If birds are your thing, you'll find dozens of species on our Delta catfish pond complex. Consisting of nearly 600 acres of abandoned and working ponds, and several hundred acres of surrounding agricultural fields, our birding tour is the only private catfish pond complex listed on Audubon's Great River Birding Trail! Scroll down for more.
Delta Birding Tour!
Located on US Hwy 49 W between Indianola and Belzoni, Mississippi, Yazoo Valley Wildlife is headquartered in the heart of the Delta. Located adjacent the highway, birders can access the pond complex via paved county roads and gravel access levees. Users can bird from their vehicles or walk along the levees.
The portion of our property that is in catfish production attracts the many bird species that prey on fish. Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, American White Pelicans, Wood Storks and more flock by the thousands throughout the year. The deeper water also hosts dozens of waterfowl species like the Canvasback, Bufflehead, Scaup, Redhead, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck. Research has indicated that Mississippi catfish ponds are important wintering habitat for species like the Lesser Scaup.
The portion of our property that is no longer in fish production has gradually returned to a more natural state, with abundant vegetation along the shoreline. Some of these abandoned ponds are also very shallow and dry out seasonally. This combination of varying water depths attracts waterfowl like Green and Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Pintail and Mallard. Many species of wading and shorebirds, such as the Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Yellowlegs sp., Black-crowned Night Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, and Plegadis sp., can be found in this habitat.
Surrounding rice, soybean and corn fields attract and hold tens of thousands of wintering ducks and geese. The deafening roar of hordes of Snow, Blue and Ross' geese can be heard just about any day during the winter. Giant Canada, Cackling and White-fronted Geese also feed in the grain fields. Wilson's Snipe and many species of shorebirds also feed in the shallow-flooded fields in the area.
Spring migrations of Tree, Cliff and Barn Swallows also utilize the aquatic environment of the ponds when bulking up for their journey to breeding grounds. Barn Swallows and Purple Martins make their home on our property. Passerines like the Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Savannah Sparrow and Field Sparrow are can be viewed throughout the year.
Many species of raptors can also be viewed throughout the property at various times of the year. The Red-tailed, Krider's and Harlan's hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Barred, Barn, Great Horned and Screech Owl can be seen.
Birding Tours are by appointment only and users must call in advance to schedule a time to view the property. Visit the Tours page for rates and other info.
For location info and driving directions, visit the Location page. For more bird photos, visit the Photo Gallery.
Email or call (662) 962-4868 to schedule your birding tour today!
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6: 26,27
