By Jane Frazier
INTRODUCTION
The Vicksburg National Military Park offers many miles of parkway
bordered by forest and fields and an ample supply of migratory and
resident birds. Once in the park, there are numerous places where birders
may wish to stop, such as the Shirley House, Sherman Circle, Thayer’s
Approach, and Fort Hill. Places to stop within the park are numerous;
visitors are charged $8 per car by the Park Service. A yearly pass of $20
is also available. (If you are in a large group you will probably also
want to carpool inside the park, since the number of parking spaces per
site is limited.)
EXPECTED
BIRDS
At Shirley House, Sherman Circle, and Thayer’s Approach, migrants such
as Northern Parula Warblers, Hooded Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Mississippi
Kites, Orchard Orioles, and Summer Tanagers are often found, while Fort
Hill offers an overlook of the Yazoo Canal and views of migrating Hawks,
Herons, and Wood Storks.
DIRECTIONS
Directions: To reach the park, in Vicksburg, take the Clay Street Exit
from the westbound lane of I-20. The park entrance and visitor center are
within one mile of I-20. You will probably want to receive a free map of
the park before proceeding, which diagrams the many miles of road and many
of the sites you may wish to bird.
MAP
of Park - National Park Service
Fort Hill has many opportunities for raptors - including the Bald
Eagle. Photographs Skipper Anding
Fort Hill (inside the park)
By Skipper Anding
DIRECTIONS
Once you enter the Vicksburg National Military Park by
passing under the big arch, you will go about 9 miles to Fort Hill. You
may bypass any circles, such as a huge monument shaped like the Pantheon
with it's dome, by turning right before it a white house. Stop if you have
never seen it. Grant Ave. can also be bypassed if desired (take left).
After you pass the Cairo Museum (this was the first boat to be sunk by
remote control - a Confederate mine in river - a nice museum is behind the
boat) and the U.S. Cemetary, you are on Confederate Ave. One then ascends
the mountain called Fort Hill. Pull over at the top and climb the steps.
Enjoy the wonderful view!
Where lookouts were once posted to look for invading boats,
we now scan the horizon for invading (migrating) Broad-Wing Hawks and
other raptors each September.
Note: Late September is a special time here - Hawk
Migration!
Fall Migration
September through early October for Broad-Wing Hawks. Late
September is best. Wintering from the Florida Keys through Mexico,
Broad-Wing Hawks range as far as Peru and Brasil. In the fall the
Swainson's Hawk of the West, migrates simultaneously with Broad-Wings.
They join over Central America to form tremendous kettles of these hawks.
The Swainson's prefers the pampas of Argentina, south of the Broad-Wing
winter range.
Although the water you see before you today looks like and
was the Mississippi River during the war, the river changed course and is
out of site to your left. What you see from Fort Hill today is known as
the Yazoo River Diversion.
Expected Birds
Raptors include Broad-wing Hawks (in kettles of 20 or more
during migration), Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Coopers Hawk,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and Black Vulture. Also Great Egret,
Snowey Egret, Cattle Egret, Red-headed Woodpecker, various Warblers during
migration, Summer Tanager, White-eyed Vireo, House Sparrow, Chimney
Swift.
Other Possible Birds
Other birds that you might see include Bald Eagle, Osprey,
Wood Stork (migration), Peregrine Falcon (especially during migration),
Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis.
Big trees and hills make this a special place for both birds and
scenery!
History
The Louisiana and Tennessee Heavy Artillery sank the U.S.S.
Cincinnati near Fort Hill after the gunboat appeared and attacked
Vicksburg. A marker records the event here. Whistling Dick, their famous
cannon that whistled when fired was thrown into the river before the
surrender. Note that the Confederate soldiers are buried in the Vicksburg
City Cemetery.
When Grant's attack failed he tried digging a canal around
Vicksburg. This didn't get very far. You can visit the spot across the
river at Delhi and it is considered part of the park. When Grant said he
wasn't attacking to end slavery he wasn't kidding. He was a slave owner
himself. When Grant was in Holly Springs, MS he had one working in his own
home.
Some grumbled when Pemberton surrendered on July 4. Because
he had grown up in the north some thought July 4 was no coincidence.
The Vicksburg Military Park has more monuments than any
other. This in spite of the loss of many that were recycled as scrap metal
during WWII.
Hope you enjoyed seeing Cairo boat and Museum. The gunboat
was located and raised from the Yazoo River by the efforts of local
Mississippians who placed it and its relics in the care of the National
Park Service for preservation.
 
After passing the 202 foot tall oblisk styled after the
Washington monument one begins Confederate Avenue. High ground
makes the Naval Monument look over half the size of the tribute to
the "Father of Our Country" (555 feet). Quickly come the
Cairo and Federal Cemetary as you descend. Now
you are ready to ascend Fort Hill! Pull over after
reaching the top - don't miss it! | 
