Bird walks are held the first Saturday of each month at the Bluebonnet Swamp and Nature Center, located at 10503 North Oak Hills Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Click here for a map
No registration required.
Meet in the parking lot at 7:00 am. $3 park admission fee.
Programs are held 6:30-8pm the second Thursday of each month (September through May) at the Bluebonnet Swamp education building. Check back here for month-specific info!
You can also view our Facebook events page for more information.
November Program
PRESENTATION TITLE: Purple Martin Conservation in Southeast Louisiana
PRESENTER: Krista Adams, Purple Martin Enthusiast
DESCRIPTION: Purple Martins ( Progne subis) are the largest member of the swallow family in North America. This neotropical migratory bird is dependent on human supplied housing East of the Rocky Mountains, thus conservation efforts are needed to ensure the survival of this species. Information regarding Purple Martin biology, identification, attraction, management, and protection of this avian population will be shared as well as the presenter’s conservation efforts that reach far beyond her backyard into the local community. Because Purple Martin Landlords and others involved in protecting our animal resources agree that responsible stewardship is passed down from generation to generation, community and youth educational projects to help America’s most beloved backyard bird will be discussed.
DATE: Thursday, November 14th
TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 PM; Refreshments offered 6:45 - 7:00 PM
LOCATION: BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center's Education Building
10533 N. Glenstone Place, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
*Please note that the location is NOT the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. It is the Education Building, which is located on the back corner of N. Glenstone Place, a U-shaped street off of Bluebonnet Blvd. The Education Building has a swamp mural painted on the front.**PRESENTATION TITLE: TBA
Attendance is free for all BRAS Members, $3 at the door for non-BRAS Members and $2.50 for non-BRAS seniors (price of admission at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center).
Please RSVP if you plan on attending ( programs@braudubon.org) so that we can add your name to the guest list.
December 12:
It's time again for our holiday get together! Please join us at 6:30 pm on Dec 12 at the Bluebonnet Swamp Education Building (the same place we do our programs) for a potluck supper. You may bring any type of dish. We generally have in the neighborhood of 30ish people, so you can plan accordingly. Drinks and ice will be provided.
After dinner we will enjoy a presentation by Joelle Finley and Ken Harris of their birding adventure in Madagascar! They said the trip was fabulous, so I'm sure we will all be drooling with envy.
ALSO, if you have plants or seeds that you are able to share, please bring those as well. I will have some Butterfly Pea Vine seeds and some native Hibiscus/Mallow seeds for sure.
For those of you who are interested in participating in the Christmas Bird Count, we will have a short orientation and presentation about the Christmas Bird Count. Our count will be on January 4, 2020 this year. I'm not sure if the Area Packets will be ready, but we will update the group with all the information we have at the time and let you know when the remaining information will be circulated. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT AN EXPERIENCED BIRDER, YOU CAN HELP! All groups need spotters!
120th Annual Christmas Bird Count Date: January 4, 2010 If you would like to participate in this year's Christmas Bird Count, please contact Katie Percy (Katie.Percy at aubudon.org) to let her know. Katie has agreed to again be our lead compiler of the count data.
The basic premise of the count is that we have a 15 mile radius circle centered on Baton Rouge in which to count EVERY bird on January 4th! The circle is broken up into areas, with a leader and helpers in each area. Each group keeps track of the number and species of birds, their miles traveled by car as well as distance traveled on foot. These data are then combined with data from all the other groups in the BTR circle and compiled into a single submission for National Audubon. National Audubon has been keeping track of data from these CBC counts since 1900! Because all of the data are collected within a similar time period (Dec 15- Jan 6) and from the same location each year (pre-defined count circles), clear trends in bird population can be seen, as well as unusual events like irruption for particular species.
If you're interested to see data from previous Christmas Bird Counts in Baton Rouge, you can explore that here: https://netapp.audubon.org/cbcobservation/
If you are new to birding and are unsure if you can participate, never fear! The more eyes the better and even if you can't ID, you can spot birds for the leaders or more experienced birders in the group, or you can keep track of the counts.
After we all finished counting, we will convene at Hilltop Arboretum for a post-count potluck supper and camaradarie, and we will call a list of all of the species found on that day.
January Program
PRESENTATION TITLE: Flora & Fauna of the Civil War (emphasis on avifauna)
PRESENTER: Kelby Ouchley
DESCRIPTION: Kelby Ouchley will join us in January to present “Flora & Fauna of the Civil War (with an emphasis on avifauna).” Mr. Ouchley worked as a biologist, federal game warden, and manager of National Wildlife Refuges for 30 years, mostly in Louisiana. Since retiring he has continued his efforts to promote conservation ethics and education. Mr. Ouchley has published six books, writes and narrates a weekly natural history radio program, and is an active blogger. You can catch-up on Mr. Ouchley's writings and radio programs by visiting bayou-diversity.com.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 2020
TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 PM; Refreshments offered 6:45 - 7:00 PM
LOCATION: BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center's Education Building
10533 N. Glenstone Place, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
*Please note that the location is NOT the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. It is the Education Building, which is located on the back corner of N. Glenstone Place, a U-shaped street off of Bluebonnet Blvd. The Education Building has a swamp mural painted on the front.**PRESENTATION TITLE: TBA
Attendance is free for all BRAS Members, $3 at the door for non-BRAS Members and $2.50 for non-BRAS seniors (price of admission at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center).
Please RSVP if you plan on attending ( programs@braudubon.org) so that we can add your name to the guest list.
February Program
PRESENTATION TITLE: Louisiana Birding; Stories on Strategy, Stewardship, and Serendipity
PRESENTER:John Flores, author
DESCRIPTION: John Flores, an award-winning outdoor writer and photographer, will join us in February to discuss his recent book Louisiana Birding: Stories on Strategy, Stewardship, and Serendipity.
DATE: Thursday, February 13th
TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 PM; Refreshments offered 6:45 - 7:00 PM
LOCATION: BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center's Education Building
10533 N. Glenstone Place, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
*Please note that the location is NOT the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. It is the Education Building, which is located on the back corner of N. Glenstone Place, a U-shaped street off of Bluebonnet Blvd. The Education Building has a swamp mural painted on the front.**PRESENTATION TITLE: TBA
Attendance is free for all BRAS Members, $3 at the door for non-BRAS Members and $2.50 for non-BRAS seniors (price of admission at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center).
Please RSVP if you plan on attending ( programs@braudubon.org) so that we can add your name to the guest list.