Birding in South Louisiana
No other coast in the world is as busy with birds as the coast of Louisiana. Each year, nearly the entire eastern bird population and several species of the western population of migratory neo-tropical songbirds and waterfowl migrate through Louisiana’s coast in what is one of the world's greatest spectacles. On some days in April, more than a million birds will reach Louisiana's coast from Central America. Spring migrants arrive on Louisiana’s coast after a long gulf crossing and rely on the coastal wetlands, hardwood/pine forests and pine savannahs to restore depleted energy reserves as well as to provide food and cover.
The effects of weather on migration
In past years, approximately 125 to 150 species have been seen during BirdFest. As is true in any Gulf Coast birding location, numbers and species of birds is highly dependent on the weather, with the best birding following a strong cold front moving through the birding area. This can create conditions for a “fallout” where trans-gulf migrants, battling wind and rain, go to ground soon after they hit land. These “fallouts” offer the opportunity to see a high number of species and during these events hundreds of individuals of a single bird species may be packed into very small areas where they can be easily observed. Although fallouts are not very common, we have encountered them in a couple of spectacular years during BirdFest and there is always the possibility that this year could be one. In fair weather trans-gulf migrants will continue inland and stop after the gulf crossing although the population is more dispersed. Our resident and breeding bird populations are greatly augmented by migrants; Gray Catbird and Indigo Bunting are two examples, often arriving in flocks.
Birds that can be seen on most of the BirdFest trips
The following birds occur commonly in southeast Louisiana and can be expected on almost any trip and so may not be mentioned in individual trips. Note that resident and breeding bird populations may be outnumbered by migrants for any given species.
Wintering Birds: Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow.
Resident and Breeding Birds: Great-blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egret; Black and Turkey Vulture; Laughing Gull, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker; Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crow; Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, and Common Grackle.
Possible Migrants: raptors, vireos, warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, orioles, thrushes, and buntings.
See Birding Checklists for species seen on prior year BirdFest trips.
• Bird
Sighting List from 2000 (pdf format)
• Bird
Sighting List from 2001 (pdf format)
• Bird Sighting List from
2002 (pdf format)
• Bird
Sighting List from 2003 (pdf format)
• Bird
Sighting List from 2004 (pdf format)
• Bird
Sighting List from 2005 (pdf format)
• Bird Sighting List from 2006 (pdf format)
What’s new?
Every year since its inception, The Great Louisiana BirdFest has incorporated at least one new trip and 2009 is no exception. For 2009 we return to perennial favorite sites, return to a site we have not visited for several years, and have added an exceptionally beautiful site, Beechwood Gardens, that provides wonderful habitat. Beechwood Gardens will be the location of our BirdFest Social so that our visitors can combine good birding with a taste of Louisiana and enjoy the lovely surroundings.
Transportation
All trips are “Self Drive.” Maps and driving instructions will be provided in advance and you will drive yourself to the meeting place for the start of the trip.
Our schedule this year includes new and innovative trips. If you visited last year and missed some of our unique birding sites, please register early so you won't be disappointed! Follow the links below for detailed descriptions of this year's trips and events and then register for those that you wish to attend.
- Reservations will be filled in the order in which they were received. Many of the trips and events have limited seating or space.
- Your registration and payment must be received by April 10, 2009 to receive written confirmation.
- All participants will meet at the field trip locations. Directions will be provided for each registered participant. All trips are self-drive.
- The prices listed below are for non-members. If you would like to become a member and receive discounted prices, click here to buy your membership.
- If the trip that you are interested in is full, email birdfest@northlakenature.org to be put on the waiting list.
