Audubon Encounters Promotion Services

It began several months ago when a group of friends in Woodville got together to exchange their ideas and hopes for a plan that could help Woodville grow and prosper while sustaining its unique identity and developing its special potential. They quickly realized that this project, if carefully planned, could encompass a much larger area of this historic region. It could include the beauties of Wes

t Feliciana Parish to the south, the fabled Natchez region to the north, and many sites in between. Within a few weeks, the group met with David Floyd, recently retired as the longtime head of the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge and a prominent member of historic preservation groups in St. Francisville. David shared with the group his vision for future promotional projects in his home region, long known as ”Audubon Country” because of its historic association with world renowned ornithologist John James Audubon and his bird paintings in the monumental work ”Birds of America.”
During the years when Audubon was searching for birds to identify and preserve in art and, at the same time, struggling to earn the money to see his work published, he spent time in many areas of the early American country. Among his special haunts were Natchez, West Feliciana Parish and Woodville. David’s ideas for the future included promotions of all these regions — highlighting their rich histories and their unique natural beauty and using Audubon as a link to bring it all together. The project would be known as ”Audubon Encounters,” and Woodville could be a part of it. The prospect was a truly exciting one for the Woodville group. David also shared with the Woodville group, the many practical steps they could take to develop what he called ”eco-tourism” — responsible travel to natural areas which conserve the environment, sustain the well-being of the local communities, and involve interpretation and education. Audubon’s sojourns in Natchez and St. Francisville and the surrounding woodlands have been well documented through the years. His time in Woodville is less well known, and this project provides a perfect opportunity to tell this story, along with the very important history of Woodville. Established in 1811, when this region was still part of the Mississippi Territory, Woodville is one of the oldest and most historically significant towns in Mississippi. The state, by the way, was established in 1817 — six years after Woodville. Woodville today retains its original courthouse square, the center of an impressive historic district listed in 1982 on the National Register of Historic Places of the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. The district includes many 19th Century homes, commercial buildings, and churches. Woodville’s historic significance is thus established, and its inclusion in a prestigious enterprise like ”Audubon Encounters” is not only appropriate but also an exciting prospect for the town’s future, the group believes.
”Audubon Encounters” needs the help and support of all the citizens of these regions. The organization welcomes questions, comments, suggestions and, of course, participation wherever possible. It is a proposal that, if successful, could bring enormous benefits to all the areas involved — not only today but also for generations to come. By: Stella M. Pitts for Audubon Encounters

Our objective is to REVEAL the Natural Beauty of the Area & Share the Interesting History, Culture & Music with Videos, Pictures and Local Stories. We Supply A FREE — Constantly Evolving Digital Map🗺 to Help Plan Encounters in Person or Virtually. Beautiful Area for Scenic Drives, Photography, Bird Watching, and Much More....