Page 96 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Fall, 2025
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GOLF & OUTDOORS
Yellow Crowned Night Heron
Story by Victoria Snyder
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 (PRAC) 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
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American Coot
