Steamy August is no slack time at St. Catherine Wildlife Refuge. Indeed, some of the biggest projects of the year take place during the summer, when heavy equipment is better able to move about the 24,000-acre area set aside for conservation of birds, wildlife and plants.

Assistant manager Steve Brockwas working late at the headquarters building on Wednesday, as was manager Randy Breland, who was somewhere on the refuge taking care of business &045; and taking advantage of daylight savings time.

The refuge, established by the U.S. Congress in 1990, is a sometimes forgotten jewel in the Natchez crown.

The lush land skirting the Mississippi River south of the city includes lakes, swamps, agricultural land and forest areas, providing the variety of habitat needed by native and visiting birds and waterfowl as well as many small mammals and other creatures who make their homes in the refuge.

A big warm-weather project this summer has been improving the shallow water areas to get them ready for the multitude of ducks expected to arrive in a couple of months. Refuge workers have taken the 1,000 acres of those wet areas and have begun dividing them into smaller areas of about 70 acres each to make them more manageable.

Another project has been tackling the pesky common salvinia, a small floating plant that has invaded two lakes at the refuge. &8220;The plant was introduced into the Southeast United States by the aquarium industry,&8221; Brock said. This week, an extensive treatment will begin to eliminate the pest.

A few teals, small dabbling ducks, will begin to come to St. Catherine in September and early October. Too few of those ducks stop at the refuge to allow a teal hunting season, however.

Summer management of shore and wading birds has continued through the past few months. A highlight of the season was the recent visit to the refuge by the Mississippi Ornithological Society, Brock said. &8220;They identified 103 different species of wading birds and shore birds,&8221; he said. Some were birds that were new additions to the refuge listing.

Summer is the reproductive season for birds and wildlife, and the bald eagles have been successful this year. &8220;We know of at least one eaglet at the Gilliard Lake nest,&8221; Brock said.

At the second bald eagle site, the nest fell during nesting season. &8220;But we know they rebuilt the nest, and that’s a good sign,&8221; he said.

In some ways, the refuge might be described as quieter in the August heat. Food is abundant. With the warmer temperatures, animals may not forage as much because they burn fewer calories. &8220;But they are always busy,&8221; Brock said.

In the fall, the refuge will invite the public to the first of several meetings to discuss a long-range, comprehensive conservation plan. &8220;We like for folks to know what we’re doing here,&8221; Brock said.

To get to the refuge, go south to Sibley and turn right on York Road. A large sign directs you to turn just before you reach the store at Sibley.

York Road is a county road, sometimes narrow and often curving. Travel several miles on York Road to the entrance into the refuge at Pintail Road, a left turn if you’re traveling from Sibley.

About a mile inside the refuge is the headquarters building. Stop and say hello. Have a look around. And don’t mind the heat. Refuge residents don’t.

Joan Gandy

is community editor of The Democrat. She can be reached at 445-3549 or by e-mail at

joan.gandy@natchezdemocrat.com

.