On Tuesday we traveled down to the Gulf Coast and hoped to camp in Gulfport. We were amazed at the level of devastation still very apparent there, especially right along the coast. Lots of empty concrete slabs, lots of half-destroyed homes and businesses still not torn down and cleaned up, many major businesses like restaurants and motels that are still not up and running. They have their signs up (presumably new ones) and a "Coming Back Soon" notice, but otherwise their sites are totally empty. Two major bridges both east and west of Gulfport along US90 are still out.

We have spent the last three days in Gautier, Mississippi at a state campground. About half the people in the campground are doing Katrina related work. Behind us is a group of four scruffy looking men from Tennessee who are hauling mobile homes for FEMA. This morning between 5 and 6 am they were busy firing up their trucks, leaving one at a time, doing a lot of yelling back and forth.

We have spent most of our time birding while down here. Yesterday we saw the Mississippi Sandhill Crane. It is a crane sub-species that is non-migratory. Twenty years ago it was down to about twenty birds but through conservation is now at 140, with 25-30 breeding pairs. Most of the refuge is closed to visitors so you don't normally see them, but we were lucky to spot a few out in a pasture. Also got one new lifer--a brown-headed nuthatch.

We are eager to see what our accomodations and work will be like in Franklinton. We hope to arrive there Saturday afternoon.