Date: 2/21/26 4:16 pm From: Erik Johnson via groups.io <cassowary43...> Subject: [labird] Nest observations and color-band resighting
Hello LAbirders,
On behalf of the "Urban Native Greens" partnership between Audubon Delta, LSU, BTNEP, and Purple Martin Conservation Initiative, I am calling on birders to help track nests of Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Prothonotary Warblers, and Purple Martins. The study is interested in exploring relationships among urbanization patterns, extent of native versus non-native plants, insect diversity, and nesting bird outcomes.
We are particularly interested in getting nesting data from predator-guarded structures (e.g., nest boxes), but also welcome data from more "natural" nesting sites. Nest observations can be submitted to our data entry portal in FieldScope here: https://urbannativegreenshome.fieldscope.org/
Key points: 1) Register a nest site into FieldScope only once. 2) Visit nests no more than twice a week and minimize the amount of time you spend at the nest. 3) Carefully note the number of eggs, nestlings, and number of young that fledge.
In addition, a number of public access study sites have color-banded individuals of these four species (associated with nest box monitoring conducted by the team and/or volunteers), and we welcome reports of resighted birds. Carefully note which colors you see, and which leg(s) the bands are on. For example: "red over black on left, silver on right." Sites include Palmetto Island State Park, Bluebonnet Swamp, Blackwater Swamp, Moncus Park (primarily Purple Martins), Amite River Audubon Sanctuary, Acadiana Park Nature Station, Cypress Island Preserve (Lake Martin), Burbank Park, and Frenchtown Conservation Area.
I often think of Valentine's Day as when our local non-migratory breeders start getting into breeding mode, and for sure singing in many of these species has ramped up. I've seen or seen reports of Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Eastern Bluebird nesting. If you have an interest in putting out nest boxes, now is the time to do it!
Erik Johnson Sunset, LA cassowary43 at gmail dot com erikjohnson at agcenter dot lsu dot edu
