Speakers, Live Raptors, Workshop, Photography Exhibit and Boat Tours to Highlight
10th Annual Eagle Expo and More
MORGAN CITY - The 10th Annual Eagle Expo and More, scheduled February 26 – 28, 2015, in Morgan City, Louisiana, will feature seminars from wildlife and nature experts, a live raptor presentation, boat tours to view eagles, a photography exhibit and opportunities to meet fellow birders.
Heading into its tenth successful year, the Eagle Expo is a tribute to the return of the American Bald Eagle to Louisiana, which was removed from the endangered species list in June 2007. Laws banning the use of harmful pesticides such as DDT and greater public awareness and education have increased the bald eagle population throughout Louisiana and the United States. Currently, there are 284 active nests in Louisiana with a large concentration in the St. Mary and Terrebonne Parish areas.
In order to commemorate this noteworthy event celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau is sponsoring an “Eagle Expo” photography exhibit, January 26 – February 28, 2015, at its new Welcome Center located at 900 Dr. MLK Boulevard, Morgan City. Priority will be given to photographs taken during the last 10 years of Eagle Expos that reflect anything beautifully captured during the event including all forms of wildlife, fauna of the region as well as the people that call the Cajun Coast home. All other nature based photographs will be considered for remaining space. Photographs can be dropped off the week of January 12 - 16, 2015, and should be picked up the week of March 2-6, 2015. For more information and a release form contact 985-380-8224 or email info@cajuncoast.com.
This year’s Expo will include a NEW presentation by Extreme Raptors on Thursday, February 26th, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Patterson Civic Center. This presentation is a lively and informational presentation showcasing an array of Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Owls soaring overhead. Private schools, parochial schools and home schooled students will have the opportunity to attend an Extreme Raptors presentation on Wednesday, February 25th at the Patterson Civic Center at
10:00 a.m. There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required. Please contact info@cajuncoast.com or 985-380-8224 to place your reservation. Extreme Raptors will also visit the following schools: Franklin Junior High, Morgan City Junior High, Berwick Junior High, and Patterson Junior High. For more information on Extreme Raptors visit www.raptorproject.com.
A photography workshop taught by renowned wildlife photographer C.C. Lockwood will be held on Friday, February 27, 2015. C.C. Lockwood is known for his numerous publications and books, especially his eleventh book, Marsh Mission, which brought attention to the crisis of the vanishing Gulf Coast wetlands. His photography has been featured in prominent publications such as the Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic Magazine. The workshop includes a seminar at
9:00 a.m. at the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau’s Welcome Center, with a field trip to Bayou Black beginning at 12 noon. A boat tour in Bayou Black will focus on birding and marsh landscapes. The workshop requires separate registration and payment of $195.00. Contact C.C. Lockwood at www.cclockwood.com or call 225-769-4766 to register. Space is limited.
Tours to view eagles will take place Friday, February 27th and Saturday, February 28th. Featured waterways include the Atchafalaya Basin, Bayou Black, Turtle Bayou and Bayou Long. Tours will be at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, and 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Each featured boat tour offers something different to attendees.
The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest overflow swamp in the U.S. with 10 distinct aquatic & terrestrial habitats. Home to over 170 bird species, 50 mammalian species, 40 reptilian, 20 amphibian species and 100 species of fin fish and shellfish, the basin offers more than just eagles.
The Bayou Black Tour meanders through old oil and gas canals. Birds of prey including Bald Eagles, Ospreys and various species of hawks call this place home. Other birds likely to be encountered include various species of ducks, wading birds and song bird species.
The Turtle Bayou Tour includes two small natural bayous that provide for fantastic views and local wildlife. Aside from eagles other birds likely to be encountered include Anhingas, Double-crested Cormorants, Red-shouldered Hawks, White Ibis, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carolina Chickadees and various species of terns and gulls.
The Bayou Long Tour includes various waterways including Lake Verret, Bayou Magazille, Fourmile Bayou, Grassy Lake, Bayou Cherami, Bayou Milhomme, and Lake Palourde. On this tour you will be able to view Bald Eagles and their nests, Blue Heron, Great Egret, Belted Kingfisher, White Ibis, and various species of birds.
Friday evening will feature a dinner and presentation, A Life Gone to the Birds, by Al Batt, at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This presentation is part of the Educational Series sponsored by the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, a program of the National Park Service, and the Office of Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne. Programs in the series increase awareness and appreciation of the natural, historic and cultural resources of the Heritage Area. Presentations are posted at www.atchafalaya.org.
Al Batt of rural Hartland, Minnesota is a writer, speaker, storyteller and humorist. Al writes four weekly humor and nature columns for many newspapers, and does a show three times per week about nature on a number of radio stations. Al has been featured in the Smithsonian Magazine, the Star Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Bird Watcher’s Digest, WCCO Radio, KFAN Radio and Agri-Talk. He does commentaries for public radio. He writes a weekly "Nature's World" column and a weekly "Tales From Exit 22" humor column. He writes a number of popular cartoon strips that are syndicated nationally. He has written for a number of magazines and books, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a columnist for Bird Watcher's Digest and is a trustee of the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines, Alaska. He has written for movies and also speaks at various festivals, conferences and conventions all over the United States and Canada. Al provides clean humor with a message. According to Robert Mortensen, “Al is knee slappin’, belly laughin’, eyes-waterin’ fun. He is one of the most kind, genuine and motivating human beings due to his deep love of people and birds.” He has received the Ed Franey Conservation Media Award from the Izaak Walton League, was named birder of the year by WildBird magazine, was honored with the National Eagle Center's Hero Award, received an award from Bluebirds Across Nebraska for outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation, is a member of Ray Brown's Talkin' Birds Hall of Fame, is the Official Staff Ornithologist for the Bulletin Board in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, was honored by Modern Woodman for conscientious and dedicated community service, is a member of the Freeborn County Softball Hall of Fame, serves on the board of the Environment for the Americas, is on the board of the Albert Lea Public Library Foundation, and was given the Thomas Sadler Roberts Award by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Cost is $40.00 per person. Contact info@cajuncoast.com or 985-380-8224 to purchase tickets for the dinner and presentation.
Saturday, February 28th, will feature a breakfast and a variety of speakers in the morning with boat tours in the afternoon. Speakers for the morning seminars will include: Michael Sealy from the Department of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. Erik Johnson the Director of Bird Conservation with Audubon Louisiana and Co-director of the Louisiana Bird Observatory, Al Batt, a birding expert, and the LSU Raptor Rehab program.
Michael Sealy works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a Threatened and Endangered Species Biologist specializing in consultation for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the threatened gopher tortoise. He is also the national species lead for the Louisiana pine snake, a Candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, he manages Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act issues in Louisiana ranging from technical assistance, habitat impact assessment, mitigation and enforcement for bald eagles. Prior to his work at the USFWS, he worked as a coastal wetlands ecologist both as a private consultant and for the Louisiana Office of Coastal Restoration and Protection collecting ecological data used to assess coastal restoration projects related to CWPPRA and Mississippi River Diversions near New Orleans. While working on his degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Management at LSU, he conducted research on the Louisiana black bear in coastal Louisiana compiling habitat data by capturing and tracking bears from Morgan City to Avery Island.
Dr. Erik Johnson has a diverse background in ornithology, having studied birds on three continents, including in the rain forests of Brazil and Australia, as well on both ends of the Piping Plover's life cycle. Erik conducted his graduate studies at Louisiana State University where he continues to serve as adjunct research faculty and work with undergraduate and graduate students. Through his roles as Director of Bird Conservation with Audubon Louisiana and Co-director of the Louisiana Bird Observatory, Erik engages citizen scientists to help monitor birds and he works with a number of partners to implement conservation measures for species of concern in Louisiana, across the Gulf Coast, and in North and South America.
LSU Raptor Rehab is located at the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana and receives approximately 1,800 wildlife cases each year. The LSU Raptor Rehab treats these animals at no cost to the people who bring them to the facility with the goal to release them back into the wild. In the case that they are not able to release an animal back into the wild they keep the bird at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to help educate veterinary students and the community about the importance of wildlife conservation. Their mission is “to carry out conservation medicine by providing veterinary care for injured wildlife, conduct conservation research, and educate the public about wildlife conservation in the state of Louisiana.
Full registration includes the seminars Saturday morning, breakfast Saturday morning, a t-shirt, one boat tour, and the Extreme Raptors presentation on Thursday evening. Registration fees start at $115 for adults and $65 for children for full registration. On day registration starts at $90 for adults and $55 for children includes seminars, one boat tour, and Saturday breakfast. Boat tours only start at $60 for adults and $40 for children.
The Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau has partnered with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, LSU Museum of Natural Science, Conrad Industries, Johnny’s Propeller Shop, the Audubon Society, LUMCON, America’s Wetland Foundation, B & G Foods, Louisiana Office of Tourism, and the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to showcase not only the American Bald Eagle, but the numerous species of birds and wildlife found within the Atchafalaya Basin and surrounding areas.
For a complete event schedule, costs, registration forms and listings of hotel rates, contact the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 985-80-8224, visit online at www.cajuncoast.com/eagleexpo or email info@cajuncoast.com.
