Ronnie Blackwell

Hattiesburg American Cols

February 24th 2009

9 Responses to “Hattiesburg American Cols”

1. Becky Shelton Wesley responded on 25 Jun 2007 at 6:32 pm #

   Ronnie,

   I just returned from a visit with family in Oak Grove and learned about your column. Loved reading the articles and look forward to future ones!

   Congratulations,
   Becky Wesley

2. Rose Ingram responded on 03 Sep 2007 at 8:16 am #

   Ronnie

   Read your article on Hummers–which was wonderful. I learned so much. My husband and I and grandchildren watch the hummers. They are so much fun to watch. Since the hurricane we have one that always perches. We call him Grandpa.

   One question I do have is this: Do they come back every year. I don’t don’t know if Grandpa is the same one that was here during Katrina or it maybe his grandson!!! LOL.

   Thanks for that fun article. Grandchildren enjoyed it too.

   Rose

3. Ronnie responded on 18 Sep 2007 at 9:05 am #

   Hi, Rose. Glad you enjoyed the article! I really appreciate the positive comments — especially about the kids enjoying the article, too. Aren’t those little critters (I meant hummingbirds, but grandkids are, too!) something?!

   It is pretty common for birds, including hummers, to follow the same or similar paths each year, both in spring and fall migrations. Banders often find hummingbirds in traps that they have trapped in the same yard in previous years, sometimes even on the same date. They, like us, are creatures of habit — unless something happens to make them shift out of their little ruts. So, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that if it looks like the same bird and acts like the same bird, it probably IS the same bird! Enjoy the relationship! Lin and I have a family of cardinals who’ve been in our yard for many years — we recognize them by a single white feather somewhere in their wings. It’s a wonderful feeling to see one of those at our feeders each year! And so it goes….happy birding!

4. joe brister responded on 06 Jan 2008 at 7:38 am #

   Ronnie,

   I was so pleased to hear that you would be writing for our local paper. I have read your contributions before and was delighted.

   I have read somewhere that you had much admiration for “Miss Judith”, but I gather that you did not know her. Let me tell you about her.

   First, this is how I know here. I am the former day security officer at Beauvoir in Biloxi. It is a 55 acre slice of heaven filled with every variety of wildlife that it can support, (we even had a fox at one time). Completely fenced and protected by armed security, it is indeed a sight to see, or was, before Katrina. The buildings are mostly gone except for the main house where the President once lived and the library was largly intact. The public dosen’t know, but all the “real stuff” was protected in the vault on the second floor. The President’s actual writings and such were protected there.

   Re: “Miss Judith” as I called her, she would arrive about dawn 2 or 3 days each week. I would, of course, unlock the main gates and let here and 2 or 3 other cars enter, then relock.

   “Miss Judith” would walk the back trails of Beauvoir with her pals and then proceed to describe all that she had seen that day and why certian species were present at the time and where they were likely to be at another time.

   She was special. I know nothing about birds, other than the Yellow Nape I once owned. I learned more from “Miss Judith” in ten minutes than I learned in years of actually having a bird in the house.

   “Miss Judith” carefully explained why Beauvoir (at the lagoon) received periodic visits from exoctic looking Cranes and other fowl that somehow don’t show up elsewhere on the coast. At least I had never seen them anywhere else except Beauvoir.

   “Miss Judith” was not an imposer. She would never discuss her interest until a question was asked. Then “watch out”. Get ready for lots of factual information.

   I am now retired due to far too many back problems and surgery, but Jay Peterson is now the Director of Security at Beauvoir, and he is most accomadating. He will show you a small piece of heaven you did not know existed.

   Good luck and I look forward to reading about you exploites.

   Joe Brister
   228-918-5522
   Gulfport, MS

5. Christine Toups responded on 13 Jan 2008 at 12:52 am #

   Hi, Ronnie –

   I was so pleased to see mother’s birding column resurrected after an almost 14 month hiatus. It’s wonderful to see someone quite knowledgeable about the subject of birding, birding, habitat and environment. Mother was a tough act to follow and you appear to tread perfectly in her bootprints.

   The very best of luck to you in your endeavors with the Sun Herald and beyond. There IS life beyond the Sun Herald, believe me.

   Signed,

   Christine Toups
   former Page Layout Coordinator of The Sun Herald 1995-2006.

6. Ron responded on 14 Jan 2008 at 8:14 pm #

   Joe,
   Thanks for writing and thanks for sharing your memories. I will certainly get in touch with Mr. Peterson.
   Take care,
   Ron.

7. Ron responded on 14 Jan 2008 at 8:25 pm #

   Christine,
   Thank you for your encouragement. I lost my father in 2007 so I know a bit of the taste of loss that that you have had.
   I was always in awe of your mother, her depth of knowledge, and way with people. She never seemed to be flustered or at a loss for words. Over the last two weeks I’ve have many people come to me with reminisces about Judy. I can tell you that the birding community still feels the loss of their leader, but they are also quick with a smile and laughter when they hear her name.
   My awe remains.
   Take care,
   Ron

8. Christine Toups responded on 16 Jan 2008 at 1:39 am #

   Almost one year since mother’s been gone…and you have, with a few simple words of shared admiration and genuine affection, have reduced me to tears. And here I thought I was all cried out.

   Thank you!

9. Katelyn responded on 19 Nov 2009 at 3:01 am #

   Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision. Keep on writting and cheers from afar

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