Directions:
The Audubon sanctuary is located east of the 3-way stop
after coming over the bridge onto the island.
Traveling east on Bienville take a right at the sign for the sanctuary and
travel
this dirt road to the parking area. The trails (see map below) start from the
parking area and continue through the sanctuary.
Sanctuary Birding areas:
Pointing out specific areas in the audubon is hard to do since anywhere you go
can have great birding, but below are a few of my favorites areas. The
landscape
of this area is amazing, including forests of pine, hardwood, and magnolia, a
freshwater lake and dunes. Here you will find the best variety of habitat on
the island.
Walking to your right from the parking area
leads to a boardwalk that will lead to a freshwater lake.
Birds seen here can include:
herons (great blue, little
blue, green), egrets (great, snowy, cattle), grebes (pied billed) and other
waterfowl. Occasionally, one may be lucky enough to spot an
alligator here.
The area marked as the left pond view on the above map, has also been called the
swamp overlook, although the last
few times I have been, there has not been much
of a swamp. However, many birds that are insect eaters will be seen here,
including:
warblers (several kinds), barn swallows, and mockingbirds.
The boardwalk to the dunes (yellow trail above) leads to a completely
undeveloped area of beach
that includes pine trees and several scrub bushes. Birds that
can be seen here include:
sparrows (seaside, Nelson's sharptailed, savannah),
and warblers (many kinds).
Pictures:
Birds:
Great blue roosting near dune/pond trail intersection
Above photo by Mark Gregory
Black & White Warbler checking me out (4/02)
Scarlet tanager near the parking area (Video capture)
Another look at the scarlet tanager (Video capture)
Rose breasted grosbeak on the red trail (Video capture)
Closer look at the rose breasted grosbeak (Video capture)
Landscape:
Gator checking out my kids (10/02)
Gator from a distance (10/02)
Whole gator swimming in the lake
(10/02)
Gator from the pier
Closer shot of gator
Still a bit closer gator pic
Gator head
Boardwalk at the start of the green trail (Video capture)
The red trail (Video capture)
Another shot of the red trail (Video capture)
View of the lake from the pier
Another view of the lake from the pier
One more view of the lake from the pier
View of the dunes showing the boardwalk
Another view of the dunes showing the boardwalk
One more dune shot
View from the swamp overlook
Another view from the swamp overlook
Intersection of blue and red trail
Leaving blue trail onto red
Red trail heading toward parking area
Click
here
for more info on the
sanctuary.
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If you have more information, a comment, correction, or a picture
that you would like me to post just
email me
.
I'll give credit to the photographer if I post your picture.