For more information about Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge:
http://www.fws.gov/bigbranchmarsh/
We stopped at this wildlife refuge in mid-November as we traveled from Slidell to Baton Rouge, LA and stumbled across a surprise...we had found an area where the Red-cockaded Woodpecker nests! This woodpecker is rare and declining in numbers. Additionally, it inhabits a relatively small area of the U.S. which only covers portions of the southeast. While we did not see any Red-cockaded Woodpeckers during this trip we will be returning and hope to see them in the future. Their nesting trees are marked by the park rangers and can be identified by running sap around the nest hole. This is due to the fact that, unlike other species of woodpeckers, this species nests in live pine trees. Below is a picture of one of the nests. We chose to walk the Boy Scout Road Trail, which has plenty of information about the area at the trail head including a pamphlet that gives information about numbered stations along the trail. It also boasts an extensive boardwalk that winds its way through the marsh. The refuge covers several habitat zones and we only had time for a portion of the trail. We were here on a cloudy, rainy day, so we did not see many birds, but the refuge is beautiful and we did see Marsh Wrens, an Eastern Bluebird, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Mallards, an unidentified hawk, and a Belted Kingfisher. Walk softly and stand still near the cattails and reeds along the marsh portion of the boardwalk to see the Marsh Wrens. The headquarters and visitor center are located north of the refuge. On the way in, there is a bat box that had been recently installed (pictured below). I asked about the species inside, but the visitor center volunteer was not sure and based on its recent installment, it may not have been occupied yet. The visitor's center is located in an old monastery/church and is quite beautiful (pictured below). I apologize for the slight blurriness of the picture. The visitor's center is large and has an extensive interpretive area showcasing animals and information about the area. Towards the back of the visitor's center, there is an interesting exhibit (pictured below). Upon entering there must be a camera trigger, because the exhibit comes to life. You can then use the flashlights on the railing to illuminate the various animals in the exhibit. When you do, it trips an audio recording of whichever animal the flashlight is currently aimed at. You may have to move the flashlight around the animal a bit to find the trigger. I have never seen anything like it at a visitor center and it is set up very nicely. I was once again impressed by the quality of Louisiana's national wildlife refuges and I can't wait to visit more of them!
For more information about Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/bigbranchmarsh/
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September 2022
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