Louisiana Birds abound on popular nature walk

I joined a dozen members of the Terrebonne Bird Club for a frosty early morning walk through the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Houma, Louisiana. The scenic nature trail got us close to variety of Louisiana birds, that chirped from trees and marsh grass while our cameras clicked.

eastern phoebe on twig in marsh full of louisiana birds Mandalay Huma — Eastern Phoebe in the marsh at the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Houma, Louisiana

Some of us carried cameras with long telephoto lenses hoping to get a great closeup photograph of a colorful bird in its natural habitat. While other members of the birding club used binoculars to spot and identify the tiny feathered animals. Some carried pen and paper to log each species they saw on our nature walk.

mandalay trail a hotspot for louisiana birds

wooden covered bridge along the Mandalay nature trail where you can see Louisiana birds — Covered bridge along the Mandalay Nature Trail

We follow the well-maintained trail into the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. The trail takes us along the edge of a fresh water marsh and under tree limbs draped with Spanish moss. At the midway point, a covered bridge crosses a small canal. The trail ends with a long boardwalk walk over a large pond.

swamp sparrow in marsh grass of Mandalay Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

Great egrets and ibis along waters edge in Mandalaya Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

red bellied woodpecker on tree branch in Mandalay Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

Yellow rumped warbler in marsh grass of Mandalay Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

Yellow rumped warbler Louisiana bird in marsh at Mandalay Refuge Houma Louisiana birds

yellow streak on back of yellow rumped warbler in marsh grass at Mandalay Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

belted kingfisher sits on top of whilte pole in pond of Mandalay Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

distant bald eagle in treetop at Mandalaya Wildlife Refuge in Houma Louisiana birds

A few of the birds spotted on our early morning nature walk

The pond overlook is a prime location for spotting wading birds like the great egret and white ibis. They stand along the water’s edge, occasionally dipping their long beaks into the water trying to catch a meal. In the distance, a bald eagle sits on a branch near the top of a tall cypress tree. Smaller birds hop along logs and plants near the shoreline of the pond.

video tour of the Mandalay nature trail

Watch this video of nature walk and birds in Mandalay Wildlife Refuge

bird club focus on louisiana birds

Samantha Nguyen acts as a spotter for members of the Terrebonne Bird Club as they slowly walk along the Mandalay Nature Trail, listening for bird sounds and watching for movement in trees and in the marsh grass. Nguyen says, “At first, I didn’t know a single one. And after you learn the common ones, you then learn the migratory birds. It’s just from going on trips and the experience.” The Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in a popular place for birders. Club President Paul Schaub says, “We always see anywhere from 30 to 50 species every time we come out here”.

nature trail through trees in Mandalay wildlife preserve for watching louisiana birds — Nature Trail in Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

BIRDS OF MANDALAY TV FEATURE

Watch this TV story on birding in the Mandalay NWR

getting there

The Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is located a 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana on Bayou Black Drive, Hwy 182. The Nature Trail is nearby.

Rue De La Manson, Houma, LA 70360

3599 Bayou Black Dr, Houma, LA 70360

Watching the Birds of Louisiana