South Farm to host Wood Stork & Wading Bird Event
>
> RAMAH – A Wood Stork & Wading Bird Event will be held on Saturday,
> at the South Farm of the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area Complex.
The
> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
> Fisheries would like to > invite everyone to view this spectacle. Wood
Storks and other wading and
> shore birds can be viewed in this area as they are drawn to feed in the
> South Farm’s water management units. The South Farm includes a number of
> large moist soil impoundments. These are flooded in the fall to provide
> habitat for water birds with emphasis on waterfowl. There are good numbers
> of small fish and crawfish in these impoundments. By late spring, the fish
> have reached good sizes and there are more than enough crawfish to support
> a public crawfish fis hery. The impoundments are drained in the mid-summer
> to enhance growth of wetland plants for the following year. This takes a
> period of almost a month, for two reasons - the sizes of the impoundments
> and the management strategy to provide mud flats and very shallow water
> with concentrated prey for birds like shorebirds (sandpipers) and wading
> birds (egrets, herons, spoonbills, storks, and ibises).
>
> The Wood Stork is the only stork native to North America. These large
> wading birds (4 feet tall and 66 inch wingspan) are an indicator of
> condition of our nation’s wetlands. As wetlands disappear so do the Wood
> Storks. Even though many of these birds are from Mexico, the water
> management units such as the South Farm are becoming more critical to the
> survival of these birds. With only a few thousand of these birds left,
> this
> is a great opportunity for bird watc hers, photographers and anyone who
> enjoys wildlife to see quite possibly the largest concentration of these
> birds anywhere. Often alligators, Whitetail deer and many other species of
> birds may be observed as well. Individuals and professionals will be on
> hand to discuss the management of the area, identification of animals, and
> to discuss the Wood Stork.
>
> The event will begin at 7:00 am and will last until noon. It is better to
> arrive early for greatest opportunity to see the Wood storks. Driving
> directions to the South Farm are: take I-10 to the Ramah exit (Exit 135).
> Go north take the first road to the left, turn right by the market on
> Mimms Street, cross the bridge and turn right on the lower
Atchafalaya Levee
> road. Note this is a gravel road. Go approximately 1.5 miles or until you
> see the “South Farm” sign cross over the levee and enter the parkin g lot.
> Individuals will be there to provide you with additional information.
>
> There are no fees associated with this program but due to the fact the
> event is on a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife
> Management Area, 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. These licenses are available from the Louisiana
> Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and may be obtained at a point of
> sale retailer, over the internet at:
> http://www.wlf.la.gov or by phone at
1-888-765- 2602.
>
> For more information please call the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Project
> Office at 337-585-0853.
