The Pascagoula River Audubon Center (PRAC) is located in Moss Point, Mississippi. This photo shows the entrance to the PRAC, which is one of 41 educational facilities nationwide, operated by the National Audubon Society. Although the National Audubon Society is named in honor of the famous birder and artist from the turn of the twentieth century, John James Audubon, it promotes the well being of more creatures, than just birds.
The Audubon Center is along the grounds of the former trolley that ran from Moss Point to the town of Pascagoula, and has restored the former trolley ticket office, as a historical feature of their grounds. The trolley line carried lumber, mail, and passengers over the ten-mile long distance to the coastline of Pascagoula.
One of the staff members of the center took a photo of our entire group before we entered the building (back row left to right is Ellen, Diana, Peggy; front row left to right is Diane, Tricia, Helen) Our appearances changed after we entered the building, however, because our visit occurred when face masks were still required, in an effort to diminish the spread of the COVID19 virus.
All around the expansive porches of the PRAC, there are wooden rocking chairs, carved with the name of someone who is being honored or memorialized. The donor can seek out the chair they provided, and sit with memories of their loved one, as they gaze out over the nature that surrounds them.
I was there with a group of friends from Arkansas, and I took this photo of them as we entered the campus of the facility. The website for this place gives a clue that it is part of a non-profit network, because the website address is www.pascagoula.audubon.org .
All around the expansive porches of the PRAC, there are wooden rocking chairs, carved with the name of someone who is being honored or memorialized. The donor can seek out the chair they provided, and sit with memories of their loved one, as they gaze out over the nature that surrounds them.
The exhibits and programming inside PRAC focus on the unique ecosystem that is in the Pascagoula River watershed. Native animals are on display inside, and a native plant botanical garden is outside The expansive glass windows are equipped with anti-bird-strike material, needed because of the dense bird population here.
The Blue Heron gift shop has a variety of fun items, especially for those who enjoy nature-themed souvenirs. 
Since Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to both buildings and trees in Moss Point, Mississippi, it is likely that some of the wall decor shown here was made from wood salvaged from that 2005 devastating storm and flood.
Buildings adjacent to wetlands often are built on stilts or concrete piers, in anticipation of the floods that can occur. That means there has to be staircases up to the entrance. However, (in addition to staircases) the PRAC has an open, outdoor elevator, that enables guests who have mobility issues, to visit their exhibits. There are also wheelchair ramps. 
"Best practices" of storm water management have been used throughout the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. This photo shows the use of permeable gravel sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. They also make use of cisterns and rain barrels.
The PRAC grounds maintain as much natural habitat as possible, while facilitating the passage of guests around the property. This is NOT a place where you will find manicured lawns, and non-native, decorative plantings. It is meant to preserve and protect the wild things---not destroy them.
This very artistic railing, with its "metal menagerie" of flora and fauna of the area, could have included manatees, if there had been room. Although "sea cows" are more common in south Florida waters, there are several photo-documented sightings of the gigantic mammals from visitors to this Audubon Center observation deck in 2016, as they looked out over the adjacent Rhodes Bayou, where the dock is located. 
I want to brag on the kayak launch deck of the PRAC. It had a slanted poly-carbonate ramp floating in the water, that enabled the visitor to step into the kayak without getting wet. It had a railing beside it, to provide stability for those getting in and out of the kayak. (Perhaps such a project was one of the simpler accomplishments of Ingalls Shipbuilding company, as they are listed as Mississippi's largest manufacturing enterprise, with 11,500 employees!)
All it took to launch this mother-daughter kayak into the water, was a gentle push from the PRAC staff member, and they were floating gently in the Rhodes Bayou!
The PRAC had a water-proof map that our group was able to use while we were out on the water. Ellen was designated as our "navigator" for the outing, which was no easy job! The map consisted of several pages, and sometimes it showed "islands" on the map that we never found! We decided this must be related to tides, which can be felt more than 40 miles upstream, from where the river empties into the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. 
The bridge shown in this photo is the Highway 613 bridge that leads north to Escapatawpa, Mississippi. To the right of this photo is the Escapatawpa River drainage basin, and to the left is the Pascagoula River drainage basin. Kayaking away from the Audubon Center was a "piece of cake". However, kayaking BACK to the Audubon Center was a whole different story! Even though the current was not strong, it took lots of "paddle power" to go AGAINST that water that was on its way to the Gulf of Mexico! I have seen this phenomenon used as a metaphor for the Christian who is trying to live out what Jesus taught, in a society that is doing the opposite---it seems you are always going "against the current"!
There is a page on Facebook called "Look at the Front of my Kayak", and this photo was my submission for that publication. It is fun to see the view of just the front tip of a kayak, from places all around the world!
This photo shows Diane checking out the wildlife in a large stand of sawgrass. It gets its name from the serrated edges of its leaves. So even though it may look "harmless", walking through it with bare skin can produce scrapes galore!
When we first left the PRAC, we stayed close to the area where there were several residences, docks, and reinforced shorelines. The PRAC told us if we got lost, just stop and ask for help from one of the local residents, who were used to assisting folks find their way back "home" when exploring the bay area. 
I had in my mind, that if we did need to stop to ask directions, this would be my choice, because the home had a very welcoming "Southern charm" aspect to its design!
This bird probably feels fortunate to have one of the few tall cypress trees that are still standing on the wetlands of the preserve! This area, part of the Escatawpa Marsh Coast Preserve is home to more than 300 species of birds. It serves as their nesting and breeding grounds, and is part of the greater Mississippi Flyway. I am thankful for the foresight of conservationists in 1974, who are responsible for the purchase of more than 35,000 acres of land along the Pascagoula River. It was considered a landmark preservation purchase, and was spearheaded by the Nature Conservancy. Currently 70,000 acres of this area are protected and insure that the largest free-flowing rivers in the contiguous U.S., remains one of the wildest. 
When our designated kayak rental time was over, and we made our way back to the PRAC dock, a staff member was there waiting on us. Peggy was the first one out, and we watched her intently to see "best practices" for getting out of the kayak without any "issues".
Next out was Diana and Helen. (It was not until much later that Diana told me she spotted an alligator by the deck, and even got a photo of it! She knew better than to tell me while I was still in my kayak!)
