Pipeline Road is a common name for the Pearl River Waterfowl Refuge. It is an excellent
location offering many types of waterfowl in the Ross Barnett Reservoir on one side of the
road, and woodland birds in the mixed trees on the other side of the road. You can find
many birds just by driving down the road, and watching the trees, water, road, and sky;
stopping whenever you want to get out and take a closer look. You can park on the side of
the road at any place, and you don’t have to worry about traffic. Be sure to fill
out a visitor card at the entrance to let the managers of the Refuge know that the Refuge
is being used for birding.
SPECIALTY BIRDS
There is a pair of Bald Eagles nesting in the area, and on occasion you will see them
flying over the Reservoir. The Osprey is another bird that you may see here. Pileated
Woodpeckers are fairly common in the woods near the entrance. Least Bittern and King Rails
may be seen.
SUMMER
Expected Birds
Common woodland species during the summer include Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee,
Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue Jay, Red-bellied and Downy
Woodpeckers, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer
Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Prothonotary Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee,
Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler,
Pine Warbler, Common YellowThroat, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Towhee. Birds that you
would expect to see on the Reservoir side of the road include Great Blue Heron, Great
Egret, Green Heron, Anhinga, Common Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Wood Duck, Red-winged
Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Belted Kingfisher. Raptors include Red-tailed and
Red-shouldered Hawks.
Other Possible Birds
Other birds that you might see include Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,
Yellow-throated Warbler, Coopers Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Least Bittern, King Rail, Bald
Eagle, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl.
WINTER
Expected Birds
Common woodland species during the winter include Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee,
Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue Jay, Red-bellied, and Downy
Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed
Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler,
Eastern Towhee. Birds that you would expect to see on the Reservoir side of the road
include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck,
Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler, American Coot, Pied-billed
Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow, Swamp
Sparrow. Raptors include Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Northern Harrier, American
Kestrel.
Other Possible Birds
Other birds that you might see include Brown Creeper, Common Snipe, Greater and Lesser
Scaup, Common YellowThroat, Coopers Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, King Rail, Great
Horned Owl, Barred Owl.
SPRING MIGRATION
Expected Birds
Common woodland species during spring migration include American Redstart, Magnolia
Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Birds
that you would expect to see on the Reservoir side of the road include Tree Swallow,
Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret.
FALL MIGRATION
Expected Birds
Common woodland species during spring migration include Yellow Warbler, American
Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler.
Other Possible Birds
Other birds that you might see include Nashville Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler,
Golden-winged Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo.
Wildlife Management Area User Permits are required to enjoy some of our favorite birding spots, such as the Pearl River Wildlife Managment Area. The permits can be purchased at sporting good stores or Walmart.
DIRECTIONS
From highway 25 (Lakeland), go north on Highway 25 approximately 12.5 miles past the
Castlewoods entrance. Take the Highway 43 exit, and go left (west) over Highway 25
approximately 4.5 miles. There is a sign for the Pearl River Waterfowl Refuge on the
right immediately after you cross the Reservoir bridge. Turn right onto the dirt road.
This is the beginning of Pipeline Road. Don’t forget to fill out a visitor card at
the entrance to let the managers of the Refuge know that the Refuge is being used for
birding.
From the Natchez Trace, take the Highway 43 exit, and go east approximately 1.5 miles.
On the left just before the Reservoir bridge is the entrance.
