[9/16/03]Avid bird-watchers will have a new place to stop beginning in October and that place is in downtown Vicksburg.

The administrative offices of Audubon Mississippi, the state chapter of the National Audubon Society, will now be housed at 1208 Washington St.

“The Mississippi River is of growing interest to the National Audubon Society from its head waters to the Gulf of Mexico,” said Bruce Reid, deputy director of the state chapter, in naming one of the reasons why the society chose Vicksburg as a central location.

Another factor was the Vicksburg National Military Park.

“There is no other park in an urban area in Mississippi that comes near the military park in quality, size and experience,” Reid said.

He said because of the expansive area of woodland in the park a tremendous number of birds can be found there. The chapter is working with the park to monitor species migrating to and nesting in the park.

And that’s just one of the programs the state chapter is working on.

Earlier this month, the Hummingbird Migration Festival in Holly Springs drew nearly 3,000 people to the society’s Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. The 2,500-square-foot property in North Mississippi includes an antebellum home and gardens.

Programs also sponsored by state and national societies are the Great Backyard Bird Count and the Upper Mississippi River Campaign. Initiated in 1998, the campaign supports the ecological health of the river through teaching economically viable farming practices, identifying birding locations, educating people about the river and working with federal agencies on river management.

Reid said he and others are working to have a similar campaign for the lower part of the river.

The national society named for wildlife artist John James Audubon also publishes a series of maps titled, “The Great River Birding Trail,” that identify birding and wildlife locations along the river.

But Reid said there is one reason for the office in downtown Vicksburg.

“The bottom line is we want to be a part of the community,” he said. “Our life’s blood is with the community and developing a base of volunteers and donors to help us here and elsewhere.”

Reid said plans for the facility include displays in the storefront window. “We are interested in being able to interact with the public.”

Offering information to tourists and locals is another plan for the downtown facility.

“The organization should have a positive effect on tourism,” said Bob Ward, economic development coordinator for Vicksburg’s Main Street Program. “They will have a positive effect on increasing awareness of the river and the natural areas around us at the battlefield and the Eagle Lake area.”

Through attending some of Audubon’s meetings, Ward said, “I’ve found they are very concerned with our environment, conserving wildlife and bringing it to the people.”

The 2,700-square-foot office space, with nearly 15-foot-high ceilings and finished hardwood floors, is privately owned by Mayor Laurence Leyens.

“I’m thrilled, as mayor, that the Audubon Society has chosen to make Vicksburg the home to their state chapter,” he said.