Brian Ballinger

At A Glance:

* Received Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Arkansas Tech University. He is a graduate of Atlantic High School (Atlantic, Iowa).

* Formerly worked for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, where he was the area manager on Twin Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Sharkey County for over 12 years.

* Professional interests include working with private landowners, state and federal agencies and other private organizations to restore and enhance wildlife habitat with a particular emphasis on wetlands.

* Personal interests include hunting, fishing and boating with friends and family. He enjoys reading and a wide variety of music, and especially enjoys listening to his son Bryce (15 yrs old) play guitar.

Up Close:

Ballinger is a wildlife/wetlands biologist for Wildlife Mississippi based in the Stoneville office.

The main focus of Ballinger’s position is to assist Mississippi landowners in the management of their Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) lands through the delivery of programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program and the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative. The goals of these programs include the protection, restoration and enhancement of existing WRP lands. A major component of these plans involves the promotion and management of moist-soil plants and hydrology. Additional tools used in meeting these goals have included the protection of wetlands through perpetual conservation easements, management of early successional wildlife openings, and conducting outreach by providing WRP landowners with a quarterly electronic newsletter. Many of these activities are coordinated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

According to Ballinger, “My Dad introduced my two brothers and me to the outdoors when we were very young, and kindled a fire in the three of us that has never gone out. While those early hunting and fishing experiences provided some of my fondest memories, they were also occurring at a time when there were fewer and fewer places to make such memories with each passing season. I remember Dad’s disappointment each time we’d discover that a favorite Bois D’ Arc hedgerow had been bulldozed and burned; or a cattail slough drained and tilled, the quail and pheasants gone along with them. Dad’s early lessons to us in the importance and appreciation of wildlife habitat were easy to learn because of the classroom in which he was teaching.”

“I remember him often wondering aloud what things would be like for us boys when we were grown, and how it would be for our children if things continued as they were going. One of his favorite sayings over the years was one that we’ve all heard – we don’t inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children.”

“Well, over those same years, Dad got to see a corner of sorts turned in the way society valued wildlife and wildlife habitat. He was increasingly able to pursue his beloved bobwhites and ringnecks through some fine Iowa coverts made possible by programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the WRP, and by private conservation organizations and conservation-minded individuals. While he was pleased with these changes, he always maintained that there was room for improvement in the stewardship of our wildlife resources.”

“We lost Dad in September of 2002, but I’ll never lose the memories I have or the lessons he taught. Chief among these being that hey, it’s not about us; it’s about our children and our children’s children. As a father and uncle myself, with the privilege and responsibility of providing for and educating a new generation of sportsmen, that one lesson has remained especially close to my heart.”

“That’s why I’m so excited about being part of such a great organization. My position with Wildlife Mississippi allows me to assist in some direct and positive impacts on the fish and wildlife resources of this state. I really enjoy working with landowners to help them in achieving the goals they have set for the restoration, enhancement and protection of wildlife habitat on their properties.”

As a field biologist of Wildlife Mississippi, duties include: assisting in developing goals and objectives of Wildlife Mississippi's field operations; assisting in soliciting field project grants; coordinating field operations; assisting in preparing an annual report; encouraging members to participate in field programs; maximizing efficiency of field programs; working with the media to publicize projects; providing technical assistance to landowners; implementing special projects; conducting workshops and seminars; making presentations to children’s groups, civic clubs and/or hunting/fishing clubs; representing Wildlife Mississippi at meetings; and establishing and maintaining new projects.

Ballinger is involved in a variety of organizations. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and has served in various officer positions in a local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is certified as a Magnolia Records Scorer and is a Mississippi Hunter Education Instructor.

“It’s awesome to think that a child born today might have the opportunity to hunt and fish on a beautifully restored area that exists only as a pending project on a desk in this office right now. To look back in 20 or 30 years and be able to say that I played a part in that – what more could I ask for?”

E-mail: bballinger@wildlifemiss.org

J. Cummins>>R. Ballinger >>B. Bordelon>>A. Boyles>>
R. Browning>>D. Coggin>>S. Gruchy>>J. May>>K. Rexrode