Cat Island ACBS Transect, Harrison County

Site Coordinator: Staff

Site type: Barrier Island and beneficial use site

Meeting location:  Gulfport Harbor map

Survey transect details: 

1-mile transect (2 round-trip). A barrier island site, 8 miles off the coast of Mississippi. The island was renourished in 2017 with offshore dredged material. 2 million cubic yards total (about 40 acres) was added back in late 2017. The island is now 3.5 miles long and 250 feet wide. Cat Island's sand beaches are backed by dense forests of slash pines and live oaks. Bayous and marshes on Cat Island are home to wading and migratory birds.  The lagoon on the southern end of the island contains extensive mudflats which are ripe with foraging shorebirds, including Piping and Snowy Plovers. During the summer, Least Terns, Gull-billed Terns and American Oystercatchers nested in the newly renourished areas.

*Please be prepared to get wet embarking and disembarking the boat. The ride can be bumpy. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, your binoculars, and camera. Be prepared to walk 2 miles at the survey pace of staff leads. Staff will confirm departure time and location. Please email Abby Darrah, Regional Biologist at abby.darrah@audubon.org with any questions.