Upcoming Events:
Check out these birding related events:
Excited to share the first winter hummingbird report of 2024-25!
Please continue to report your winter hummer observations to Erik Johnson for recording in the LA Winter Hummingbird Database, providing the following information: *
Your name * Your address (town only is acceptable) * First observed (FO) date (or, if discovered while banding or marking other birds, the date it was observed) * Species * Age (Adult, immature, unknown) * Sex (Male, female, unknown) * Whether banded, when and by whom * Send photos if available to confirm above details Also, please report the last observed (LO) date, if possible, when the bird leaves. Please also note that Ruby-throats don't count as "wintering" until after Nov 15, so only send reports of the other species for now.
Happy hummingbirding!
Erik Johnson - Sunset, LA Erik.Johnson AT Audubon DOT org
Beginner's Bird Walk
The Beginner’s Bird Walk occurs on the Fourth Saturday of the month. We will start at 8 am and bird for about an hour, everyone is invited. For inquiry, contact David Booth, 337-526-0837.
If anyone has any ideas for events, or outings or if you have a special bird at your feeder and want to invite others. Please contact us and we will be happy to work them into the calendar. Thanks.
RESOURCES
Here are a few excellent sites on how to handle a baby bird.
http://www.brooklynfeed.com/2014/06/dont-pick-up-that-baby-bird/
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/i-found-a-baby-bird-what-do-i-do/
https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/what-to-do-baby-bird-on-ground/
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2012 Club Activities
Gulf Coast Bird Club participated in the SW La Garden Festival on Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24. Here are two pictures from the event.
Two fledgling birders( third graders) visited the club table and between them they were able to name ten birds.
Club member Gene is busy trying to help a visitor identify a bird she saw in her yard.
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Top - Pictures from the 2012 Christmas Dinner Meeting held at Gatti's Pizza on Ryan St. in Lake Charles.
Below - Tuten Park club pictures in Spring 2016
Noteworthy past events:
35th Anniversary Celebration
Gulf Coast Bird Club Announces
New Feature: “35 Years Ago” by David Booth
As I dig through the historical box of GCBC information, I am finding memories of friends, meetings, field trips and birds seen, some forgotten. On March 16, 1983, Charlotte Tucker and I conducted the formative meeting for the club. We had gotten tired of only having the semiannual LOS venue in Cameron and wanted to have something local so we could interact more and pursue more birding opportunities with others. We put out fliers and had a temporary meeting room at the (then) ABC Bank at Lake and Country Club. We showed a film (yes real film, reel to reel) titled “Waterbirds of Louisiana”. There were about 60 folks at that first meeting many of which joined the club and helped make it what it is today. We had temporary officers who set up field trips and monthly meetings, much as we enjoy today.
Noteworthy events and outings during the 1983 to 1986 span of time included the following:
Charlotte Tucker made a Birding Tour of Australia.
The first state record of Willow Flycatcher occurred in Monroe, LA.
Several members attend the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) meeting in Jackson, MS.
A Hawkwatch was conducted at several locations in Southwest Louisiana by the GCBC members.
The original six acres of Peveto Woods was ‘saved’ (purchased) from very cooperative Lake Charles resident Bob Holleyman by the Baton Rouge Audubon Society. Many GCBC members contributed to that purchase.
Nancy Newfield gave a fabulous Hummingbird talk which drew our largest crowd in history: 92 people.
Club held a field trip to Aransas, Texas for the Whooping Cranes.
Gene Doland had a big clean out project for the Purple Martin House Tower on the lake front. The first state record of Inca Dove nesting was documented in Lake Charles.
Paul Yakupzack spoke to the group on the new Cameron Prairie NWR. Paul was the Refuge Manager visionary who developed the original idea for Pintail Drive. What we enjoy so much now is owed to Paul and the NWR system. He is retired and happily living in Houma.
As I look over the information from the 1980’s what stands out the most are the names of those friends who volunteered their time and efforts to help start the GCBC and keep it moving during its formative years. We are now enjoying the fruits of their labors, and others will someday enjoy the fruits of your labors and contributions no matter how great or small. Thank you all.
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Noteworthy past events:
Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference & EXPO 2018
The GCBC booth at the 2018 Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo at Burton Coliseum was a resounding success thanks to the hard work of Charlotte Pookistan-Chehotsky. The event took place Friday March 23rd thru Saturday March 24th from 9AM to 5PM each day. Our Thanks go out to Charlotte and all the volunteers that helped out at the booth. We had lots of Garden Festival participants stop by our booth and talk to the volunteers. Charlotte had a children’s center with wonderful activities to promote and encourage young birders.
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Lake Charles Christmas Bird Count Summary by Irvin Louque
On December 30, 2016, 15 birders tallied 108 species during the 7th Lake Charles Christmas Bird Count. The Lake Charles CBC Birders included members of the Gulf Coast Bird Club and certified Southwest Louisiana Master Naturalists. The participants were split into 5 teams to cover the 15 mile diameter circle. The Lake Charles team led the count with 63 species seen, followed by the Intracoastal Park team (61 species), Gulf HWY/Deatonville (59 species), Carlyss/South Sulphur (57 species), and Westlake/North Sulphur (49 species).
Some of the great observations from the count include 4 White-tailed Kites, huge flocks of blackbirds (estimated 100,000 birds), 1,500 Tree Swallows, 1 Great Horned Owl, 1 Crested Caracara, 1 Peregrine Falcon, and flock of 20 Ruddy Ducks. The Lake Charles CBC is one of many Christmas Bird Count circles in Southwest Louisiana.
Last year we recorded 108 species including Painted Bunting, Great Kiskadee, and Vermilion Flycatcher.
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Pictures from Arbor Day at Tuten Park March 12, 2016