7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Woodlands Preserve

Location: Belle Chasse

Birding Focus: Neotropical nesting birds, including Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Swainson’s Warbler, Painted Bunting, and many more. In the fall and spring, expect transient flycatchers, vireos, and tanagers. Winter brings Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Goldfinches.

Details: Start your day exploring the 650-acre Woodlands Preserve, a beautiful mix of bottomland hardwoods and back slope hardwoods. This peaceful wooded area is perfect for spotting native and migrating birds.

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Woodland Plantation

Location: 28 miles south of New Orleans

Birding Focus: Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Wood Duck, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Little Blue Heron, and American Alligator.

Details: After leaving Woodlands Preserve, head to Woodland Plantation. Take a walk through the 50+ acres of diverse habitats, including riparian, swamp, and bottomland hardwoods. The Mississippi River levee offers great birdwatching for Ospreys, while the swamp is home to Wood Ducks and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons.

Lunch

Enjoy lunch at Woodland Plantation Spirits Hall, where you can savor a gourmet meal in a charming historic setting.

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Fort Jackson

Location: South of New Orleans

Birding Focus: Laughing Gulls, Caspian Terns, American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gulls, Red-shouldered Hawks, Barred Owls, and migrating songbirds.

Details: After lunch, head to Fort Jackson. Explore the site and enjoy stunning views of the Mississippi River, while watching for Laughing Gulls, Caspian Terns, and migrating songbirds in the surrounding woodlands and impoundments.

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Grand Bayou Road

Location: Southern Plaquemines Parish

Birding Focus: Herons, Egrets, White Ibis, and other wading birds.

Details: Drive along Grand Bayou Road, where you can spot Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Green Herons, and Snowy Egrets foraging in the marsh. Learn about the Grand Bayou Indian Village, one of the most remote Native American communities in the region, accessible only by boat.

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Old Tidewater Road

Location: Southern boundary of Plaquemines Parish

Birding Focus: Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Ospreys, and ducks in winter.

Details: End your day at Old Tidewater Road, a bird-rich area home to large populations of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, especially during the spring and summer months. In winter, look for Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, and Blue-winged Teal, along with Ospreys hunting overhead.

Important Notes:

Travel Tips: Take care when pulling over along the roads as marshlands are close to the shoulder.

Gear Suggestions: Bring binoculars, a bird field guide, sunscreen, water, and comfortable walking shoes.