Our monthly trips, also known as Louisiana Birding Adventures, are back, but with Covid-19 precautions. LOS Members can sign-up for trips by sending an email request to: DonnaLDittmann@gmail.com. Trip registrations will be on a first received email basis; Donna will confirm your registration. The field trip leader will contact you in advance of the trip to review any details. Note: if you register and are a no-show then you will not be allowed to register in the future, or, if already registered for an upcoming trip will be removed from that trip - bottom line: if you register and can't attend then please make sure you cancel at least 24 hours in advance so that your space may be filled by someone on the Wait List.

• ATTENTION! Masks are recommended even while birding outdoors; the new more virulent Covid-19 strains are predicted to become common by March. Please observe social-distancing and stay at least 6 feet apart at all times, even when outside. Let’s all stay SAFE! Carpooling will be limited to person(s) with whom you rode to the meeting location. We ask that anyone carpooling wear masks in the vehicles unless you are with a spouse or close traveling companion. Please wear masks inside all public buildings we enter. LOS does not recommend sharing equipment with members of the group (e.g., spotting scopes). Bring along your own disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer; if a scope is shared then make sure that it is thoroughly sanitized after each use. If you are feeling ill, stay home!
• Access to a Louisiana Wildlife Management Area (WMA) requires a Basic Fishing License OR a Wild Louisiana Stamp, so please ensure that you have one of those (and that it’s not expired) if your field trip visits a WMA.

SIGN UP for the following trips begins on 1 April:

APRIL 2021

• Briarwood Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve. Sunday, 11 April. Half day. Meet at the visitor parking lot of the nature preserve (just north of Natchitoches) at 7:30 AM. Hike the trails of this beautiful nature preserve, part of the Old Growth Forest Network, and get lessons in ear birding from LOS President and Briarwood Board Member John Dillon. Spring migrants and summer residents will should be singing, and there show also be lingering winter species. :Learn native flora, see the largest Longleaf Pine in Louisiana, explore the extraordinary iris garden, and learn about this beautiful preserve begun by the prolific Caroline Dormon, the first female forester in the US and resident of Natchitoches Parish. Much walking required. Please bring hiking boots or shoes for possible muddy terrain. Also bring snacks and drinks for lunch. Bathroom facilities on site.

• LOS Spring Meeting Field Trips (TBA). 24-25 April.

MAY 2021

• Spring Bayou WMA. Saturday, 29 May. All day. Louisiana’s WMAs range from large to small, from easy to difficult to access, and are distributed throughout the state, offering a wide array of habitat types. Although managed for wildlife, and thus having great birding potential, most WMAs are under-birded. Explore the tall forest of Spring Bayou WMA in Avoyelles Parish with LBRC Member Rob Dobbs. Spring Bayou WMA is a Red River backwater system, comprised of mature bottomland hardwood forest and a series of lakes, sloughs, and bayous. Our focus will be forested areas on the higher ground of the periphery of the WMA where birders can expect to see and hear many of Louisiana’s bottomland forest breeding birds. Our visit will be during the middle of the breeding season and the trip offers a great chance to learn bottomland bird songs. Recommended is wearing a hat, pants and boots, a long-sleeved shirt, insect repellent, snacks, and water. Meet at Spring Bayou WMA (specific site TBD) at 6:00 AM. In the event that high water on the WMA limits our hiking possibilities, the nearby Pomme de Terre WMA will serve as a backup destination.

JUNE 2021

• BIRDS AND BEARS Tensas NWR. Saturday, 12 June .7 AM-5 PM. Join LOS Secretary Roselie Overby for a tour around the refuge to see summer birds such as Prothonotary Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Wood Thrush, and Summer Tanager. This is the famous area of the last sighting of a live Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Louisiana Black Bear sightings have been numerous over the past year. Other interesting sights are large cypress trees and herps including timber rattlesnakes.This will be a combination drive and easy walking tour. Bring mosquito repellent, lunch, snacks, and lots of water to drink. At this point in time, the headquarters/visitor center is closed but we will meet outside at 7 AM.

JULY 2021

• Summer Field Trip to Rutherford Beach, Cameron Parish. Saturday, 10 July. 7:30 AM-noon. Meet Audubon’s Coastal Stewardship Manager, Katie Barnes, at Rutherford Beach Road in Oak Grove at 7:30 AM for a walk along the beach to observe nesting Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, and Common Nighthawks. During this trip, participants will learn about Audubon’s monitoring and protection of critical nesting areas for sensitive beach-nesting species across coastal Cameron Parish and will have the opportunity to view various coastal bird species. Participants are encouraged to wear sun-protective clothing, and should bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen. Spotting scopes are encouraged for better viewing opportunities. To reduce our impact to nesting birds, this will be a half-day trip. Maximum participants is 8. Rain date is Sunday, 11 July.

AUGUST 2021

• August in the Davis Mountains, Fort Davis, Texas. This year’s Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration will be a Covid-19 structured event scheduled for 20-22 August 2021. LBRC Members Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff plan to be there to assist with the event. Hang out and enjoy a relaxing day with Donna and Steve at their far-west residence to watch for hummingbirds (ten+ species are possible), as well as other western species, and maybe even the very elusive Montezuma Quail. The LOS yard visit will likely be the day before or day after the DMHC 2021 (TBD). In the meantime, watch the DMHC website for updates and sign-up:
  https://davismountainshummingbirdcelebration.com .
  We may add an additional all-day trip option to look for regional specialties. Stay tuned. Check out our LOS trip from 2018:
  http://losbird.org/documents/newsletters/1811_246_news.pdf.

Watch the LOS Website for additional offerings or potential changes to listed trips. If you would like to lead a LOS field trip, or suggest a destination for a field trip, then email: DonnaLDittmann@gmail.com.