Cullen Brown will lead three shorebird events in central Mississippi in August: Field trips to Phillips Catfish Farm on August 23 and 30, and a presentation on shorebird identification to the Jackson Audubon Society on August 24.

The talk to Jackson Audubon Society on 8/24 will take place at 6:30 PM, at the Clinton Community Nature Center (617 Dunton Road, Clinton, MS 39056). No advance registration is required to attend the talk.

The field trips on August 23 and 30 will both meet at 7:00 AM at the Walmart Supercenter in Yazoo City (2129 Grand Ave, Yazoo City, MS 39194) and then caravan directly to the ponds. End time is TBD, but folks can leave whenever they wish from the site. To sign up for either field trip, contact Cullen by email (brown2cu@gmail.com). Phillips Catfish Farm is the best inland site in Mississippi to view shorebirds during migration, and typically features many other highlight birds, including diverse waterfowl and wading birds. Access to the site is restricted, so joining Cullen for an organized field trip is a great way to bird this hotspot.

Photo: Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet by Larry Pace