Native Habitat at State Waterfowl Wildlife Management Area

Strawberry Plains Audubon Center recently partnered with the Army Corp of Engineers and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks to enhance biodiversity and encourage awareness of native habitat at the State Waterfowl Wildlife Management Area on Sardis Lake, out side of Oxford, MS.

First spring blooms of 2015 Photo: Shea Staten

Over the last three years, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center has partnered with the Army Corp of Engineers and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks to enhance biodiversity and encourage awareness of native habitat at the State Waterfowl Wildlife Management Area on Sardis Lake, out side of Oxford, MS.  In the summer of 2014, prep work began on a half acre area surrounding the observation deck at the Sardis WMA, removing grass cover to incorporate bird-friendly, native wildlfowers and forbs to support a diverse array of pollinators and wildlife. 

Strawberry Plains staff and Army Corp Rangers returned in November 2014, braving the wind off the lake and sub-freezing temperature to drill and plant over 2,000 plugs of native forbs/wildflowers and warm-season grasses.  The planting surrounds the existing observation deck, and will offer an array of color, structure and visual aesthetics throughout the year, while providing habitat and forage for birds and other wildlife.

Initial site prep, removing vegetation before herbicide prep.

Applying herbicide after initial vegetation removal. Photo: Mitch Robinson

Photo: The last of the herbicide is applied and our work for summer 2014 is complete, until winter arrives.

Staff from Strawberry Plains and the Army Corp of Engineers begin placing plugs in prep for for drilling holes for their new home. Photo: Shea Staten

November 2014 and the site is ready for planting native wildflower and forb plugs. Photo: Mitch Robinson

Spring 2015 at the Refuge and our successful blooms. Photo: Shea Staten

1 of 9