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Mississippi's Birds: The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Permanent and summer-resident bird species sustained the greatest mortality during Hurricane Katrina. The toll is impossible to quantify, much less verify. Based on pre- and post-Katrina observations of permanent residents that fall into the category of suburban birds, my impression is that mortality rates exceed 70 percent. It seems reasonable to conclude that any bird that did not fly ahead of the storm suffered death or fatal injuries.

The extensive and usually productive beach areas in Harrison County are still out of bounds, making any estimate of surviving numbers of marine, coastal, and shoreline species strictly guesswork. Exploration of a small area of beach at Clermont Harbor in southwestern Hancock County yielded a small number of winter resident shorebirds that had arrived post-Katrina; in that same area, there were extremely low representations of laughing gulls, Forster's terns, and black skimmers (all of which are permanent residents and usually dominant in any beachfront convocation.)

Migrant traps in coastal areas of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties were and continue to be almost empty of transients and other southbound migrants. The combination of high winds, salt spray, and storm surge have rendered such places uninhabitable; no foliage, no insects, no harvest from fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. In the judgement of birders who have visited such areas, habitat destruction is almost total, and it may take another run of the seasons before it begins to come back. Adjacent salt marshes, however, are beginning to yield a few winter residents.

Despite the fact that habitat is generally in much better shape north of Interstate 10, which is five to eight miles inland from the Mississippi Sound, permanent residents remain scarce and incoming migrants and winter residents are poorly represented, if indeed they are present at all. As expected, birding opportunities in the best-known places are limited due to area traffic restrictions, downed trees, and debris-ridden pathways.

The brightest spot amid the ruins of Katrina was occupied by the ruby-throated hummingbird. Like the small miracle that it is, it came in unprecedented numbers on the morning following that darkest of days. Unfortunately, it sought nourishment in a place in which no blossom survived and insect life had been decimated. The few retail outlets that returned to business within a week were soon sold out of nectar feeders, which in turn precipitated a call for help that would become known as Operation Backyard Recovery--a continuing effort that first resulted in the dispersal of hundreds of donated feeders, and a story unto itself.

Nature's healing properties are becoming more evident with each passing day; defoliated trees and shrubs that did not sustain saltwater damage were beginning to green up by September 11, and some insect life (other than flies) was noted by the 18th. As of November 21, although bird life, no matter how intensely one looks for it, is still at a very low ebb, hope is replacing despair.

Birders themselves took the same big hit from Katrina. Although there was no loss of life, there was great loss of property—complete wipe-outs, or any lesser combination of extensive flooding and heavy wind damage, all of which has naturally reduced birder coverage of areas away from personal fiefdoms.

But give us time--the traditions of the annual Christmas Bird Count will be upheld: These resilient birders will be back at the same old battered haunts in southern Hancock and Jackson counties, noting species and counting individuals as always.