The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is adversely affecting the marshes and coastlands used by shorebirds, waterfowl and other birds that will soon be traveling through the area on their annual migration south.

Under a new Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI), Wildlife Mississippi (WM), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will work with landowners to manage portions of their land to enhance habitat for migrating birds.

The MBHI will improve habitat conditions and food sources for migratory birds likely to be impacted by the conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. This initiative will be delivered through two components: one component will be available on private agricultural lands and the second on Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easement lands.

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Winter Wheat Available

Whether you are a photographer, a hunter or just like viewing wildlife on a sunny afternoon, anyone who has spent time overlooking a food plot will have a deep appreciation for wildlife plantings.

Food plots are very attractive to wildlife enthusiasts because they can supplement daily nutritional needs at a low cost. These plots can be designed to serve as a source of food and cover. Well-managed food plots have the potential to not only increase the wildlife population and their quality of health, but can also increase our opportunities for wildlife viewing.

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Conservation Corner
(For the week of August 16, 2010)
Fertilizing Forages Can Provide Deer Food
by James L. Cummins

Most people think that during the summer there is an ample supply of browse for deer to eat. Many people think that since the sweetgums, hickories and oaks are green again, deer will be healthy. Everything that is green is not food for deer and may not meet a deer’s daily nutritional needs.

Deer are similar to people in the manner in which they feed. There are certain foods that we love to eat, those that we will eat and those that we would eat only if we were starving. The trees above are in the last category – just good enough to fill them up. If you hunt in an area that shows a lot of browsing on these trees, your herd is probably in need of management.

Several foods that fit into the middle choice category are American beautyberry, dogwood, elm, maple and magnolia. These species provide moderate nutrition but your deer herd will have a hard time maintaining proper nutrition on these foods.

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