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As spring migration moves into high gear, a reminder from Dave Patton, Baton Rouge Audubon Society Sanctuaries Chair: Peveto birders, I would like to add that parking is always a problem at the end of the entrance road. I should have a temporary sign up at the entrance to the sanctuary telling of additional parking on Sarasota Ave. You go one more block and turn left on Sarasota Ave and you will see a mowed vacant lot on the left. It should have another temporary sign saying Peveto Parking. You can walk a trail in from that parking area. Many also park on the pipeline shoulder along the main road and walk in. I was reminded again we should fill in the ditch at the old parking area as people don't see it and get stuck. I will try to get markers up defining the ditch before the weekend. Thanks, Dave Patton

Apparently the toll system has been hacked. I went to G.I. last Friday. Today I received a text that my payment deadline was 19 April in the amount of $8.96. I called Riverlink, and the very first part of the recorded message was that they'd been hacked and bogus text billing messages were going out, and not to pay. Eventually I spoke with a rep who confirmed the hack and said I'd receive a bill in the mail. I know some of you may be going to Grand Isle over the coming weeks. So beware. Mac

Rep. John Illg has filed bill HB581 that would prohibit the intentional outdoor release of filled balloons and imposes a fine on anyone caught doing so. Balloon releases are a particularly egregious form of litter because what goes up must eventually come down, with catastrophic consequences for birds, fish, and other wildlife. Richard Condrey, Baton Rouge Audubon Society conservation chair, has been active for many years trying to address this issue, and BRAS supports this initiative. Yesterday the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment unanimously (13-0) voted favorably on the bill. Please contact your legislator to support this vital environmental reform.

Tiffany Kersten recounts her adventures when she pursued a Big Year birding record in 2021 Birdie Big Year with Tiffany Kersten Tiffany Kersten didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the country, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species of birds, and to raise awareness of women’s safety in the outdoors. She ended up surpassing her goal and setting a new record, with 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure. Brought to you by the Baton Rouge Audubon Society. Three things to note: 1. BRAS programs are usually on Wednesday--this one is on a THURSDAY. 2. BRAS programs have been at the Main Branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library on Goodwood Blvd--this one is at the recently opened SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY, 2210 Glasgow Avenue (see below). 3. BRAS programs are always open to the public, but for planning purposes, for this one REGISTRATION is strongly recommended. http://www.braudubon.org/events-and-field-trips Date: Thurs May 1, 2025 Time: 7:00pm. In person social 6pm-7pm Location: EBRPL - New South Branch Library off Perkins Road. South Branch Library is at 2210 Glasgow Avenue in Baton Rouge, but be advised that the entrance and parking lot are accessed off Rouzan Square Ave., (which runs parallel to Perkins), NOT Glasgow. Note that this location is NOT the one originally advertised on the BRAS Facebook page.

As the Baton Rouge Audubon Society's treasurer, thanks to all of those who voted against Amendment 2 on Saturday's statewide ballot, which would have, among many other things, removed the constitutional provision exempting nonprofit organizations from property taxes. If the amendment had passed, according to information maintained by local assessor’s offices, BRAS would have had to find an additional $18,300 annually to support its sanctuaries. BRAS has acquired property over the last five decades secure in the knowledge that a constitutional exemption existed, and this change would have radically altered its operations. The amendment process this year occurred largely out of sight of the public, with few or no public hearings on the suggested changes. I am confident that this issue will be revisited. Business and governmental reform organizations have criticized the nonprofit property tax exemption since its inception, arguing that Louisiana’s exemption is too broad, in that the 1974 Constitution removed a requirement from the prior constitution that the nonprofit exemption be tied to a legitimate nonprofit purpose, such as educational, charitable or cultural uses. Critics argue that too much property in the hands of nonprofits, particularly in urban areas, is held and then either leased for profit or devoted to nonpublic purposes, defeating the spirit if not the letter of the constitutional exemption. Amendment 2, notably, did not propose a limited exemption along these grounds and addressing these, frankly, legitimate concerns, but eliminated property tax exemptions for nonsectarian nonprofits altogether. BRAS is confident that it could meet the requirements of a limited property tax exemption, such as that contained in the prior Louisiana Constitution. Peveto Woods and the Amite River Wildlife Sanctuary are open to the public, used wholly for educational and cultural purposes, and serve important environmental ends. We cannot, however, withstand a more general cancellation of the exemption, which would most particularly threaten the future of Peveto Woods, a crown jewel of the birdwatching community whose near gulf-front location makes it extremely valuable real estate, with property tax assessment values to match. The BRAS Board of Directors has not typically had to be keenly, as opposed to generally, aware of legislative activities, and was caught unawares, as were many nonprofits, by this latest proposal. We ask for the birding community’s help in keeping your ear to the ground and an eye on the legislature, the Governor’s Office, and other policymakers for further developments, and informing BRAS about any future potential threats to its sanctuaries. Clearly the best place to inform the legislature about the value we place on the nonprofit property tax exemption and the tremendous value the sanctuaries represent for the citizens of not only Louisiana but the entire birding world would be in committee, so that we could, in the future, draw up legislation that addresses the weaknesses of the current exemption while protecting the educational and cultural values we hold dear. I may be posting here again in the near future as legislative committees address the fallout from Amendment 2’s failure, and seek people willing to join me in testifying about how critical this exemption is to nonprofit’s efforts at preserving environments friendly to birds and other wildlife.

Dear LABIRD, Join the Orleans Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy for the "Feathers and Forests" event tomorrow at the Flying Heart Brewing & Pub in Natchitoches from 6-9 p.m. We're celebrating Swallow-tailed Kites and their use of working forests! The event is free and we're hoping to engage land owners, foresters, birders, and kite enthusiasts in conserving Swallow-tailed Kites. Feel free to reach out to me off list if you have any questions. Jennifer Coulson President Orleans Audubon Society (504) 717-3544

The most recent BRAS Program recording has been posted to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/hERivOLHKZE?si=m1rqVpyk6ZYNSzPl PROGRAM TITLE: Louisiana Nightjar Monitoring PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Nightjars are a family of medium-sized nocturnal birds that are among the most sharply declining birds in North America. They are also inadequately sampled by the Breeding Bird Survey, which is the primary data set for monitoring long-term population trends. Efforts have been ramped up in Louisiana for a nightjar survey. *Dobbs hopes to recruit volunteers to help with the survey in the next few months*, and he details the survey protocol in this program. PRESENTER: Robert Dobbs, Nongame Ornithologist, Wildlife Diversity Program, Louisiana Dept. Wildlife & Fisheries Thank you, Katie Percy BRAS Programs Committee

A flock of grackles has taken to roosting at night in a stand of bamboo in my back yard this year. I'm not crazy about grackles but I'm more sympathetic when I look at the trend charts. They seem to be declining. Sandra -- Sandra Barbier LaPlace, LA

I saw cedar waxwings for the second day eating the berries on yaupons in the back yard, maybe +/- 30 birds. What's neat is that nothing has eaten the berries for at least the last couple of years, except perhaps a mockingbird. Berries stayed on the trees while new flowers and new berries grew, until they finally dried up and fell away. Love the waxwings. -- Sandra Barbier LaPlace, LA

Tiffany Kersten recounts her adventures when she pursued a Big Year birding record in 2021 Birdie Big Year with Tiffany Kersten Tiffany Kersten didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the country, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species of birds, and to raise awareness of women’s safety in the outdoors. She ended up surpassing her goal and setting a new record, with 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure. Brought to you by the Baton Rouge Audubon Society. Program open to the public, but registration is strongly recommended. Date: Thurs May 1, 2025 Time: 7:00pm. In person social 6pm-7pm Location: EBRPL - New South Branch Library off Perkins Road. South Branch Library is at 2210 Glasgow Avenue in Baton Rouge, but be advised that the entrance and parking lot are accessed off Rouzan Square Ave., (which runs parallel to Perkins), NOT Glasgow. Note that this location is NOT the one originally advertised on the BRAS Facebook page.

The following excursions are scheduled this spring with the referenced trip leaders. Email to register: melissaweaverbird@... Space may be limited, so don't delay. 29 March-Bayou Teche NWR/Paul Schaub 29 March-Bayou Sauvage NWR/John Nelson 5 April-Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve/Harriett Pooler & Lawrence Datnoff 18 April-Sherburne WMA, Whiskey Bay Rd/Cheryl Huner & Mike Musumeche

Register for these upcoming field trips!Email melissaweaverbird@... 29 March-Bayou Teche NWR/Paul Schaub29 March-Bayou Sauvage NWR/John Nelson5 April-Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve/Harriett Pooler & Lawrence Datnoff18 April-Sherburne WMA, Whiskey Bay Rd/Cheryl Huner & Mike Musumeche

Labird, At the annual LBRC meeting today, the following species were removed from the Review List: Long-tailed Duck, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Sargasso Shearwater, Black-whiskered Vireo, Glaucous Gull, and Gray Kingbird. While the LBRC will not solicit reports for sightings of these species from today's date onward, reports for past sightings are still requested. Paul Conover Secretary, LBRC

Sad news. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2025/03/12/victor-emanuel-obit-austin-texas-birding-nature-guide-dies-age-84-illness/82306479007/

Please mark your calendars for the next program hosted by the Baton Rouge Audubon Society. PROGRAM TITLE: Searching for Louisiana’s Nightjars PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Nightjars are a family of medium-sized nocturnal birds that are among the most sharply declining birds in North America. They are also inadequately sampled by the Breeding Bird Survey, which is the primary data set for monitoring long-term population trends. Efforts have been ramped up in Louisiana for a nightjar survey. Dobbs hopes to recruit volunteers to help with the survey in the next few months. PRESENTER: Robert Dobbs, Nongame Ornithologist, Wildlife Diversity Program, Louisiana Dept. Wildlife & Fisheries LOCATION: East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library on Goodwood Blvd; Room 102 (first floor) DATE: Wednesday, March 26th TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 PM (in-person social 6:30-7:00) Although we encourage everyone to attend in person, we do still offer a virtual option via Zoom. Zoom Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5l6Up2s5RPqga74-gBNLvw As always, you may view recordings of previous programs on the BRAS YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/@batonrougeaudubonsociety7405> channel. Thank you, Katie Percy BRAS Programs Committee

Volunteers, The Work Day scheduled for tomorow, Mar 8th, is cancelled. The forecast looks pretty certain with rain tomorrow. We will reschedule soon . Thanks, Dave Patton BRAS Peveto Woods Sanctuary 337 298-8447

Labird, The 2024 LBRC Newsletter is now online. The Newsletter contains the latest LBRC Report with two new first state records as well as a stunning new ID article on Cory's and Scopoli's shearwaters by Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff. The link to the Newsletter can be found at http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/lbrc.htm Thank you, Paul Conover LBRC Secretary/Webmaster

just saw my FOS STKI soaring very high over Lake Road in Madisonville. Pamela Morgan 504-432-3138