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This property is divided into three distinct areas.  Those who birded at this site in 2007 will remember that there had been a wildfire through much of the rear Longleaf Pine Forest and Savannah area of the property a few weeks before BirdFest.  At the time of BirdFest 2007, new grasses and ferns had begun to sprout.  Now, a year later, the area is covered by new grasses and the overgrown shrubbery that had taken over the savannah before the fire is gone.  While a wildfire can be devastating, this area was a prime candidate for a controlled burn and this accidental fire has restored the savannah to what it should be. 
In the first few years after a pine savannah is burned, the birding is good.  We invite everyone to see the rebirth of the savannah and enjoy the birding.

The 17-acre home site:Along River Road, which was constructed on the natural levee of the Bogue Falaya River, are mature live oaks, longleaf pines and mixed hardwoods extending west beyond the main house and other buildings.  Southwest of the house is an established pond which attracts ducks, geese, herons, and other water birds.  Surrounding the pond is pasture which is bordered by pine and mixed hardwoods, including some thickets.  The northwest portion of the home site includes meadow areas mowed infrequently to encourage wildflowers, again with pine and mixed hardwoods and some thickets.   This area includes the rare Michaux’s milkweed and an abundant variety of wildflowers.    This seventeen-acre site alone offers many specialized birding opportunities. 

The Master Gardener home site:The 3-acre home site bordering the north side of the larger home site has been managed by a St Tammany Master Gardener to enhance wildlife habitats and to increase the variety of bird and other animal species.  The property is listed by National Wildlife Federation in their Backyard Habitat Program.

Enhancements of wildlife habitat include:

• Preserving and encouraging trees, shrubs and vines that are valuable for feed and shelter for wildlife, such as several species of wild blueberries, several holly species, black cherry, persimmon, southern and bay magnolias, red chokeberry, wax myrtles, muscadine vines, poison ivy vines, and many other native trees, shrubs and vines;
• Planting a wide variety of native trees, shrubs and woody vines important to wildlife such as sweet bays, winged and American elms, red maples, sycamores, and many oaks including nutall, white, cherrybark, and swamp chestnut oaks, bald and pond cypresses, spruce pines, native azaleas, star anise and other anises, strawberry bushes, lyonias, leucothoes, native coral honeysuckle vines, partridgeberry or deerberry vines, and many wildflowers selected to attract butterflies and humming birds as well as other bird species;
• Mowing only seasonally to encourage an abundance of wildflowers and native grasses;
• Creation of a mini wetland (using water discharge from the secondary sewer treatment) including many bog plants;
• Building large brush piles with downed limbs and prunings to provide habitat for small animals;
• Allowing dead trees to stand to provide nesting and feeding for woodpeckers and other insect feeding birds (At least six species of woodpeckers nest or regularly feed on the property.); and
• Providing bird feeders and water at several locations.

The three-acre property is mostly ringed by hidden trails that offer good cover for bird watchers.

The 140 acres of LongleafPineForest and Savannah:Behind the west fence line of the residential properties, about 700-1,000 feet from River Road, there is dense, mature longleaf pine forest with mixed hardwoods. The forest extends about 1,000 feet deep going west.  West of the forest the property opens onto longleaf pine savannah that is abundant in pitcher plants, wildflowers, grasses, sedges, rushes, ferns, fungus (including many plant species rare in LA) and wildlife typical of longleaf pine savannahs.  The forest and savannah together comprise 140 acres with wide walking trails throughout the property.  The savannah is the main area that burned, returning it to a prime grassland area.  This varied habitat with its open spaces, trees, shrubs, grasslands and planted native plants provides opportunities to see various species.

Easy Walk

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, White-throated Sparrow.