Keep an Eye Out for These Birding Events & Activities in Louisiana
There are tons of opportunities for birding across Louisiana, and these annual festivals make it even more enjoyable.
Did you know Louisiana is a hotspot for birds and birders? Check out these birding events with activities for all wildlife lovers.
Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration
Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for a chance to spot some of our feathered friends in Grand Isle — an essential stop for songbirds during their spring and fall migrations across the Gulf. Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island hosts the annual Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration. Whether you’re an expert ornithophile or a novice needing to break in your binoculars, this is the perfect opportunity to spot songbirds in oak and hackberry woods, shorebirds and waders on beaches and in the marshes and raptors overhead.
Highlights of this event include daily, expert-led bird watching tours on the Grand Isle Birding Trail, Elmer’s Island Beach and Grand Isle State Park. Visitors can watch the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries catch migrating songbirds for weighing and measuring before release in Lafitte Woods Preserve and later take a boat tour to the pelican rookery Queen Bess Island.
Eagle Expo
What better setting for a weekend of birding boat tours, walking tours and wildlife presentations than the Atchafalaya Basin, home to nesting bald eagles, rare flora and diverse fauna. The Eagle Expo, held each February, offers a chance to explore them all during special events in Morgan City.
Get a close-up view of birds of prey like raptors, owls, hawks, falcons and bald eagles, and soak up fascinating stories by expert speakers. But the best way to enjoy nature is being out in it, so don’t miss one of the popular boat tours that give you a real bird's-eye view of the area during Eagle Expo weekend.
Join Captain Caviar for a tour of the Atchafalaya Basin, home to 170 bird species, or take the Turtle Bayou Tour through natural habitats offering fantastic views of local wildlife. Let Billy Gaston of Cajun Man's Swamp Tours and Adventures guide you on a Cajun-spiced trip through Bayou Black, where you’ll meander along old oil and gas canals past bald eagles, ospreys, hawks and various waterfowl.
Yellow Rails and Rice Festival
At the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival, attendees can observe rice harvesting operations up close, including riding on the combine — which comes with the added benefit of seeing yellow rails and other rail species (sora, Virginia and king) that may be flushed out by the combine as it's harvesting. However, the best views of the rails will be from the field, so participants are encouraged to attend field days. In addition, ATVs may also be available at the fields to get closer to the action. An ice chest with bottled water is available at the field site, but participants are more than welcome to bring their own snacks and water. Heads up: Walk-ins are not accepted, so be sure to register in advance!
Always check festival websites for the most up-to-date information. For more on birdwatching in the state, visit BirdingLouisiana.com.
