Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge offers a unique chance to view one of the rarest bird species in North America. The refuge was established in 1975 to protect the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane, with less than 35 of the birds living in the wild due to the rapid destruction of wet pine savanna habitat. Thanks to the protection of more than 19,000 acres of land, coupled with intensive conservation efforts, around 120 Mississippi sandhill cranes now thrive within the park, which is part of the Gulf Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.