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The Louisiana Ornithological Society (LOS) was organized in 1947 to gather and disseminate accurate information concerning the bird life of the western hemisphere and of Louisiana; to promote interest in and appreciation of the value of birds, both aesthetic and economic, which will ensure wiser conservation of our bird life; to promote opportunity for acquaintance and fellowship among those interested in nature; and to issue, at such times as possible or practicable, publications as a means of furthering these ends.

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UPDATED 12 MARCH 2010

Myiarchus Flycatchers Identifying sulids A B C's of jaeger ID Storm-Petrels -- sea birds of summer Calidris Sandpipers Sterna Terns Longspurs Carpodacus Finches Hummingbird ID Article Selasphorus Hummer ID Article Kelp Gull and Herring X Kelp Gull hybrids: a new saga in gull ID problems - - (corrigenda) Vireos Part I - "large, eye-lined" species Keeping Track of Winter Hummers Let's Take a Closer Look - Godwits (in July 2002 newsletter) Let's Take a Closer Look - Louisiana Swallows, Part 1 (in December 2002 newsletter) get the BIG picture© Nancy Camel Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus This species was once one of our commonest and best-known birds throughout the state, but it is now rapidly diminishing in numbers. The causes of its decline are varied, but certainly the main factor operating against it is the competition afforded by the European Starling. Since the introduction of the starlings in the vicinity of New York City in the last part of the nineteenth century, the species has spread south to Florida and Mexico and west to California. In a considerable part of this area it has become established as a common breeder. Since the starlings generally nest in tree cavities, their habits has brought them into conflict with the Red-headed Woodpecker. After a Red-head laboriously drills and excavates a nest hole, a starling usurps it through a technique of persistent, aggressive heckling. The Red-head abandons one cavity after another and finally fails to complete its own nesting routine and to rear its own young. At Baton Rouge, in the last 40 years, I have witnessed the arrival and steady increase of the European Starling and the corresponding diminution in numbers of the Red-head. Nest holes in certain dead snags that once produced annually a brood of four to seven Read-heads are now devoid of these beautiful birds and instead are producing brood after brood of unwelcome starlings. The Red-head can hardly be confused with any other bird; its whole head is bright red down to the shoulders. The back, tail, and flight feathers are bluish black, while the remainder of its body appears immaculate white in the field. In the juvenal plumage the large areas of black and white are present, but the bird's head is dingy brown. The young bird of the year retains this plumage only until fall, when it undergoes a long postjuvenal molt. After this molt it cannot be distinguished from the adult. The call of the Red-head is a loud queech, as well as a variety of other notes, including a rolling sound that many kinds of woodpeckers make. --George H. Lowery, Jr., 1974, Louisiana Birds Birds of Louisiana-- more photos of Louisiana birds by LOS members accompanied by Lowery's accounts from Louisiana Birds. Western Hummingbirds in Louisiana Winter 2007 - 2008 Updated August 2008 Winter 2006 - 2007 Winter 2005 - 2006 Winter 2004 - 2005 Winter 2003 - 2004 Winter 2002 - 2003 Winter 2001 - 2002 Winter 2000 - 2001 Winter 1999 - 2000   Histograms of Western Hummingbirds in Louisiana Winter 2004 - 2005 - 17 Mar 2005.   Remsen's Annual Comparisons of Western Hummingbirds - 17 Mar 2005.   Winter 2003 - 2004 Winter 2002 - 2003 Winter 2001 - 2002 Winter 2000 - 2001 Winter 1999 - 2000   Hummingbird Banding Reports Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2007-2008 from Nancy Newfield (PDF version)   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2006-2007 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2005-2006 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2004-2005 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2003-2004 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2002-2003 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2001-2002 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 2000-2001 from Nancy Newfield   Louisiana Hummingbird Banding Report - Winter 1999-2000 from Nancy Newfield   Western Hummingbirds in Louisiana Mapped by Parish and City by Stacy Jon Peterson   Winter Hummingbirds webpage being developed by Dave Patton. I.D. site by paul conover hummingbirds.net by Lanny Chambers Hummer/Bird Study Group, Inc. founded by Bob and Martha Sargent The LOS website currently has space online for photographs, field notes, identification discussions and general messages regarding the birding activities of LOS members. Fine quality photographs are also being solicited for the BIRDS OF LA webpage. For information regarding graphical submissions, send an e-mail to DJL AT DJLphoto.com. LOS online store WHAT'S NEW INSIDE WHOOPING CRANES IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA - by Gay Gomez (from JLO, Winter 2001). LOS NEWS- Winter 2010 issue. The Alternate Plumage of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird- by Dittmann and Cardiff. (From ABA Birding.) Article continues here. Fall 2009 North American Migration Count for Louisiana from Marty Floyd Recent Louisiana Rarities Official Louisiana Field Check-list - March 2008. Printer Friendly Field Check-list 2008 Official Louisiana Review List Lowery's abundance and seasonality graph Publication Guidelines -- Journal of Louisiana Ornithology America's Wetland Birding Trail - Loops, sites, descriptions and directions. Bird Louisiana - a bird festivals website. GUIDELINES FOR LOS GRANT REQUESTS Checklist from 2009 LOS Winter Meeting. 2009 NAMC from Marty Floyd 109th LA CBC edited by Marty Floyd North American Migration Count (NAMC)for Louisiana parishes - May 10, 2008. 108th LA CBC edited by Martin D. Floyd Checklist from LOS 2008 winter meeting 102nd - 106th LA CBC results - edited by Marty Floyd Cameron Bird Observation Tower Photos & Tower Fund Drawing Results Banding Red-tailed Hawks - notes and photos of field trip led by Bill Clark. Submitted by Dave Patton. LA Rare Bird Alert (archives only) 100 years of CBC results -- from National Audubon Society. L O S    A W A R D S   LOS Awards   2009 LOS Award Presentation Photos   2005 LOS Award Presentation Photos   2004 LOS Award Presentation Photos   2003 LOS Award Presentation Photos   Voices From Our Past Stephen Russell, LOS President in 1963 and 1964, recently donated a near complete set of LOS News dating back to issue No. 17, published in November 1958. Thanks to Dr. Russell, past articles and issues of particular interest can now be posted on the LOS website.   "Birding on an Oil Production Platform" by Brent Ortego, from issue No. 78, published 15 July 1977.   "The Demise of the Brown Pelican in Louisiana" by Donald Norman and Robert D. Purrington, from issue No. 55, published 15 August 1970.   "The Louisiana State List" by George H. Lowery, Jr., issue No.56, published 30 October 1970.   "The Big Gulf Watch" by Robert J. Newman, issue No.33, published 05 June 1963.   "The Nesting of Cliff Swallows" by Marshall B. Eyster, issue No. 90, published 01 October 1980.   "The LOS Yard Lists, 1991" by John Sevenair, from issue No. 146, published 02 April 1992.   A Late Fall Pelagic Bird Survey off Western Louisiana, Part II by Steven W. Cardiff, from issue No. 146, published 02 April 1992. click image for high resolution version NOAA Hurricane Satellite -- shows conditions in Yucatan and Central America Satellite Image of Gulf of Mexico New Orleans Nexrad Lake Charles Nexrad Gulf of Mexico Rain Image Gulf of Mexico Radar Summary Image More Weather Links Panama 2008 -- photos by Michael Musumeche. Spain 2003 -- video captures by Mark Swan. Costa Rica 2002 -- photos from Costa Rica by David J. L'Hoste. Ecuador 2001 -- photos from Galapagos Islands and Ecuador by David J. L'Hoste.      -- Birds of Puerto Rico by Mark Swan.

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