Feeder hanging]Birdhouses, not a golden shovel, marked the official beginning of construction on a new $2 million facility for the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point, Mississippi, Jan. 20. The conservation and education center will be located on a 10-acre property consisting of upland forest, bayhead swamp, brackish marsh and a bayou that connects to the Pascagoula River system.State and local leaders joined Audubon’s Jay Woods, vice president and executive director of Audubon Mississippi, and Dr. Mark LaSalle, center director, in hanging seed, suet and hummingbird feeders to signify the start of the project’s construction phase.The Pascagoula River flows unimpeded and largely unspoiled thanks to decades of conservation efforts in the region, making it unique in the lower 48 states, a distinction highlighted by several speakers and by Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold in a statement.“The Pascagoula River is wet and wild all the way from its headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico,” said Yarnold. “It’s the only one left of its kind, and it’s a way of life for the people of Mississippi. We’re proud to work with this community to promote the enjoyment and conservation of this beautiful Singing River.”“Singing River” is a local name for the river and the title of a documentary film about the river, its history and its ecosystems.[img:21641“This Audubon Center is a good example of public-private cooperation to advance a good cause, in this case the conservation of the Pascagoula River watershed and its importance as a natural asset in South Mississippi. I look forward to its completion,” said Senator Cochran.
“The Pascagoula River ecosystem is one of Mississippi's many jewels,” said former Governor Barbour. “By preserving this special area, we now have a one-of-a-kind destination for our residents and the many visitors each year interested in seeing the wildlife variety in this undisturbed system. Having a first-class education center will only enhance the nature tourism opportunities for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
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