Through the museum, Benjamin Erskine Gandy shared his love of nature by developing education and conservation programs, speaking to innumerable school groups, garden clubs and civic organizations, and enhancing the displays at the museum. He oversaw the building of a new facility on Jefferson Street and helped found the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation.

Gandy was born in Royce, MS on July 21, 1925 to Dr. Tilllis and Nora Davis Gandy at the Newman Lumber Company where his father was the company's "horse and buggy" doctor. He grew up in Hattiesburg, MS and immediately upon completing high school, Erskine joined the Navy and served as a Medical Corpsman on Guam during WWII.

After the war, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. Upon receiving his master's degree in biology from Louisiana State University, he moved to Jackson, MS in 1952. Erskine served as the Museum's Director from 1957 until his retirement in 1987.

Erskine also served as a member of the National Audubon Society and a member of the Keep Jackson Beautiful Committee. He taught ornithology at Mississippi College. He was awarded both the National and the Mississippi Conservation Educator of the Year Awards, which recognize "outstanding contributions to the wise use and management of the nation's natural resources".

B. Erskine Gandy was the second Museum Director (1957 - 1987).
About the Bird Flight Permanent Exhibit
bird flight permanent exhibit at the mississippi museum of natural science

Photo Credit: Lindsay McMurtray

In 2020, the museum opened the Bird Flight exhibit which was curated by the museum's staff and funded by Mr. Gandy's family in his honor. As an avid birder, Mr. Gandy was fascinated by bird flight, especially the phenomenon of bird murmurations.

In this fascinating exhibit, learn how birds fly, measure your wingspan, and see a murmuration.

We are grateful to the Gandy family for funding this stunning, permanent exhibit for generations of museum visitors to enjoy and to connect with nature.

Creation of the Bird Flight Exhibit

Have you ever wondered how the museum’s permanent exhibits are selected and created? We hope you enjoy this peek at how an exhibit is developed from start to finish!

This permanent exhibit was curated by the museum’s talented staff and funded by the family of Benjamin Erskine Gandy, who served at the museum as a curator and museum director from 1958-1987. As an avid birder, Mr. Gandy was fascinated by bird flight, especially the phenomenon of bird murmurations.

We are grateful to Mr. Gandy’s family for funding this stunning exhibit for generations of museum visitors to enjoy and to connect with nature.

An Idea to Honor Mr. Gandy

Exhibits like this don’t just happen. Two years before the exhibit opened, Mr. Gandy’s daughters, Ruth, Nora, and Suzanne, came to the MMNS Foundation with a donation to honor their father with a new permanent exhibit.

The museum's amazing staff then began the tremendous amount of work required to create the exhibit.

Installation of an exhibit of this size is probably the fastest part of the process, but can be the most intense because of the staff’s desire to get everything just right - especially on an exhibit that is honoring someone that served the museum for almost 30 years.

The museum's exhibits team did a remarkable job!

Museum ornithologist, Nick Winstead, and Mississippi State University Extension, Senior Extension Associate, Adam Rohnke provided technical guidance on the project.

Scott Allen and his team at A-Plus Signs produced the beautiful graphics and engineered and constructed the exhibit.

Interpreting the Exhibit

The education staff was trained on the exhibit's content so they could assist museum visitors and students on field trips during museum tours and programs.

The gift shop staff was also briefed on the exhibit’s content so they could be prepared to assist shoppers with birding books and other resources available in the gift shop.

Promoting the Exhibit

As the finishing touches were added to the exhibit, the marketing and public relations team stepped in to hire a professional photographer to take promotional photos and video of the exhibit and to write a press release and social media posts announcing the exhibit. The team also published a page about the exhibit on the museum’s website and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation’s website.

Experiencing the Exhibit

We hope you enjoy the exhibit on your next museum visit and:

  • learn more about how birds fly
  • measure your wingspan, and
  • see a video clip of a murmuration. 
Bird Flight exhibit wing span
Full Wing Span Panel in Bird Flight Exhibit
Bird Flight exhibit panel
Bird Flight exhibit panel
Child in Costume in Front of the Bird Flight Exhibit wing span panel at Park After Dark
Child in Front of the Bird Flight Exhibit wing span panel at Park After Dark

See More About the Museum

Students Walking Museum Science
Visitor Information

The MDWFP Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is located in Jackson, Mississippi, tucked within historic LeFleur's Bluff State Park. On this page, find details relating to getting to and visiting the museum. 

MS Museum of Natural Science front entry
About the Museum

Meet over 200 living species in our 100,000-gallon aquarium network and explore 73,000 square feet of permanent and temporary exhibits at MDWFP's Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

Father Sons Exhibits Museum
Exhibits and Features

Explore habitats, fossils, aquariums, nature trails, dinosaur models, and more.