committees and city beautification projects. She’s credited with designing the Tree of Life at the Harriet Center and the rose window at Christ Episcopal Church. For her efforts beautifying the Gulfport area, Carol Vegas was awarded medals, titles, plaques and other awards too numerous to even list.

In the last years of her life, when she’d “retired” from public work, Carol Vegas did not let up. Holly shares, “Her ritual every morning was to call all of these people and just listen to them. She was a kind of therapist… That’s what caught me off guard [at her funeral] – how many people she emotionally supported… And she did it all out of this sense of purpose.” 

Picking up litter certainly isn’t the glamorous side of beautification – not like designing gardens or arranging ornamental flowers – but it is important and necessary. Carol Vegas made a career out of it. 

If you ever see the sunlight coming over the old City Hall, casting long shadows over the swing sets or the wildflowers, think that it wouldn’t be that pristine or beautiful if it weren’t for someone seeing a piece of litter and deciding something needed to be done about it

Just a few months prior to its opening, the park formerly known as City Park was a mess. No one needs reminding that Hurricane Katrina hit the area hard, and a lot was lost. But Carol Vegas Park was one of the first things in the area people came together to clean up and rebuild it. More than 500 volunteers and residents worked to clean up debris, lay the foundation and add the equipment donated by KaBoom!

And, in Carol Vegas’ name, the area was left a little brighter. 

Tour some of Hancock County's favorite campgrounds, offering everything from primitive tent camping in serene settings to a beachside getaway with a waterpark. 
- story by LB Kovac, photos by Ellis Anderson 

​Buccaneer State Park
1150 S. Beach Blvd.
Waveland, MS
228-467-3822

​Buccaneer State Park is consistently ranked one of the best campgrounds in Mississippi. The park’s popularity is in no-doubt thanks to its many amenities: a fully-stocked camp store; two large, lifeguard-protected pools; a full waterpark complete with slides, a wave pool, and a splash pad; a coin-operated laundry room; and a long nature trail that takes you through some of Mississippi’s less-developed areas. Indeed, Buccaneer State Park has a little something for everyone.

The campground itself has over 200 campsites, both back-up and pull-thru spots. Campsites come with options for 30- and 50-amp connections, as well as Wi-Fi, cable, and a parking spot. There are dedicated primitive sites in the back of the campground for campers looking to pitch a tent. These sites don’t have fire circles or picnic tables, but they are spacious enough for multiple tents or extra equipment.

The best thing about the park, though, is its proximity to the gulf. Located on Beach Boulevard in Waveland, the Gulf of Mexico is quite literally across the street. If you know your travel plans ahead of time, you can reserve one of the park’s premium gulf-view spots, which give you amazing sunset views from the comfort of your camper. And white-sand beaches are just a short walk away!

The tradeoff for staying at such a big park is a bit of noise. There are dedicated quiet hours at Buccaneer State Park, but there are lots of campers, including families with young children, and some noise can't be helped.

McLeod Water Park Campground
8100 Texas Flat Rd.
Kiln, MS
228-467-1894

If you see your visit to Hancock County as less splashing in the pool and more communing with nature, pull your camper around to McLeod Water Park Campground. Located on the banks of the Jourdan River, McLeod offers a sportsman’s paradise, with two boat ramps; plenty of water for swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing; and two scenic nature trails.

McLeod has about 50 campsites, with back-up and pull-thru sites available. Each site comes with a parking spot and picnic table, and slide-out campers can be accommodated. There’s also an on-site bathhouse with showers, a splash pad for the kids, and a playground.

Despite this campground’s seclusion, there’s still easy access to downtown Hancock County’s conveniences. Hollywood Casino, downtown Bay St. Louis, and Mississippi’s coastline are each just a 20-minute drive away.

Bay Hideaway RV Park and Campground
8360 Lakeshore Dr.
Bay St. Louis, MS
228-466-0959

​Bay Hideaway was recently voted #1 Favorite RV Park in America during a Woodall’s competition. And if you know anything about the campgrounds, it’s easy to see why it is so well liked. In addition to the amenities offered by many other Hancock Country campgrounds — 30- and 50-amp sites, a swimming pool, and a lounge area with games, books, and movies — Bay Hideaway offers a little bit extra.

The campground park has a disc golf course for enthusiasts, the laundry rooms are free, and the staff have lots of recommendations for local eateries, bars, and family activities. During special holidays, there are free cookouts for the whole campground.

This campground is just three miles from the beach, and it’s even closer to several casinos. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars in downtown Bay St. Louis. 

Shady Acres
8012 Highway 90
Bay Saint Louis, MS
228-463-9670

For the seasonal camper, Shady Acres RV and Cottage Community presents a calm, relaxing atmosphere with all of the amenities you need, at affordable rates. Owners Bill and Julie Berry have created a perfect base for people who are enjoying the Hancock County area during a long-term stay. In addition to spacious spots with parking for two vehicles, Shady Acres features landscaped gardens, a private fishing pond, and a pet playground. There’s even a clubhouse with large television, a library, and plenty of board games: bad weather doesn’t have to sideline your relaxation.

This campground is centrally located for those who want to enjoy all of Hancock County’s features. Silver Slipper Casino, Hollywood Casino, the Stennis Space Center, and white sand beaches are all within a ten-minute drive.

Be aware that this campground only rents by the month. If you’re in Hancock County for a shorter stay, you might want to look at one of the other facilities.

These are just a few of the campgrounds in Hancock Country. Whether you’re just visiting the area or looking to call it home for a little while, there’s a campground just for you.

Another segment is being added to the popular beachfront walking/biking path, with plans in the works to make Hancock's coast road even more appealing to cyclists and pedestrians.
 - story by Laurie Johnson

​Allison Anderson of Unabridged Architecture is a longtime member of the Greenways and Scenic Byways Committee.  She says that the new section of pathway helps move forward the committee’s long-range goals of offering a quality-of-life amenity for locals and creating a major visitor attraction.
 
Anderson says that when the new stretch is complete, only two gaps in the off-road trail will exist between the Bay Bridge and Bayou Caddy — a total distance of nearly nine miles.
 
One of those gaps is between the east side of Buccaneer State Park and Lakeshore Road, a distance of 2.25 miles.  There’s only seawall there, with no beach to act as a bed for the concrete pathway.  The Greenways committee is working toward eventually finding funding for an inland side segment of the path.  Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles.
 
The other gap, about 1.15 miles, is between the east end of the paved pathway at the Washington Street Pier and the foot of the Bay Bridge, at Beach Boulevard and Highway 90.  Although a sidewalk extends through that segment that passes through the heart of Old Town Bay St. Louis, building a dedicated bike path isn’t possible because of the seawall and high-density traffic and parking.  But Anderson says that the committee has come up with an innovative way to improve cyclist safety in that section.  
 
Anderson says the committee is applying for a grant with Transportation of America to fund a cultural signage project along that gap.  The signage will actually be in the form of permanent pavement markings designed to raise awareness with motorists about sharing the road.  These “road medallions” will be eye-catching and attractive, too, since they’ll be designed by local artists. 
 
“This is the road we’ve got, so we’re going to have to make it work,” says Anderson.  “And this pavement marking system will allow us to do raise awareness with motorists in a very artistic manner.” 

​In 2014, local cycling enthusiast Myron Labat formed a group called the Bay Roller Cycling Club.  Members of the 11-member group of amateur cyclists are sharing their love of cycling and giving back to the community at the same time.
 
Labat reports the group secured sponsorships from Hancock Bank, Keesler Federal Credit Union and Coast Electric Power Association to help their fund projects like the Christmas Bicycle Drive. Last year, the Bay Rollers donated 110 bicycles and helmets to local elementary school students.
 
In addition, members educate the recipients on how to operate bicycles around town safely. Kids learn the basic rules of the road and are taught not to get on the roads without an adult rider.  Labat says they also encourage parents to continue bicycle safety education as they ride together.
 
Both Anderson and Labat want people to know that Mississippi law requires that motorists leave three feet of space between bicycles and their vehicle.  Bike paths create a dedicated space for cyclists, but riders can use the roadways as long as they do so responsibly and safely. Signs are needed in many areas to remind everyone to share the road.
 
For those new to using bike paths, it’s important to know how to coexist safely with cars. Bicycles are allowed to take up the whole bike path lane and should always follow the roadway rules, just like a car.
 
Riders should never be on sidewalks dedicated for pedestrians.  Cyclists should follow the same path of travel as cars; biking directly into oncoming traffic is a huge safety risk for the cyclist and motorists.
 
Labat says recreational athletes who enjoy cycling come to Bay St. Louis, Waveland and Lakeshore from across the U.S. because there are low speed roads with relatively low traffic. And the views are fantastic.
 
He notes, “If you have a beach cruiser and your intention is not to go very fast, the bike path is perfect for that.”
 
But road bikes are designed for speed, and Labat says cyclists on those bikes will want to share the road outside of the bike path and can do so safely and responsibly according to state law. 
 
Labat says anyone can join their group by finding them on Facebook or contacting him directly at [email protected].  “There’s an old saying that you can’t be mad riding a bicycle.”
 
For more information about biking safety, see the website for the League of American Bicyclists.  

A new rescue group in central Mississippi nurses wounded turtles back to health, as well as providing information for those wanting to foster suburban habitat for these fascinating creatures.  
- story by Ellis Anderson 

Christy says there are several things residents can do to make their yards turtle-friendly.  Don’t use pesticides or herbicides, especially if you’ve seen turtles in your yard.  Plant a garden – they provide great turtle habitat.  Before mowing, check your yard for those who might be in harm's way.  And keep watch if you have large dogs, which sometimes use turtles as chew toys.  

Christy and her husband Luke rehabilitate turtles that have had unfortunate encounters with canines, although most of their patients come from “road carnage.” 

They work with veterinarians to nurse the turtles back to health, then release them back in the area where they were found.  If their patient is permanently disabled, they care for them until a special needs home can be found.  

But dogs and cars aren’t the only foes of turtles.  Intentional harm by humans causes some turtle deaths and maimings. 

A few misguided fishermen have been known to shoot turtles in the mistaken belief that they’re eating potential catches.  Turtles can also be targets for both adults and kids who are practicing firearm skills.  And there are the heartless drivers will purposely try to hit a turtle crossing a road.
​ 
“Sadly, we do see ones that have been hurt by malice,” says Christy.

From Admirer to Rescuer

Christy came by her love of turtles as a child, appreciating  their peaceful natures and the fact they carried their homes on their backs.  She never lost the love. In 2006, when a neighbor found a three-legged turtle on a burn pile, he thought of the Milbournes – he’d seen turtle figurines in their house. 
 
Thus began a decade of intensive education, networking with turtle experts around the country, and the adoption of Booboo. 

Booboo was a 17-year-old Redfoot Tortoise raised in a small tank by well-intentioned owners in Maryland.  Due to a poor diet and his small environment, his shell was deformed enough to prevent use of his back legs.  Surrendered to another rescue group, the Milbournes adopted Booboo in 2010.  He became a beloved and spoiled member of their family.  

According to a veterinarian specialist, Booboo wasn’t in pain, but would have a shorter lifespan.  The predication came true, when, despite the pampering from the Milbournes, the tortoise passed away in 2012.  His death solidified their dreams of dedicating even more of their time to turtle rescue. 

Both Milbournes still work full-time for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, but the non-profit they have formed works to raise awareness with people in addition to healing wounded turtles. 
​
Their website explains why it’s an awful idea to paint turtle shells (their shells are living tissue that will absorb toxins) or remove them from their natural habitats (they’ll spend the rest of their lives trying to get home).  The rescue success story page makes for fascinating – and heartwarming – reading. ​

Want to help a turtle cross a road?  You’ll find complete instructions for that on the website as well: 

• Only stop when it’s safe for you and other drivers
• Never pick a turtle up by its tail (they feel pain and you might break their spinal cord)
• Always place it on the side of the road it was headed toward.  If you place it back where it came from, the persistent critter will just try again. 

For turtle emergencies, simply go to the website’s Contact Us page for instant advice.
    
“If you come across a wounded turtle, don’t assume it can’t live,” Christy says. “They’re incredibly tough.  We work closely with a coast organization called Wild At Heart, so someone can help.” 

The website also hosts an informative photo gallery, showing every type of turtle found in the state.  According to Christy, the Mississippi coast is home to almost every one of them, 35 species.
 
 Lucky for us – and the Millers.

Last year, the very first colony of Least Terns in Hancock County didn't make it.  This year, if they return, Audubon's Coastal Bird Stewardship Program hopes to give the endangered birds a chance to survive and thrive.  A call to action for local bird lovers.  
- by LB Kovac, photos by Charles Hubbard and Mozart Dedeaux 

Update: Calling all Least Tern Lovers! There will be a meeting about the Hancock County Least Tern colony at the BSL Library at 10am - Noon on Friday, April 21st. All who are interested in protecting our colony are urged to attend. Sarah Pacyna, from Audubon (more about Sarah in the article below) will explain the delicate situation in Hancock County. 

To prevent a repeat of last year's loss, it's going to take lots of residents willing to take action and encourage the Hancock Supervisors to allow Audubon to rope off the colony and post signs, like they do in Harrison County.  Doing so helps an endangered species and can have a major positive impact on our Hancock County community.  For instance, click here to read about the economic impact of birding in Toledo, Ohio.

In fact, these feisty little birds are a staple at several beaches along the country’s coast, from New York to Miami to Long Beach, California. They love sand, and nesting close to the ocean gives them easy access to many of their favorite foods: small, shallow-water-swimming fish; crustaceans, like hermit crabs and ghost crabs; and water-skimming insects. 

​Historically, along the Gulf Coast, the interior least terns have stuck to barrier islands, but dams and basins constructed to control the flow of the Mississippi River have covered up many of the tern’s breeding grounds, driving the birds further inland.

And something you probably don’t have in common with the least tern is their sleeping habits: least terns tend to nest and sleep on the ground. This leaves the birds, their eggs, and young chicks especially vulnerable to predators, like domestic cats, coyotes, and owls. 

But the beaches of Harrison County have been a popular least tern destination in recent years; volunteers identified sixteen colonies in 2016. 

This was good news for the endangered subspecies. As recently as 1985, the breeding population for all nesting sites in the entire United States had dropped as low as 3,000 pairs. 

And more good news came last year in the form of a brand new colony. For the first time since records have been kept, a least tern colony nested along the beach in our own Hancock County. 

“Lots of people didn’t even know that they were there,” says Sarah Pacyna, Director of the Audubon Mississippi’s Coastal Bird Stewardship Program, an organization which coordinates monitoring efforts for coastal birds and stewards breeding population.

Their partial invisibility is due in part to the small size of their colonies, which rarely exceed 100 breeding pairs.

But the least terns knew we were there. See, least terns are rather finicky birds; they need peace and quiet in order to thrive. Pacyna says that, as a species, they are “especially susceptible to disturbance,” and the appearance of humans or domestic animals like cats and dogs near nesting sites can stress the birds out.

The least terns’ rather sudden appearance last year in Hancock County left Audubon’s team scrambling to protect the birds and give them ample room, and peace, to raise their young.

Audubon wasn’t able to secure permission to rope off the nesting area until late in the breeding season, and, unfortunately, some damage was done. Pacyna said that the Hancock colony ended up “failing:” some of the nests hatched chicks, but none of the chicks made it to adulthood.

But that doesn’t mean there is no hope for the future. 

Pacyna’s team now has permission from the Mississippi Secretary of State to protect the birds in Hancock County whenever, and wherever, they colonize. Once several birds have established a nesting site, she and her team will be able to “rope off the area and put up signs to caution people” about the presence of the birds. 

If possible, Pacyna will also coordinate volunteers to stand near the nesting sites, preventing beachgoers and pets from trampling nests or disturbing the colony. Volunteers can also provide valuable information on colony size and egg and chick production for least terns and other endangered coastal bird species.

Pacyna says that Audubon also has several contingency plans in place to make it easier for birds and humans to coexist on Hancock County’s beautiful beaches. If the terns decide to colonize near a popular stretch, her team can use decoys and clips of bird calls to lure them to a less-populated area. 

​“We want to give them our best conservation efforts,” says Pacyna. Audubon considers the least tern a priority species, alongside snowy plovers, black skimmers, and brown pelicans. If we don’t work hard to protect them, it’s possible that, even in a few years, we won’t see them on the beaches any longer. 

You can do your part to protect these little birds. Pacyna says “be aware of your beach surroundings” when you’re out relaxing near the water. Keep an eye out for greenish, speckled eggs, which can be found in shallow indentations in the sand. And, if you do find a least tern nest, give the folks at Audubon a call. 

This way, bird and human alike can enjoy the beach. 

Click here to volunteer to help protect the Least Terns in both Hancock and Harrison counties in 2017.

​ Read more about volunteer efforts here.  

This beloved festival within a festival takes place during Art in the Pass each year, much to the delight of all who love the magical Gulf in our own backyard.  
- by LB Kovac

Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival takes place on Saturday, April 1st from 10am – 3pm, in Pass Christian’s War Memorial Park.  The event is a popular part of Art in the Pass, a larger weekend festival that showcases work by artists from across the region.

Celebrate the Gulf is one of many outreach programs sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR).  The festival is free and offers many fun opportunities for children to learn more about Mississippi’s diverse marine life. 

​Booths and activities will showcase plants like plankton and algae, fish like sharks and rockfish, and non-marine species that have a symbiotic relationship with the Gulf, including coastal birds.

And while the Gulf is home to millions of species of plants and animals, most children rarely see them except on the Discovery Channel or on their plates. At Celebrate the Gulf, they can get up close and personal with many of these species – including sharks, dolphins, and lionfish.

Melissa Scallan, MDMR’s director of public affairs, reports that last year’s festival was a big success, and this year’s event will be even bigger.
​
The exciting Raptor Roadshow – featuring birds of prey - schooner rides of the harbor, and coloring contests will be returning.  Representatives from the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) and the International Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) will also be on hand to answer questions and lead activities. 

Oysters will be one of the featured species at the festival this year. MDMR is responsible for 17 natural oyster reefs along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, safeguarding them for future generations.

Oysters are a valuable commodity to the Mississippi economy; last year, hundreds of thousands of bushels were harvested from gulf reefs, where they eventually ended up on plates across the United States. Oysters also play an important part in the state’s marine ecology - they attract blue crabs, starfish, and other sea creatures to the gulf’s waters.

It takes about two years for an American oyster to reach full “market” size – about 3 inches, in length. During those first two years of their lives, the little mollusks live in clusters, called “reefs,” on the seabed, where they filter the water for plankton, their favorite food.

It might seem like every restaurant has oysters on the menu, but they are not nearly as prevalent as they were fifty years ago, or even twenty years ago. Oyster harvests across the country are currently at 1% of historic levels.
​
Pollutants from natural disasters like the BP oil spill down severely depleted local reefs, and “aquatic hitchhiking” has introduced invasive species, like the Southern oyster drill, which eat the oysters at a rate faster than they can reproduce.

“Aquatic hitchhiking” is a practice that is increasing in occurrence. Part of the festival’s mission is to empower attendees to protect the gulf on their own.

When people or objects like boats or buoys enter the water - even for a short time - plant life, small animals, and microscopic organisms make themselves at home on fabric, plastic, and other common materials. When the people go elsewhere or the objects are moved, they can take these “hitchhikers” with them, inadvertently spreading them to an area where they can harm plants or animals in another vicinity.

Luckily, as you’ll learn at the festival, aquatic hitchhiking is easily preventable. Rinsing off clothing, boats, and equipment at the dock or near the site can ensure that species native to the area stay there. You’ll do your part to protect the species currently in Mississippi waters.

For the past six years, Celebrate the Gulf has paired with Art in the Pass.  Scallan says that the co-events provide the perfect opportunity for families to have fun and learn more about the world around them.
​
“People can come to one place [for Art in the Pass and Celebrate the Gulf]. There are lots of events for kids, and lots of opportunities for education,” she said. 

A champion sailor and civic volunteer has a simple motto that spurs her on:  "Get moving!"
- story by Pat Saik

A new bike club in Bay St. Louis is lighting up the coast nights!  Meet the founder of Bay Bikers and find out how you can join them on Friday night rides. 
- by LB Kovac, photos/video by Ellis Anderson

With that many cyclists, big things are possible. And local Karen Angelo has big plans for her new adult social cycling club, the Bay Bikers.

Every Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., she and other area cyclists meet at 112 Court Street in Bay St. Louis, directly in front of the Daiquiri Shak. After a brief introduction, the cyclists leave Daiquiri Shak and go on one of three routes Angelo has mapped in the neighborhood.

“When the weather is good, we do everything,” she said.  

Angelo, who lives Waveland, originally came up with the idea for Bay Bikers as a way to get to know people outside of her neighborhood. “I wanted to meet people in the community . . . and have a happy affair.”

“Everybody rides their bike in Bay Saint Louis,” says Angelo.  Since October, she has been growing her group, and what started as a small collection of friends has now includes 30 or more riders every Friday night.

Angelo leads cyclists down one of many roads in the greater Bay Saint Louis area. Depending on the weather, Angelo says they might take a leisurely ride by bay or check out one of the community new restaurants or bars. There are lots of opportunities to explore even in a familiar place like your hometown.

The ride always ends at someplace “social.” Bars are always a good option — hence Angelo’s “adults only” policy — but Angelo maintains that the most important part of the ride is to learn something new about the community.

Her daughter started a similar club in Gretna, Angelo reports, called EZ Riders of Gretna. EZ Riders started with 19 members, but a recent meeting had a turnout of more than 300 riders.

With that many people, big things are possible. EZ Riders recently did a charitable ride for a member with a cancer diagnosis. Over 200 cyclists attended, each donating $10 for the ride, and the proceeds provided a significant contribution to the member’s care.

Many clubs are using their cyclers for social change. Bikes Not Bombs, a Boston-based cycling club,  raises money to support environmental causes. Riders in their annual bike-a-thon use creative means to find sponsors for their race, with the proceeds going to domestic and international charitable organizations and empowering community members to address local social and environmental issues.

Angelo hopes to do community-driven projects in the future. A recent can drive by members of Bay Bikers helped needy families in the area have a richer Thanksgiving celebration. They also supported local Veterans during the recent Veterans’ Day celebrations.

Angelo says that the club is “purely social,” with cyclists from “aspects of Bay Saint Louis welcome.” Angelo reports that, “We’re not out to compete. We’re just out to have a good time.”

Angelo says that the Bay Bikers are being accepted with open arms into the community. She reveals that “people wave” as they make their nightly rounds. And the colorful lights affixed to their wheels make them highly visible.

The club might be small now, but Angelo hopes that one day all of the Bay Bikers will light up the night.

If you’re in the Bay Saint Louis area and wish to join the Bay Bikers, look at the Bay Bikers Facebook page or email Karen Angelo directly at [email protected].

Dwindling numbers of hummingbirds means the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is more important than ever.  It's easy to join in on December 20th - find out how! 
- story by LB Kovac

​The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a tradition that stretches back to the early years of the last century. Frank M. Chapman, an ornithologist in the fledgling Audubon Society, suggested replacing the annual bird “side hunt,” where hunters competed to bag the most birds, with a more wholesome “Christmas Bird Census.”

At the time, natural conservation was still in its infancy, but that didn’t deter Chapman and 27 other “birders,” located in cities across the country, from traipsing off into the wilderness with binoculars in tow. During that first CBC, birders spotted specimens from more than 90 different species.

In the ensuing years, the information from the annual CBC has helped give researchers a “long term perspective” on bird populations. The Audubon Society website says that information collected during past CBCs has been used in over 200 peer-reviewed papers.

This year marks the 117th anniversary of Chapman’s first CBC. And national and international birders are gearing up for this year’s count, including in our own South Hancock County. On December 20, a group of local birders will be contributing to the census.

“The [South Hancock County] count covers a 15-mile diameter circle in Hancock County, from the south edge of Diamondhead West to the Logtown area, and south and west along the shore to Ansley and Heron Bay,” says Ned Boyajian, compiler for the South Hancock County Count (SHCC).

Hummingbirds aren’t the only species birders can expect to see during the count. According to Boyajian, individual parties can expect to see as many as 70 different bird species, with about 150 different species spotted throughout the day. 

If you’re interested in joining the crew, you can email Boyajian ([email protected]) to join one of SHCC’s teams. All you need are a trusty pair of binoculars and some comfortable shoes. “A fair amount of walking is usually involved — clothing and footwear should reflect this,” warns Boyajian.

Additional counts are being conducted in neighboring counties and parishes, says Boyajian. The Jackson County count will take place on January 2, and Slidell and New Orleans have counts planned before the end of the year.

If you can’t come out to one of the counts, there are other ways you can get involved. If your home falls within one of the count areas, you can forego the excursion and watch (or listen for) the birds in your own backyard.

Boyajian recommends that these at-home birders confine their observations to a specific period of time. He also encourages keeping hanging bird feeders up, even during the colder months.

Some species of birds, like Anna’s Hummingbird, don’t have as varied of migration patterns as other species. Keeping a functioning feeder during the winter can help these birds tremendously. After all, hummingbirds do drink an average of five times their bodyweight in water every day!

And if you think just spotting birds isn’t very helpful, think again. According to the Audubon CBC website, the CBC is “one of only two large pools of information informing ornithologists and conservation biologists how the birds of the Americas are faring over time.”

By simply spotting birds with your binoculars or counting the hummingbirds at your feeder, you can help make a difference. From the CBC, Audubon and other organizations can “assess the health of bird populations and help guide conservation action.” 

And those conservation efforts could, in turn, make it that much easier for other people to spot hummingbirds at their feeders next summer. 

Burn calories, get healthy and benefit a local charity:  hundreds of people have a new family tradition with a Thanksgiving morning 5k and Fun Run through the Bay's historic district. 
- story by Ellis Anderson

All ages can take part in the fun, even those who aren’t athletically inclined.  Walkers are welcome to join in, even if they just want to stroll part of the shorter one-mile course. 
 
The event starts and ends on the grounds of the historic Depot in Bay St. Louis (1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis) on Thankgiving morning, November 24th. The cost for the 5k is $30 (pre-registered) and $35 (race day register) and $10 for the Fun Run (pre-register for either online now).
 
Those who haven’t preregistered online can do so at least one hour before start time.  The 5k race starts at 8am, and the Fun Run at 8:45. 
 
Both the certified 5k course and the one-mile Fun Run routes thread through the scenic historic district and along the beachfront before circling back to the Depot. 
 
Awards will go to the First Overall Male and Female, First Overall Masters Male and Female and to the top three finishers in the age groups.  Everyone who crosses the finish line gets an event t-shirt. 
 
Helene said that Friends of the Animal Shelter will have a booth set up at the depot and will be able to accept additional donations of pet food, treats and toys – as well as monetary donations. 
 
Last year, the Turkey Trot raised $1500 for the non-profit, which helps with their programs like free or low-cost spay and neuter.  In 2015, Friends spayed or neutered 782 dogs and cats at no cost to their owners. 
 
“It benefits a good cause, it brings families together and it’s healthy,” says Helene.  “It’s a feel-great way to start off the holiday season.” 

Helene notes that volunteers are always needed and welcome – even for simple tasks like handing out waters and medals.  To help, call Helene at 228-342-6038.

An advocate for sustainability, this local architect and leading volunteer has been working for the last two decades to protect and enhance our own little piece of coastal paradise.
- story by Pat Saik

When an award-winning photographer visits the Atchafalaya with Rheta, he discovers the sort of visual magic he's traveled the world to find.
 - story by Rheta Grimsley Johnson, photography by Martyn Lucas