Birding in Louisiana Part 5 (Quest for 100 Species)

[@uniquity2]

This video is close to my heart. I grew up in south Louisiana, and have gone back to visit family in Houma( up the road from Thibodaux) many times over my birding career. Winter is really when it shines, you never know what you'll find. My best birds are probably Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycat, and the second pair of limpkins to take up residence in Louisiana and the first for Terrebonne Parrish. The Mandalay boardwalk has not produced many rarities for me, but can be great place to see Sora in the open and one winter day i had a Baltimore Oriole in the parking lot. I love it there.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@uniquity2 I did my MS at Nicholls and have been to Houma quite a bit. South LA is a special place! -Derek

[@uniquity2]

There are a couple of things there that are scarcer farther east in winter. For example, I have found I can usually find Wilson's Warbler there somewhere in winter if I have enough time. The area near the golf course and Lake Houma have been the best, though it's been a few years now. Been watching the march eastward of Caracaras, Kiskadees and to lesser extent White-tailed Hawks into Louisiana, possibly due to climate change and other unknown factors. Also if you want to work on your Terrebonne Parrish/ Louisiana checklists, going down the bayou towards Dularge and Dulac, there often Bronzed Cowbirds and sometimes Inca Doves.

[@aknightthatsaysnee5259]

We have or had the Northern Mockingbird here in my neighborhood in El Paso, Texas. Beautiful singing! I haven't heard or seen it lately, though.

[@kms409]

Awesome! Welcome to Louisiana! If youre ever back in Louisiana i can tell you where to see Caracara all the time! Im over in Lake Charles

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We were able to see some of them in the southeastern part of the state!

[@mister-bland]

Love your vids like this so much. I don't have any birdwatching buddies where I'm at, so it really feels like I'm birding with you guys which is great. Keep it coming!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

That was great to watch. I saw a limpkin close to where I live last year.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Awesome! Very cool birds

[@Beryllahawk]

Awesome!!!! You could almost have put Last Minute Limpkin in the title, hehe! It's honestly a bit astonishing how pretty the local plants actually are, seen through your lens (wordplay intended) - never thought I'd look at a Longleaf Pine and say "oh yeah, that's a good one" - but here we are! I'm almost as amazed that you didn't fall out, staying out in the direct sun during the hottest part of the day. You have a LOT more fortitude than I do, haha!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I actually have a fascination with being out in extreme weather just to see what it feels like lol

[@Grateful_Dad_54]

I saw a lifer Limpkin last year in Western Wisconsin!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

They had a great year last year. Showed up in so many places

[@jamescady723]

Fun trip and great finds!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks for watching!

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

I didn't see any Limpkins this year in Arkansas but quite a few other people did. I did see some in Honduras in 2018 though.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Was it a good year for them in Arkansas?

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

@BadgerlandBirding it seemed like it from the reports I was seeing.

[@darylbernard2616]

Heading to Louisiana in a couple weeks for the Yellow Rails & Rice Festival...hoping to score 100+ species for my #26 state to hit the century mark. Can't wait to explore the bayou country, see cool birds, and eat Cajun and Creole cuisine!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@darylbernard2616 I never made it to that festival but it seems like they normally find some pretty cool stuff! If Erik Johnson is there tell him Derek says hi!!

[@markshen3280]

Good morning to you two from Singapore 🇸🇬. May I please 🙏 ask whether seeing you wearing bright clothings might possibly deter birds from coming in for a closer snapshot ? Whenever I go out to search for birds, I always wear darker clothings.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We haven't found any negatives to wearing bright colors while birding

[@YvonneWatson-ff5ex]

Thibodaux Louisiana! Home to Nichols State.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Indeed!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Go Colonels! - Derek

[@YvonneWatson-ff5ex]

@@BadgerlandBirding I almost said that too

[@lisamcallister6534]

I'm now getting visits from a ring neck dove. Never seen one here before. Isn't that unusual? Western Maryland.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It’s likely a Eurasian Collared Dove, an interesting non-native species. You can learn more about them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ_Jn4Rtid58a68si=tRlfqXozKlaB4lfY

[@lisamcallister6534]

@@BadgerlandBirding His English is so good, I thought he was American 😃

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@lisamcallister6534 haha 🤣

[@uniquity2]

If you ever find yourself in Kentucky, feel free to reach out. We have a dedicated birding community, that is more about collaboration and less about competition, as is the case in some areas. Really love your work.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks so much for your kind words! One of our goals is to make at least one video in every state so that means at some point we have to go birding in Kentucky!

[@TiphanieBirdingNW]

❤

[@BadgerlandBirding]

🦜

[@steveking6204]

With the apple snails invading Louisiana, the Limpkins have too. They're all over.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We were hoping for a few reports in WI this year but we haven't seen any come through yet