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Birders should dress in layers since it can be cool in the mornings, especially if there is rain, and quite warm in the afternoon sun. A rain jacket or umbrella will probably be useful. In general, sturdy walking shoes should suffice. Fire Ants can ruin your field trip, so please pay attention to the trail. If you do not know what a Fire Ant mound looks like, ask your leaders to point one out. Tucking your pant legs into your socks will help keep those fierce biters off of your legs if you step on a mound by mistake. Be aware that mosquitoes can also be a problem, but a 10 to 25 percent solution of DEET is generally effective. Louisiana does have poisonous snakes, and wooded areas also have poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy. Those large logs basking in the sun are quite possibly American Alligators. Have fun, but be aware of your surroundings.
To better include the PLT in the larger group activities, we have rated each field trip as to level of physical difficulty and have listed the mode of transportation. If that transportation is not suitable for you, we encourage you to caravan along with the field trip participants to the destination, where there will be a leader who will take care to move more slowly, and allow time for those with limitations to sit and rest as needed. It is recommended that you bring a lightweight folding stool. If you choose to caravan or bird from your car, two way radios can be provided to help you stay in contact.To have any questions answered about these trips, please contact Darlene Smyth, 866- 392-2473 or dsmyth@aba.org.
Codes for Field Trip Difficulty Levels:
Level 1—Easy walking, mostly level paths, or birding from car possible
Level 2—Paths can be narrow with uneven terrain
Level 3—Obstacles in paths requiring agility or steeper grades
Level 4—Very steep, insecure footing, or long hikes requiring top physical condition |
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Field Trips
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(early AM Departure / approximately 3:30 PM return)
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| 1 | McGEE’S LANDING SWAMP TOUR AND LAKE MARTIN (ADDITIONAL FEE)
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
The McGee’s boat captain will add a little Cajun spice and history to
your enjoyment of the birds as your trip takes you into the interior of
one of America’s greatest river swamps to view Great and Snowy
Egrets, Green, Tricolored, and Little Blue Herons, Cormorants and
Anhinga, while the “Swamp Canary” (Prothonotary Warbler) will
flash in front of the boat. When you visit Lake Martin, which is a
favorite nesting location of many birds, including Wood Ducks,
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos,
Red-eyed Vireos, Northern Parula, ProthonotaryWarblers, Indigo and
Painted Buntings, keep your eye out for another nesting species, the
American Alligator. It will not be uncommon to see several ten foot
bull alligators on this trip. Wading birds, once common here, now
may nest in more modest numbers.The trees that shade the trails are
a favorite among migrant passerines. If conditions permit, we will also
visit the University of Louisiana Experimental Farm, since where
there are crawfish, there are birds! (Bus/boat trip—Level 1) |
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| 2 | ATCHAFALAYA EXPERIENCE BOAT TRIP AND INDIAN BAYOU HIKE (ADDITIONAL FEE)
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (with a Sunday Option)
This expedition, which has been featured on the Discovery Channel, the BBC, and other networks, is an up close and personal swamp experience with the birds of the swamp for those who are more adventurous, and will utilize small boats. The Indian Bayou hike will explore many areas, and will focus on resident and migrant species such as the Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Indigo and Painted Buntings. (Van/boat trip—Level 3) |
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| 3 | ALEXANDER STATE FOREST, LOUISIANA STATE ARBORETUM, CHICOT STATE PARK
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (with a Sunday Option)
With rolling hills, hardwood, yellow-pine, and beech-magnolia forests, these beautiful parks, in the interior of Louisiana, are home to some of the most sought after birds in Louisiana. The endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, and Bachman’s Sparrow are all possible, and will be the objects of diligent searches. Expect to see many other species due to the variety of habitats. (Bus trip— Majority Level 1 some Level 3) |
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| 4 | LACASSINE NWR AND RICE FIELDS
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (with a Sunday Option)
The “Lacassine Pool” is a 1600-acre impounded marsh swarming
with bird life. Common nesting species include Fulvous Whistling-
Duck, Mottled Duck, King Rail, and Purple Gallinule. Frequent visitors
include nearby nesting species such as Black-bellied Whistling-
Duck, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, and Fish Crow. Raptors patrol
the area looking for prey, while migrants rest in the small stands of
bushes. The rice fields and crawfish farms attract many shorebirds in
migration, including such species as Black-bellied Plover, American
Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Greater and
Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper, Hudsonian
Godwit, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Buffbreasted
Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Wilson’s Phalarope.
(Van trip—Level 1 to 2) |
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| 5 | AUDUBON COUNTRY—OAKLEY PLANTATION
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
The rich magnolias covered with fragrant blossoms, the holly, the beech, the tall yellow poplar, the hilly ground and even the red clay, all excited my admiration. Such an entire change in the fall of nature in so short a time seems almost supernatural, and surrounded once more by numberless warblers and thrushes, I enjoyed the scene. —John James Audubon.
In 1821, John James Audubon spent time painting while staying at
this lovely plantation. Come walk where Audubon walked, and
admire the same species in this beautiful setting. Expect to look for,
among others, five species of woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadee,
Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Worm-eating
Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager, and
Eastern Towhee. If you wish, you may take a 30 minute tour of the
home.We will also visit TNC’s Mary Jane Brown Preserve, and the
Sherburne Wildlife Management area, which is an established breeding
location for the beautiful Swallow-tailed Kite. (Bus trip—Level 1
and 2) |
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| 6 | LAKE FAUSSE POINTE STATE PARK AND AVERY ISLAND
Tuesday, Saturday
We have special permission to enter the Jungle Gardens at Avery
Island (of Tabasco fame) before it is opened to the general public.
Multiple trails wind through gardens rich with resident birds and
resting migrants. Bird City, the rookery which is easily viewed, is
bursting with Great, Snowy, and Cattle Egrets. Species that can be
seen nesting in the trees around the lake include Little Blue, Tri-colored,
and Green Heron, Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga, and Roseate
Spoonbill. Be sure to bring your camera. Lake Fausse is a gorgeous
park with a variety of habitats.The lake hosts breeding species such
as White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Forster’s Tern,
while the surrounding trees may have the nests of Swallow-tailed or
Mississippi Kites, Broad-wing Hawks or Barred Owls. Breeding
neotropic passerines are to be expected here, and migrants flit
through the trees. (Bus trip—Level 1) |
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| 6A | CENTURY CLUB SELECTION
On Thursday, the excursion to destination #6 will be reserved for Century Club members only. There is a place on the registration form to indicate your attendance on this special field trip. |
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| 7 | SHOREBIRD IDENTIFICATION STUDY FIELD TRIP
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Join Richard Crossley, co-author of The Shorebird Guide, on this smaller group trip as he helps you master the new method of shorebird identification while you are actually looking at the birds in the Rice Fields. The pace will be relaxed, and you will spend quality time studying shorebirds with this expert, and his co-instructor, Rick Wright. See the description of the Rice Fields in trip number 4. (Van trip—Level 1 to 2) |
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| 8 | MIGRATION GAMBLE
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Hurricane Rita caused heavy damage to many areas on the south west Louisiana coast. However, there are still portions of Peveto Woods that survived the storm, and this is a powerful migrant trap if a front has just gone through the area. The morning after a front can cause the trees to be crawling with migrant passerines forced down by the bad weather, and a visit to Louisiana would not be complete without taking a chance on such an event. If weather was such that migrants may have landed in force, you will head to this area first thing in the morning. If such an event does not happen, the trip will go to other areas that are currently the best to find migrating birds. Coastal migrants during late April can include, among many others, colorful Neotropical migrants such as warblers, 23 species are possible, tanagers, thrushes, and orioles. (Van trip—Level 2 to 3) |
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| 9 | DIGISCOPING IN THE FIELD
Saturday only, limited space
Join the team from Swarovski as they offer you an “in the field” digiscoping experience while providing instruction. Now you can capture the beauty of the birds you see, and share the images with fellow birders. Learn new skills, or refine your techniques, with these experts, put into practice the skills and tips discussed in the Friday Special Presentation. The team will choose the best location for the most rewarding returns. (Van Trip—Level 1 to 2) |
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