The states in the southern U.S. are in the Mississippi, Central, or Atlantic flyway of migrating birds, providing great opportunities to view migratory and nonmigratory birds throughout the year. Read through the list below to see what annual festivals are held in your state and maybe you'll get to see some birds on your life list, meet other birders, or just brush up on your bird identification skills. SELECT A STATE TO VIEW FESTIVALS Select from the list of states below to see the birding festivals in that state Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Mississippi | North … [Read more...] about List of Birding Festivals in the South
birds
4 Reasons Why Native Eastern Red Cedar is Great for Wildlife
Walk down any dirt road in Mississippi and you’ll see an eastern red cedar lining the edge of the forest or field. Many a rural fence row has been built using eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) for the posts. These common native trees are hardy plants. They can take the heat, drought, cold, wind, and even a little salt spray; they grow in 37 states in the U.S. In the late summer and early fall, these cedars will produce tiny pale silver-blue berry-like cones. There are so many tiny fruits that the branches will bend down under their weight. Wildlife Value of the Eastern Red Cedar #1 Food Have you ever looked up into … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons Why Native Eastern Red Cedar is Great for Wildlife
Partridge Pea: Providing Food, Cover, Erosion Control, and Soil Nutrients
With tiny leaflets and bright yellow flowers with a red center, this native plant improves soil quality, provides food for pollinators and birds, and is a host plant for the caterpillars of several butterflies. And even more exciting – it has an interesting reaction to being touched. If you want to attract butterflies using a low-maintenance plant, this is the plant to add to your butterfly garden. Food For Pollinators The bright yellow flowers of partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) produce nectar that is fed upon by ants, bees, wasps, flies, and even velvet ants. The flowers bloom in summer and persist through early … [Read more...] about Partridge Pea: Providing Food, Cover, Erosion Control, and Soil Nutrients
Native Buttonbush Provides Food for Wildlife – Native Plant of the Month
One of the more unusual flowering shrubs in our native plants garden (located between Tara Lodge and the Herbert Bryant Conference Center) is buttonbush, also known as button willow. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is usually found in wet soils, such as swamps or the soil adjacent to the edge of a pond or stream. It grows well in wet soils overhanging water and its branches provide shade for spawning crappie and ducks. It can also grow well on moderately dry soils, as long as it gets enough water when it is becoming established. Starting in June and continuing through September, you can find 1-inch diameter round, spiky-looking … [Read more...] about Native Buttonbush Provides Food for Wildlife – Native Plant of the Month
Wildlife Value of Poison Ivy
Most of us go out of our way to avoid getting close to poison ivy. No one wants to get the dreaded itchy skin rash and blisters that is caused by contact with the leaves, stems, or roots of this native vine. But, for wildlife, poison ivy is an important food source. Wildlife Value of Poison Ivy Although the oil of the poison ivy plant (called urushiol) causes rashes and blisters on humans, there are other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that can eat the plant and its berries, and also use the plant as shelter. A variety of insects feed on the flowers of poison ivy too – from beetles to flies, bees and butterflies. In … [Read more...] about Wildlife Value of Poison Ivy
American Holly: Native Plant of the Month
There’s not a lot of color outdoors in winter, but the American holly (Ilex opaca) will bring you both green and red – just in time for the holidays. It's an evergreen, meaning it keeps its leaves year-round, so you'll always have some green in your yard. It produces bright red berries in mid- to late-fall that persist into winter. If you plant American holly for the berries, you'll need to plant several to make sure you get both male and female plants to produce berries. They make great privacy screens and are often planted in groups. American hollies generally grow to be around 30 feet tall in good growing … [Read more...] about American Holly: Native Plant of the Month
