Chickasaw Bluffs and the confluence of the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers. The ecoregion or
bioregion is defined as the "Lower Mississippi Riverine Forest Province," although the area is
closely bordered by what is known as "Southern Mixed Forest Province." In many ways, my home
lies in the convergence of these two areas.
The Lower Mississippi Delta is a vast and vital part of the American landscape. The broad, alluvial
valley provides habitat and support for a wide variety of flora, fauna and aquatic species integral
to health of the north American continent. The Mississippi River forms the most important bird
and waterfowl migration corridor on the continent, known as the Mississippi Flyway. 20% of the
nation’s duck population migrates along the river and one-third of the freshwater fish species
in North America live in the river. Its river bottoms comprise North America’s largest wetland
area and bottomland hardwood forest
Among the numerous bird species found here are the Prothonotary Warbler, White-Eyed Vireo,
Wood Duck, Mallard, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Eastern Wild Turkey, Bobwhite
and Mourning Dove, Pine Warbler, Cardinal, Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, Blue jay, Hooded warbler, Eastern towhee, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Flicker,
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Barred Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Red
Tailed Hawk, Broadwinged Hawk and American Kestral. The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker is an
endangered species.
Forest snakes include cottonmouth moccasin, copperhead, rough green snake, rat snake,
coachwhip, and speckled kingsnake. Fench and glass lizards are also found, as is the slimy
salamander. Other fauna include Whitetail deer and cottontail rabbits and the fox squirrel is
common. Gray squirrels live along intersecting drainages. Raccoon and fox inhabit the whole
region and nin-banded Armadillo is encountered in the western areas of the region.
Check the here for photos of observed wildlife.
Before cultivation, the bottom lands were covered by bottom-land deciduous forest with an
abundance of green and Carolina ash, elm, cottonwood, sugarberry, sweetgum and water tupelo,
as well as oak and baldcypress. Pecan is also present, associated with eastern sycamore,
American elm and roughleaf dogwood. Vines are prolific along water courses.
This area is also home to upland deciduous and coniferous forests found in the hills and elevated
tracts. At least 50 percent of the stands are made up of loblolly pine, shortleaf pine and other
southern yellow pine species, singly or in combination. Common associates include oak, hickory,
sweetgum, blackgum, red maple and winged elm. The main grasses are bluestem, panicums and
longleaf uniola. Dogwood, viburnum, haw, blueberry, American beautyberry, youpon and
numerous woody vines are common.
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