The Southern Regional Office (SRO), located in Ridgeland, MS was established in 1990 to protect and restore wetlands and other wildlife habitat in the southeastern United States. Today, the SRO carries out conservation programs in 15 southern states that include some of the most important wintering habitat on the continent. More than one million acres of waterfowl habitat has been conserved from Kansas south to Texas, east to Florida, and north to the Carolinas.
Two-thirds of North America's waterfowl spend the winter in DU's Southern Region. Ducks and geese depend on wintering habitat in southern latitudes to feed, rest, and build vital energy reserves. Many species form breeding pair-bonds before beginning their arduous journeys to northern breeding areas. Research has shown that the quality of habitat on the wintering grounds affects winter survival rates and the condition of birds returning north. Better wintering habitat may lead to a more productive nesting season and more ducks flying south again in the fall... (more)
Highest Priority Habitat Areas
Gulf Coastal Prairie | Mississippi Alluvial Valley
States Within the Southern Region
Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kansas
Kentucky | Louisiana | Mississippi | Missouri | North Carolina
Oklahoma | South Carolina | Tennessee | New Mexico | Texas
Director's Message
Curtis Hopkins, Ph.D.
July 2010
As you have noticed, Southern Region staff have risen to the occasion to address the potential impacts of the oil spill on wetlands and waterfowl. Actually, by the time you receive this edition of the newsletter, DU staff will likely be hard at work in Texas and Louisiana coastal habitat to increase water for millions of fall migrants heading to the Gulf Coast. Yes, we are much more than ducks, but our focus remains on the waterfowl resources that drive our passion for DU’s mission.
A number of our staff are assigned to the Gulf Coast Response Team. At least in the short term, Dr. Tom Moorman is finding that his responsibility as Team Leader is more than a full time job. Southern Region staff will continue to balance any additional responsibilities as a result of being on the Team with their normal duties prior to the oil spill.
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