Mississippi is adding new nesting species right and left.

On July 5, 2004, Mary Stevens and Don McKee kayaked into a 960 acre Bald Cypress and Tupelo Gum stand with an under story of Button Bush and floated right into a historic discovery. They found and photographed the first nesting of Roseate Spoonbills for Mississippi.

The nest contained 2 young and was located in a Button Bush about five feet above the water next to a Tupelo Gum tree. Also observed in the area were 6 sub-adult spoonbills, hopefully future breeders. Spoonbills have been recorded in this rookery since David Linden found sub-adults in 2000.

This rookery is on private property but borders Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge which supports significant breeding populations of White Ibises, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, and Anhinga; with a total of 2,000 - 3,000 nesting pairs on an annual basis.

Mary and Don have allowed me to share their adventure with you. The photos were taken by Don. I have cropped and reduced file sizes to allow faster down loads. Click on thumbnails to enlarge.