Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck Butter
Black-bellieds and fulvous whistling ducks (formerly tree ducks) used to be a rarity, now they are more and more common and breeding all over the state including N La and into Arkansas. They are a dime a dozen in rice fields. The white-faced tree duck you have a picture of (if actually wild) would be something very very unique and probably a first record for Louisiana and maybe even for the US. There is actually a very formal process to get a sighting of a rare bird verified (don't laugh  ). There is a committee that takes into account all the sightings of the year and they vote on whether there is enough info at hand to verify the bird first and foremost as wild, then the location has to be verified as well as a few other things. There are records every year that get discounted because there is not enough info to go by. For instance, there was a flamingo that was hanging around Rockefeller 2 or 3 summers ago and was an actual wild bird because the band numbers were verified. People from all over went to go see the bird and scratch the bird off their 'life list' 
Last year or year before there were 2 down around Venice that were likely very much wild birds but could not be verified 100% so they didn't 'count' 
In the spring especially when there is a cold front or storms, the bird watchers flock down to the coast to watch the birds that flew all the way across the gulf lilterally 'fall out' the sky. They are so exhausted, they see land and sometimes tumble when they hit land. It is the 'holy grail' of birdwatching (well, minus the Ivory-billed wood******)  Sometimes a rare bird will show up with the bad weather. Grand Isle is a great place to view this as well as Cameron Parish beaches and a place called Peveto Woods. I am just going to stop ranting right here right now. |
lmao, ah the life of a birdwatcher. I must say, I have seen some really cool birds during the migration and summer. I've seen all sorts of warblers, the horned lark, phalaropes, both species of cukoo, several different flycatchers, including what was either a Tropical or Western Kingbird, Sooty Tern, etc.
Sorry, I'm a self professed "bird nerd".