Discover the secret life of the American Woodcock!
This Saturday, Feb. 7, Our LMNNE Secretary, Louisiana Master Naturalist Suzanne Laird‑Dartez will again bring her lively, illustrated talk to the Black Bayou Lake Conservation Learning Center—and then will leads us into the field for a Woodcock Walk alongside her fearless bird‑dog Quill.
The adventure begins right after the short public LMN‑NE Q1 meeting at 12 pm. Bring your own packed lunch and walking attire. We’ll meet at noon at the Black Bayou Lake NWR Conservation Learning Center for a short public Board meeting then Suzanne will present for about 45 minutes on Woodcocks, then we’ll set out to find them in the field!
Photographers among us may want to practice snap shooting – these birds are fast!
Please mark the following dates in your calendars!
The schedule will be updated to include details – timings/places etc. when known. External events More workshops will be added later. Any questions or issues, please contact us.
Best wishes, LMN-NE
January 3, Guided Walk at Black Bayou Lake NWR (See Photos on Facebook)
January 17th Guided Mushroom Walk at Black Bayou Lake NWR
January 18th, BoD Meeting
February 7th, 1st Qtr Membership/BoD In-person Meeting Woodcocks Talk & Walk with Suzanne Laird Dartez and Quill. We’ll meet at noon at the Black Bayou Lake NWR Learning Center for a short public Board meeting, after that Suzanne will present for about 45 minutes on Woodcocks, then we’ll set out to find them in the field! Bring your own packed lunch and walking attire.
Suzanne with Quill (and special permit) at Black Bayou Lake NWR, Monroe.
March 28th, Mammals Workshop led by Dr. Ana Couvillon of ULM Biology
A detailed view of a Louisiana Black Bear skull reveals much about its lifestyle! Learn about Louisiana’s Mammals upcoming Mammals Workshop March 28th!
March 29th BoD Meeting
April 19th: Litter Pick & BoD Meeting at BBLNWR
2nd Qtr/BoD Meeting on May 23rd Focus on Foxes! Gray Fox presentation by Catrina Wiener (ULM Biology Post-grad)
Captivating gaze of a Gray Fox! There’s so much to learn about these mysterious and elusive creatures!
May 16th Birds Workshop led by LA Tech Biological Sciences Professor Terri Maness
Wood duck and drake with Pie-billed Grebe on Black Bayou Lake, in Monroe Louisiana.
May 30th Watershed Dynamics & Flooding Workshop led by Dr. Bill Patterson of LA Tech
Dr. Bill Patterson discusses the Louisiana Sparta Aquifer during an LMN-NE Watershed Dynamics workshop presentation.
June 28th BoD Meeting
July 19th BoD Meeting
August 16th BoD Meeting
September 20th BoD Meeting
October 18th BoD Meeting
November 15th BoD Meeting
December 13th 4th Qtr Membership/BoD Meeting LMN-NE Christmas Party.
I hear its supposed to rain, but we’ll have a good time anyway!
Jim volunteers at the Refuge. We’ll invite him to the party and maybe he’ll let us play with the resident Louisiana pine snakes!
This Saturday, Dec. 9, we will convene for our 4th Quarter Meeting and our annual holiday party at Black Bayou Lake NWR in the Conservation Learning Center. Members and friends are invited.
Our speaker for the 4Q meeting is Alexandra Noel, meteorologist for NBC 10 News and FOX 14 News in West Monroe. She will talk about “NELA Severe Weather–Prepared, Not Scared.” What a timely and interesting subject!
The holiday party will follow. It is a potluck, and the offerings are typically delicious and plentiful. (Bringing food is not required.) We will also have an optional gift exchange. If you wish to participate, bring a gift in the $15-$20 range and enter it into the drawing.
This will be an opportunity to become a member if you wish, but that is not required. Come if you’re just interested in learning more about us and what we do.., and want to have a good time!
If weather allows, I’m guessing some of us will get outdoors at some point in the afternoon.
Next Sunday, Sept. 10, we will gather at the Briarwood Nature Preserve, 216 Caroline Dormon Rd., Saline, LA, for our 3rd Quarter Members Meeting. Kick off time is 2:30 p.m. and we plan to wrap up by 4:30 p.m.
Preserve curator Bayli Quick will be our tour guide. We will be walking outside, so please dress accordingly. Right now, the temperature is predicted to peak at 99 degrees that day, with scattered showers developing in the afternoon. Please bring plenty of water!
Caroline Dormon with a tree called “Grandpappy.”
Briarwood is the former home of Caroline Dormon, a pioneer naturalist and conservationist extraordinaire whose legacy includes helping to establish the Kisatchie National Forest, as well as books, articles, art, and hundreds of students well-taught.
Remember that Louisiana Master Naturalists Association gives an award to an outstanding Louisiana Naturalist in her name at our annual statewide meeting called Rendezvous. Remember also that we are next year’s Rendezvous host chapter, and that will be on our meeting agenda!
Briarwood is about an hour and 20 minutes southwest of Monroe, so carpooling would be a great idea. And bring a friend. Our quarterly meetings are a great opportunity to introduce us and the fun we have to new folks.
Louisiana Master Naturalists - Northeast 