strawberry plains audubon center

Attended a wonderful conference at Strawberry Plains. The grounds near the visitor center and house are well maintained. Plants and trees have plaques giving info on the various items.Got a chance to enjoy a quick tour of the house (first floor only) along with the history.The highlights of my day was taking one of the hiking trails to a slave/sharecropper's cemetery for a libation ceremony to honor the people buried there. The hiking trail was easy to walk with a small incline.The visitor center is small and was originally the home of a tenant farmer (his granddaughter was at the program and I got a chance to talk about her growing up at Strawberry plains). There's a great map showing the various hiking trails, info about upcoming events,etc.The staff have a lot of pride in Strawberry plains and quite helpful.Be advise that from the main road, you are driving on gravel road for about two miles to the visitor's center.Great day trip from Memphis and I plan to return in the spring to enjoy some of the hikes to various points.

I visited the recent hummingbird festival. I was surprised by the crowd in such a remote location. The festival takes place at the top of a hill. They offer transportation to the top. If you like to hike then bring your tennis shoes because the trails through the woods are lovely. The catch and release of the hummingbirds is a lovely experience. My child got to feel a hummingbird's heartbeat and see its tongue! The crowd was the only downfall. Adults are just as excited as children to see the birds. Personally, I think it would have been nice to have separate release sights for children and adults. An antebellum home is on sight with huge windows over looking a flower garden with hummingbird feeders and cages. Vendors are located all over the sight selling t-shirts, jewelry, food, etc. Arkabutla wildlife rehabilitators are on sight holding a variety of large birds for up close viewing. There was a duck with a prosthetic foot and a bat section. University of Mississippi's bird club had an area for children set up that is very educational and fun. They were extremely kind to my child and showed so much respect for her passion for wildlife. If you are looking to further your knowledge on birds, this is the place to be. It is an invaluable educational experience for middle school children.

Once again we came to the Center to attend the annual hummingbird festival. This is our 3rd or 4th time to attend this event. As another person noted, the entrance fee is a bit $$ but you are supporting this nature center with your admission. You have an opportunity to see banding, release, the historic home, grounds, and featured speakers. I have a teenager that opted to attend this event rather than the local fair! We always enjoy the speakers on various topics such as bats, native snakes, and (of course!) hummingbirds! It's not for everyone but it was a very pleasant day for our family of scouters, outdoor enthusist, and nature lovers. Festival Highlights:•Hummingbird Viewing and Banding - You may get a chance to release one back into the wild!•Guided Wagon Rides and Nature Walks through Strawberry Plains Audubon Center's 2600-Acre Nature Sanctuary•Kids' Nature Tent•Live Animal Shows•Special Guest Speakers•Resources for Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard•Native Plant Sale•Experts on Conservation, Ecology and Bird Migration•Local Artists and Vendors Selling Crafts, Art, Bird Feeders, Gifts, Souvenirs, etc.

This past weekend was the second time that I had attended this festival. I enjoyed both times very much. From the natural wildlife presentations to the hummingbird watching, it was all great. Go early to avoid the heat. The event is very well organized and for those who are afraid of having to hike too far, there are constant rides to and from the event site. Food can be purchased on site but you can bring in a single water bottle (no coolers). There are plenty of resting sites. Don't forget your camera!

I visited Strawberry Plains this weekend for their annual Hummingbird Festival and was amazed at all there is to do in addition to viewing hummingbirds. The hummingbirds can be viewed from the lovely ante-bellum home on the property, and you will also see them buzzing around the property. You can see hummingbird banding and if you are lucky, like my friend (see photo), you may even get to release one after it has been banded.They have speakers from all over the nation talking about hummingbirds, butterflies, and how to make your yard a haven to attract all types of birds, in addition to hummingbirds and butterflies. There were beautiful raptors to view and folks who spoke about bats and snakes, so you can understand why they are beneficial and not to be feared. All the children I saw looked like they were having a good time – there was a separate area that provided activities for the children, plus wagon rides and guided nature walks for all ages. I saw people ranging in all ages – it looked like a great event for a family outing. There were vendors selling various items including books, jewelry, lovely wooden walking sticks, t-shirts, hummingbird feeders and accessories and much more. There was a concession area set up specifically for the festival.This activity is only one weekend a year, but it looks like a nice place to visit at any time.

We went to the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center for the annual hummingbird migration festival and were slightly disappointed. There were some very neat demonstrations and speakers, but unlike the name would imply, not many hummingbirds. We were able to see two birds banded and 2 at feeders and that was it for the day. The other parts of the center were pretty, but definitely not worth the $15.00 per person that we paid to get in..$5.00 would have been more reasonable. I would suggest this as a last resort for someone who was in the area and had nothing else to do.

What other nature preserve have you visited that has a lovely antebellum home on it? This is a unique and enjoyable place for anyone who likes nature or history and a real bonanza if you enjoy both. Strawberry Plains Audubon Center (SPAC) has 15 miles of hiking trails, scheduled events (check their website), tours of the antebellum home (see info at end of review), places to sit, watch & photograph birds, chimney swift towers, beautiful native plants in their landscape, and a lovely gift shop.Their piece de resistance is the annual Hummingbird Migration Celebration held in Sept. (check their events listing) which is a 3-day blow-out that celebrates the hummingbird and nature. At this event you can see hummingbirds caught, weighed, measured, banded and released. A lucky few even get to hold them and release them. There are speakers on various eco/nature subjects, vendors, native plants for sale, and lots more. If you can’t come to the Celebration, there are hummingbirds there all summer long – they show up around April and don’t leave until late October – and there are usually lots of them. There are also many, many other birds all year long.SPAC is an enjoyable drive out of Memphis – it a great get away from the city. If you are in the Memphis/Holly Springs area don’t miss it. Here is a link to an article published in a local newspaper about SPAC: http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20140629/LIFESTYLE07/306290005/Strawberry-Plains-Audubon-CenterThe antebellum home can be toured – if you are interested, call ahead. Tours are scheduled at 2PM on Saturdays, but can be scheduled at other times with prior arrangements.