Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

10/01/2025

Due to the federal government shutdown, this account is not being actively updated.
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Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

04/16/2025

🚨 Peak spring migration is almost here! 🚨

Millions of birds are in flight across the continental U.S. each night— traveling under the stars on one of nature’s greatest journeys 🌙🕊️

Join the global effort to protect birds:
🔅 Dim non-essential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
🪟 Make glass windows visible to prevent collisions
💻 Learn how & take the pledge to protect birds: https://bit.ly/stopbirdcollisions

Together, we can help birds make it safely to their breeding grounds!

🌟 When is peak migration expected in your area?

Map Courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology

04/16/2025

Great day at the fishing rodeo!

04/15/2025

Drip Drying Away

The anhinga is sometimes called the snake bird. When it's swimming, the only part you see is the head peeking up. The most unique characteristic of anhingas - they do not have water proof feathers. In order to fly after a swim, they must - you got it Drip Dry!

The refuge has an interior rookery so be sure to keep an eye out - Oh - and they like to play with their food

04/14/2025

Help! Stop!!! Hold on!!!

Don't leave the refuge without using the boat cleaning station near the boat ramp. In an effort to help reduce the spread of invasives into other bodies of water, the refuge has a boat cleaning station for use once the boat is loaded and ready to end the day.
Cleaning off the boat is an important practice. It's also a good idea for the boat to be clean before you launch.

Invasives are hard to eradicate and expensive as well as threating the native plants.

Do your part! Just whisk that invasive away! 😉😉

04/13/2025

Spring is a great time for birders. The challenge is catching a bird in all of it's changes. The American Finch at the feeder today is "in-between" and not yet the vibrant colors we normally recognize. Now is the time to look for beak shapes and bars on wings as well as head shape in identifying the immature birds.

So download an app and take a birding adventure on the refuge! See you soon!

04/12/2025

A mirror perfect image on Bluff Lake.

Each year woodducks come back to nest in the nearby boxes. It's one of the perks to see them and their young right out the window.

04/12/2025

IT’S HAPPENING! Up to 130M birds are predicted to migrate across the U.S. each night this weekend!

Lights at night can be very disorienting to birds during their long spring migration. To help prevent deadly bird collisions, turn off or dim unnecessary lights!

Graphic: BirdCast

04/11/2025

A walk down the north levee looking at wildflowers and seeing the activity of butterflies and bees is nothing to sneeze at!

04/10/2025

Here is your yearly reminder of what's below the beautiful lake waters. No wake zones are in effect for water safety and to prevent damage to boats. Take it slow and enjoy the ride!

04/09/2025

Lots of visitors today and even bow fishing at the spillway

04/09/2025

Tearing it up with Brim!!!! Congrats Guys