During the spring/summer breeding season of 2005, BTNEP, Conservian, LDWF, and a number of volunteers conducted the first ground survey for nesting Wilson Plover, Snowy Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern across the Louisiana coast.
Biologists and avid birders covered nearly 320 miles of habitat from Mississippi to Texas documenting the abundance and distribution of these nesting birds. Several near shore coastal restoration project sites were also surveyed using the same methodology. A technical report of the statistics entitled “Status of Select Beach-Nesting Birds in Coastal Louisiana 2005: Breeding, Abundance, Habitat Use, and Distribution” was published and suggested similar surveys to be conducted every five years. Yearly surveys thereafter have been conducted and efforts are underway to develop technical reports addressing status and trends of these populations over time.
Click here to learn more about the project.
