Delta Wind Birds
DWB scholarships send young shorebird conservationists to Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting in Canada
This past August, scholarships from DWB allowed three early-career bird conservation biologists to attend the 10th Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group meeting in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada. Visit our blog post to learn more about their impactful adventure.
Artist Julia Reyes has completed a stunning mural on the wall of the Jaketown Museum in Belzoni, MS, highlighting the birds, plants, and cultural heritage of the Sky Lake area. This project was supported by grant funding to DWB from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Please go see it for yourself, along with Gavin Bird’s mural on the nearby Belzoni firehouse wall!
Artist Gavin Bird has completed a fabulous mural on the firehouse wall in Belzoni, MS. The mural highlights the natural and cultural heritage of the area, including nearby Sky Lake. The project was funded in part by an award from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Partnership, with funding provided by the National Park Service and Delta Wind Birds.
DWB receives SWG grant to study shorebird migration
In October, 2022, DWB was awarded a two-year grant from the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program administered by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. DWB scientists are using radio tags to study the movements of migratory shorebirds on temporary wetlands in the Mississippi Delta, providing essential data to inform conservation of declining shorebird species, including Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Pectoral Sandpiper. Click below to see more images.
Bird Collective’s Delta Wind Birds collection
Bird Collective partnered with DWB to create a unique collection of clothing and gifts inspired by the beautiful birds and wetland habitats of the Mississippi Delta. A portion of all proceeds supports DWB’s work in the region to protect and create wetlands, foster ecotourism, and raise awareness of migratory birds and their habitats. Click HERE to view the collection, and HERE to read about DWB’s mission and work on the Bird Collective website.
Our conservation work on farms in the Mississippi Delta was featured in the Summer 2021 issue of Living Bird magazine, from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Click below to read the article.
Conservation of migratory birds is a complex, global problem. In the Mississippi Delta, we can help solve this problem by conserving natural wetlands and creating them on working landscapes.
Our mission is to encourage creation of high-quality stopover wetland habitat for birds on private working lands, to preserve the best natural wetland habitats, and to foster awareness of the value of wetlands for birds and people.
Habitat on working lands
Through incentive programs and scientific research, we are demonstrating how temporary “pop-up” wetlands on working lands can provide habitat for migrating birds, while also conserving soil and reducing water pollution.
DWB Sky Lake Nature Reserve
Sky Lake, a natural oxbow lake in the middle of the Mississippi Delta, harbors ancient bald cypress trees more than 1000 years old and provides some of the best natural habitat for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl, herons, egrets, and nesting songbirds such as Prothonotary Warbler. At the DWB Sky Lake Nature Reserve, you can enjoy these birds and other wildlife, and learn about the value of wetlands for birds and people.
Conservation Easements
A conservation easement is a way for you to keep your land, but ensure its natural resources are legally protected and conserved, in perpetuity. Delta Wind Birds can help guide you through the process of setting up a conservation easement, and can serve as the “land trust,” the long-term steward that ensures protection of your land. To inquire about this possibility, please e-mail us at dwindbirds@gmail.com.
Events
Throughout the year, DWB offers a series of events including guided field trips, bird identification workshops, and social gatherings that blend bird conservation, art, and music. Join us!
DWB in action (via Instagram):
Can you help us?
By volunteering your time or making a financial contribution, you can make a difference for birds and other wildlife in our region.
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