RAMAH – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will host their annual Wood Stork & Wading Bird event on July 17th. The event will begin at 7:00 am at the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area’s South Farm and will last until noon. The best viewing is early in the morning, so please plan accordingly.
Every autumn, South Farm floods soil impoundments to provide waterfowl habitat and stimulate crawfish populations. Mid-summer, these banks are drained to enhance wetland growth. In the process, a portion of the crawfish population is exposed, attracting the native Wood Stork.
Because wetlands are a natural habitat for the North American Wood Stork, their presence is an indicator of wetland conditions. As wetlands disappear, so too do these wading birds. With only a few thousand left, this is an opportune event for wild life enthusiasts to see these birds in great numbers. Alligators, Whitetail Deer, and other birds are also frequently sighted.
Although the event is free, all participants between the ages of 16 and 60 are required to have either a valid Louisiana Hunting or Fishing License or a Wild Louisiana Stamp. Licenses may be obtained from any point of sale retailer, online at http://www.wlf.state.la.us, or via phone, 1-888-765-2602.
To reach South Farm, take I-10 to the Ramah exit (Exit 135), and go north. Turn left at the first road, then make a right on Mimms Street. Turn right on lower Atchafalaya Levee road. Go 1.5 miles down this gravel road to the parking lot just past the “South Farm” sign.
For more information, please call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District at 504-862-1524.
Links:
Bird Checklist of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/atchafalaya_birdlist.pdf
Wood Stork Fact Sheet
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/species-accounts/wood-stork-2005.htm
Recreation in the New Orleans District, Corps of Engineers