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In Louisiana, these ground-nesting piscivores breed most commonly on ponds and sloughs in the Coastal Marsh Region and fairly commonly in the Mississippi/Red River and Prairie/Rice Field regions.
photo Copyright © 1999 by Bill Bergen
male or female
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The State Bird vanished from Louisiana in 1962 owing to pesticides having a side effect of impairing calcium release for eggshell formation. The U.S. banned DDT in 1971, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed this bird as endangered from 1970 to 1999. Breeding pelicans are descended from Florida birds that first nested in 1971 after being taken to Louisiana. Still threatened, Brown Pelicans may fly miles from barrier island colonies for fish.
photo Copyright © 1999 by Brian Miller
male or female
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Most of these branch-nesting and colonial piscivores breed in the wooded bottomlands of the Mississippi/Red River Region. An Anhinga feeds by impaling fish with its pointed bill. Breeding males flaunt neck plumes and bright blue facial skin. Rather than build their own, a pair may commandeer the occupied nest of herons or egrets.
photos Copyright © 1999 by Brian Miller
male (inset left) and female (right)