Eagle Expo

The Atchafalaya Basin, the largest overflow swamp in the country, is home to an abundance of wildlife, including rare and endangered species such as the American bald eagle.

Eagle Expo includes boat tours into various waterways to view eagle’s nests and presentations on the American bald eagle, wildlife, flora, fauna and the culture of the area by wildlife professionals and photographers, and much more.

For details, visit the Eagle Expo Web site.

February 14 – 16 , 2008 / February 2009 TBD
Morgan City
(985) 395-4905 or (800) 256-2931
http://eagles.btnep.org

Eagle Expo Schedule of Events, February 14-16, 2008

Eagle Expo Registration Form (PDF)

Thursday, February 14, 2008
• Registration at Holiday Inn of Morgan City, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
• Photography Workshop with CC Lockwood (Requires separate registration and payment)
Minimum of 10 students and maximum of 16. Seminar will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Atchafalaya Golf Course in Patterson, with a field trip to Bayou Black beginning at 2:30 p.m. To register, please call 225-769-4766.
• Opening Night Reception – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Meet and Greet for 3rd Annual Eagle Expo attendees at Oaklawn Manor, home of former Louisiana Governor Mike J. Foster. The Foster’s have a beautiful bird carving collection as well as a collection of Audubon prints. Light refreshments will be served and a photographic exhibit by local artist, Frances Todd, will be featured.

Friday, February 15, 2008
• Registration at Holiday Inn of Morgan City, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tours – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Tour descriptions)
Atchafalaya Basin – Cajun Jack
Lake Verret – Capt. Ginger Rushing
Bayou Chene – Barataria Terrebonne Estuary Program (BTNEP) & Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LWF)
Bayou Black – Cajun Man (minimum 17 people)
• Tours -  1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Tour descriptions)
Atchafalaya Basin – Cajun Jack
Lake Verret – Capt. Ginger
Bayou Chene – Barataria Terrebonne Estuary Program (BTNEP) & Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LWF)
Bayou Black – Cajun Man – Minimum 17 people
• Dinner at the Atchafalaya at Idlewild Golf Course, 6 p.m.
Valsin Marmillion, Managing Director of America’s Wetlands will talk about the efforts of America’s Wetlands and the saving of Louisiana’s Coastline. Sponsored by America’s Wetlands

Saturday, February 15, 2008
• Registration at Holiday Inn of Morgan City, 6 a.m. to noon
• Breakfast & Seminars - Holiday Inn of Morgan City, 7 to 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast buffet
• Presentations:
7:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. — Tom Hess, Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: “An Overview of the American Bald Eagle in Louisiana” -
Tom Hess has worked for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries for 15 years. He leads the department’s Bald Eagle Program which includes annual nest surveys, Coastal Use Permit reviews, data analysis and dissemination, and public outreach. He also heads up the department’s Brown Pelican Program, and spends considerable time surveying ducks and geese on Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries properties during the fall and winter. Tom and his colleagues also work on a variety of Coastal Wetlands Restoration issues along Louisiana’s Coast. He will discuss the state’s Bald Eagle Program.

8:35 – 9:45 a.m. — David Hancock, Hancock Wildlife Foundation: “Bald Eagles: A Great Recovery That Started in the Northwest”
David Hancock describes himself as biologist, conservationist, writer, publisher and lecturer.  He has spent most of his life studying the west coast and artic wildlife. He has published scientific and popular papers on whales, seals, seabirds, grouse and his specialty, the northern raptors. He recently completed the book The Bald Eagles of Alaska, BC and Washington. He has been given world wide acclaim for his “Live Bald Eagle Streaming Video Cam.” He has dedicated his life to wildlife conservation and education focusing on large predators including bald eagles, bears and whales.

9:45 to 10 a.m. — Break

10 to 10:50 a.m. — Bill Fontenot, Lafayette Nature Station: “The Birds of the Atchafalaya Basin.” 
The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest overflow swamp in the U.S. covering over 850,000 acres.  The basin includes 10 distinct aquatic and terrestrial habitats ranging from large rivers to backwater swamps. The basin is most noted for its cypress-tupelo gum swamp habitat and its Cajun heritage and is home to over 170 bird species, 50 mammalian, 40 reptilian, 20 amphibian species and 100 species of fin fish and shellfish. Nine federal- and state-listed endangered/threatened wildlife species make their home in the basin. It is an important wintering ground for the birds of the Mississippi Flyway and a major wintering concentration for wood ducks, mallards and woodcocks.

Since 1986, Bill Fontenot has dedicated his career in biology to restoring the ecological integrity in lands, from the smallest urban gardens to the largest wildlife management areas and is currently the manager of the Acadiana Park Nature Center. In 2001, Fontenot was honored as the Louisiana Wildife Federation’s Professional Conservationist of the Year.  As a professional naturalist, he has led thousands of guided tours and lectured at dozens of universities, botanic gardens and other research institutions. He is a member of the Louisiana Ornitholgoical Society’s Louisiana Bird Records Committee and serves as president of that organization. He has published over 1000 history-related articles and has authored and co-authored four books. He recently completed an inventory of the birds in the Atchafalaya Basin.

11 a.m. to noon — David Hancock: “Bald Eagles and Northwest Natives”

Noon to 1 p.m. – Lunch on your own

Tours - 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Tour descriptions)
Atchafalaya Basin – Cajun Jack
Lake Verret – Capt. Ginger Rushing
Bayou Chene – BTNEP/LWF
Bayou Black – Cajun Man (minimum of 17)
 

Boat Tour #1 – Atchafalaya Basin Tour with Cajun Jack
Cajun Jack will add Cajun flair to the boat tour into the Atchafalaya Basin to view bald eagles. The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest overflow swamp in the U.S. covering over 850,000 acres and includes 10 distinct aquatic & terrestrial habitats ranging from large rivers to backwater swamps. The Basin is noted for its cypress-tupelo gum swamp habitat and its Cajun heritage. The basin is home to over 170 bird species, 50 mammalian, 40 reptilian, 20 amphibian species and 100 species of fin fish and shellfish. Keep your eyes open to all types of wildlife! (Covered flat bottom boat; bathroom on board; 8 people minimum, 20 people maximum)

Boat Tour #2 – Bayou Black Tour with Cajun Man
Black Guidry, swamp tour operator of Cajun Man’s Tours will journey into the backwater of Bayou Black, adding his special Cajun touch. This tour will meander through the old oil and gas canals where you will have the opportunity to see several birds of prey including, of course, bald eagles, ospreys and various species of hawks. Other birds that are likely to be encountered include various species of ducks, wading birds and some song bird species. Great tour for families or groups. (Covered flat bottom boat; bathroom on board; 17 people minimum, 45 people maximum)

Boat Tour #3 – Lake Verret Tour with Captain Ginger and Friends
Journey into Lake Verret and Bayou Magazille. On the tour, you’ll see bald eagles and osprey soaring overhead fishing or resting on treetops along he waters edge. Other wildlife include blue heron, snowy egret, great egret, white ibis, belted kingfisher, red-tailed hawks, double-crested cormorant, anhinga and more, including the American white pelican and an occasional peregrine falcon.  (Three recreational pontoon boats: approximately 8 people per boat) 

Boat Tour #4 – Bayou Chene Tour with  Barataria Terrebonne Estuary Program (BTNEP) and Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries.
Journey into the Bayou Chene swamps and along the Intracoastal Waterway to view bald eagles and get a glimpse of a bald eagle nest. This tour will also ride through two small natural bayous that provide for fantastic views and local wildlife. Other birds likely to be encountered include anhingas, double-crested commorants, red-shouldered hawks, white ibis, yellow-rumped warblers, Carolina chickadees and various species of terns and gulls. (Two pontoon, half covered boats: approximately 10 people maximum in boat one and 20 people maximum in boat two)