Date: 6/17/26 3:16 pm From: Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: [labird] zoom bird course offering
Hello Birders:
I will be offering my online (Zoom) Beginning Birding Course, through the Orleans Audubon Society, starting in two Sundays from now, on June 28. We will zoom on Sunday evenings from 7-9 PM for five consecutive Sundays. I will be recording each zoom session and posting on YouTube, to which the class will have private access.
This is the first in a four course series (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced I and Advanced II) that I have taught through three times previously for Orleans Audubon. The courses are designed to focus on birding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
Registration is $100. If you have already taken this course with me, you can re-take it for only $50. If you took a previous version of it that had a field component, roughly half the content of this course will be new to you (we will cover more in lecture to make up for lack of field time).
See the attached flier for registration details.
In the near future, I will post a topic list for all four courses so that people who are interested in particular topics can see when those topics might be covered.
Peter Yaukey
NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
Date: 6/8/26 9:51 pm From: Van Remsen via groups.io <vnremsen...> Subject: Re: [labird] White herons
Pat/Jennifer --- no idea what's going on! There is some evidence that the
nearly cosmopolitan Great Egret could be treated as two or more separate
species, but if Merlin is plunging ahead of everyone with some new
taxonomy, then they either botched it because the Eurasian species would be
Ardea alba, and the one here in the Western Hemisphere would be Ardea
egretta, not Ardea alba, or, much more likely, they treat the Eurasian and
Western Hemisphere subspecies as the same species but have invented a new
English name for it because of the split of other Old World subspecies like
African melanorhynhcos . Also, be sure to have your Merlin "pack" set for
the "Southeastern United States".
Great Egret gives a loud, distinctive, raucous, guttural call several times
when flushed, which you would hear if you were anywhere within a hundred
yards. As you've probably picked up from LABIRD, Merlin performs amazingly
well in many cases but amazingly badly in others, including identifying
inanimate objects and other animals as birds, so be careful. Van Remsen
On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 6:17 AM Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io
<jenniferocoulson...> wrote:
> Sorry, I forgot to add that Great White Heron has also been treated as a
> subspecies of Great Blue Heron.
>
> On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 6:15 AM Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io
> <jenniferocoulson...> wrote:
>
> > Hi Pat,
> >
> > I honestly do not know what Merlin is identifying as a "White Heron" by
> > sound, but the scientific name that Merlin provided (in your screenshot)
> is
> > currently referred to most commonly as the Great Egret. The Great Egret
> is
> > common throughout Louisiana, including in the Husser area.
> >
> > The Great White Heron is currently treated as a species, *Ardea
> > occidentalis*, restricted to peninsular Florida, although it has been
> known
> > to stray. It was previously lumped with Great Blue Heron when it was
> > considered to be a white morph.
> >
> > No doubt Van or others have more information. Here's some reading on the
> > subject:
> >
> > https://www.heronconservation.org/jhbc/vol07/art01/ > >
> >
> >
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-identify-white-herons-excerpt-from-better-birding-book/ > >
> > Jennifer Coulson
> > Pearl River, Louisiana
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 7:32 AM Patricia Lanier via groups.io
> > <patricia.lanier...> wrote:
> >
> > > Are white herons now considered common in Louisiana?
> > > This bird is appearing often in the Merlin sessions I do on my morning
> > > walks. However, I never see them. So I generally ignore it when I do
> the
> > > eBird reports.
> > >
> > >
> > > Pat Lanier
> > > Husser, Louisiana
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 6/8/26 2:12 pm From: Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> Subject: [labird] Hummer research
Nancy, Dennis, Paul —
Your work is paper-worthy. Along with ebird data and our long running winter hummer data if it hasn’t been entered in ebird. All together, it should be published in our own Journals of Louisiana Ornithology (JLO). Working with the current editor and committee, y’all could develop an LA Hummer issue.
Bill Fontenot
500 Saint Catherine St.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Date: 6/8/26 9:24 am From: Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> Subject: Re: [labird] For hummer gardeners
Dennis, and Labird/humnet
I am not so reserved, I will go out there into the hummer garden commons say that 1:4 is wrong. I don’t know if its harmful, probably not, but its wrong in the sense that its not what Hummingbirds encounter in the wild and its not preferred. I don’t mind myth shattering including the “my hummingbird” myth.
Long ago I ran preference tests of 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1;5 and plain water in feeders lined up in row, switching positions of the various choices daily. Highest consumption by liquid volume was far and away 1:3. Highest sugar consumption by dry weight of sugar was 1:2. 1:4 was visited but use was low, 1:5 and water were not touched. The birds could tell the sugar concentration by looking at the feeder, thus the avoidance of plain water and 1:5. The reason that I have used 1:3 ever since is because it matches flowers that evolved with hummingbirds as pollinators. 1:2 approximates a flower that has evaporated because it has not been nectared on a hot or low humidity summer day until afternoon. Capensis radicans, red trumpetvine particularly evaporates even to dry sugar crystals by 3 pm on a hot day. Since no one can point to a single study or even the origin of the Perky Pet recommendation of 1:4, I treat it as a more destructive myth than riding on the backs of geese. Geese don’t migrate from Louisiana due west across Texas to the Pacific coast of southern California then northward to BC. This spring our Blumorpho tagged wintering Rufous did. All took roughly that same route.
Another myth that the new Blumorpho transmitter tool by CTT is blowing is “my hummingbird”, that is a male that seems to be the same bird hanging out at a feeder all spring and summer. By banding we found out long ago that these birds are mobile and trapline houses over a wide area but the size of summer home ranges and overlap between males was not so well understood. Now we can see more. See the pasted map below of 4 summer resident males Ruby-throated all trapped at my house this year in May and still transmitting . Besides these, I have tracks of others tagged at the same time in my backyard that are as far away as northern Wisconsin today. In fact “my hummingbird” is a series of hummingbirds even if you only see one at a time and they perch on the same twig by the feeder.
Paul
RTHU male May-to June 8 apparent breeding residents RTHU male also tagged at the same location, same dates
[cid:<image001.png...>][cid:<image002.png...>]
From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Dennis Demcheck via groups.io
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2026 9:38 AM
To: <labird...>
Subject: [labird] For hummer gardeners
Bill, Paul, Nancy, and others
Yes I'm still out there and still getting nectar readings with my trusty
Brix refractometer. It is gratifying that the nectar concentrations I
investigated over 20 years ago (has it been that long?) have held up to
scrutiny.
I have downplayed this subject the last few years when I give
general-audience hummingbird talks because I have gotten annoyed at being
misquoted or misinterpreted. I met a person at a nature event and he said,
"I've heard of you. You're the guy who says our 1:4 hummingbird feeder
solutions are too low".
Grrrrr.... I never said that. I spent some time and energy trying to make
the point that naturally-occuring nectar sugar more concentrated than 1:4
is widespread in nature and especially common in dedicated
hummingbird gardens. But somehow what to me is a simple message kept going
awry.
I also tried to dispute the birdlore that concentrations greater than 1:4
are actually harmful to hummingbirds, up to and including liver damage.
That's just not true. There is zero evidence of this.
Sheri Williamson has investigated this fallacy and has an excellent 2022
Youtube video interview on this subject ; The Hummingbird Spot at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5x4A8Db6HA<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5x4A8Db6HA>.
At least we all agree that hummingbirds do not migrate on the backs of
geese.
Thanks Nancy, Bill, and Paulall for mentioning me.
Date: 6/8/26 7:37 am From: Dennis Demcheck via groups.io <demcheck86...> Subject: [labird] For hummer gardeners
Bill, Paul, Nancy, and others
Yes I'm still out there and still getting nectar readings with my trusty Brix refractometer. It is gratifying that the nectar concentrations I investigated over 20 years ago (has it been that long?) have held up to scrutiny.
I have downplayed this subject the last few years when I give general-audience hummingbird talks because I have gotten annoyed at being misquoted or misinterpreted. I met a person at a nature event and he said, "I've heard of you. You're the guy who says our 1:4 hummingbird feeder solutions are too low". Grrrrr.... I never said that. I spent some time and energy trying to make the point that naturally-occuring nectar sugar more concentrated than 1:4 is widespread in nature and especially common in dedicated hummingbird gardens. But somehow what to me is a simple message kept going awry.
I also tried to dispute the birdlore that concentrations greater than 1:4 are actually harmful to hummingbirds, up to and including liver damage. That's just not true. There is zero evidence of this. Sheri Williamson has investigated this fallacy and has an excellent 2022 Youtube video interview on this subject ; The Hummingbird Spot at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5x4A8Db6HA. At least we all agree that hummingbirds do not migrate on the backs of geese.
Thanks Nancy, Bill, and Paulall for mentioning me.
Date: 6/8/26 6:39 am From: Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
And job well done Nan! Most young’uns have no idea what goes into banding a hummingbird. Your old student Dave Patton used to show a picture of a penny with 16 hummer bands sitting on it — and there was still room for more!
Paul, it’s so good to know you’re continuing Dennis’ work, especially with new Salvia hybrids. Here in Lafayette Paul Conover and others are trying newly available Mexican and South American species. You may want to make a trip down here with your cap tubes…
Bill Fontenot
500 Saint Catherine St.
Lafayette, LA 70506
> On Jun 8, 2026, at 8:12 AM, Nancy L Newfield <nancy...> wrote:
>
> Well, Bill, some folks really don't know when to quit . . . some years ago,
> I retired from organizing tours and from public speaking, but on the 1st of
> August I will celebrate the initiation of my 49th year of banding
> hummingbirds. So, a 5-year project, begun in 1979, has grown into a
> legitimate OBSESSION!
>
> NLN
>
>> On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 7:29 AM bill fontenot <
>> <williamrodneyfontenot...> wrote:
>>
>> Paul, Nancy, et al —
>>
>> Had no idea y’all were carrying on this important work!
>>
>> As climate continues to change, it’s hummingbird movements across the U.S.
>> and Mexico have widespread and gradually morphing into new patterns that
>> we’ve begun detecting thanks to the efforts of banders and our. winter
>> census work. Ebbird has also been helpful re: not only U.S. winter records
>> but also those post-breeding (?) Mexican species that are wandering here in
>> summer.
>>
>> Hummer gardeners can assist by continuing to trial nectar plants to see
>> which may become useful as time rolls on.
>>
>> Bill Fontenot
>> 500 Saint Catherine St.
>> Lafayette, LA 70506
>>
>>> On Jun 7, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Paul Dicksonaa <Paul...>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> This sounds like a humnet revival. I sure hope so.
>>> I have the stoloniferous, actually tuberiferous, species as well. I also
>> have planted all of the recent well marketed hybrids with a variety of
>> trade names borrowing from the Roman Empire to Elvis. The new hybrids are
>> beautiful and strong plants that are easy to grow. The flowers hold for
>> days. Hummingbirds are not so impressed as garden consumers are. They
>> produce standard salvia nectar which is 26% unless sun evaporated to
>> higher values. I suspect that the reason I see the hummers using the
>> species and older hybrids more is because of length of time the new hybrids
>> hold their blooms, perhaps longer than they produce nectar. I am a
>> Demcheck nectar student too and still add to my 20 year old spreadsheet
>> which has been through a lot versions of excel by now. Sometimes when I
>> stick a glass pipette into the new hybrids, I get nothing. I always get 10
>> microliters or more from the species so long as I’m not behind a
>> hummingbird. (Yes, it is possible to get ahead of a hummingbird.) So what
>> Bill is offering out is the good stuff, as usual.
>>> Paul Dickson
>>>
>>>
>>> From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Nancy L Newfield
>> via groups.io
>>> Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:07 AM
>>> To: <williamrodneyfontenot...>
>>> Cc: Labird <labird...>
>>> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
>>>
>>> Bill,
>>>
>>> I've grown this plant since the early 1980s and when you offered, I was
>>> tempted because I thought that I had lost my original stock. HOWEVER, I
>>> just noticed one blooming in one of my less tended garden areas. My
>>> original plant came from the late Rich Dufresne.
>>>
>>> Dennis's nectar study fascinated me, so I 'borrowed' the concept and have
>>> compiled about 10 single-spaced pages of data.
>>>
>>> NLN
>>>
>>>> On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:21 AM Bill Fontenot via groups.io<
>> http://groups.io> >>>> <williamrodneyfontenot...><mailto:williamrodneyfontenot >> =<gmail.com...>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for
>>>> anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know
>> when
>>>> you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species)
>>>> blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This
>> one
>>>> runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
>>>>
>>>> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer
>>>> plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants —
>> most
>>>> of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms
>> nicely
>>>> in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Fontenot
>>>> 500 Saint Catherine St.
>>>> Lafayette, LA 70506
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> Nancy L Newfield
>>> Casa Colibrí
>>> Metairie, Louisiana USA
>>> <nancy...><mailto:<nancy...> >>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Nancy L Newfield
> Casa Colibrí
> Metairie, Louisiana USA
> <nancy...>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 6/8/26 6:12 am From: Nancy L Newfield via groups.io <nancy...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
Well, Bill, some folks really don't know when to quit . . . some years ago,
I retired from organizing tours and from public speaking, but on the 1st of
August I will celebrate the initiation of my 49th year of banding
hummingbirds. So, a 5-year project, begun in 1979, has grown into a
legitimate OBSESSION!
NLN
On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 7:29 AM bill fontenot <
<williamrodneyfontenot...> wrote:
> Paul, Nancy, et al —
>
> Had no idea y’all were carrying on this important work!
>
> As climate continues to change, it’s hummingbird movements across the U.S.
> and Mexico have widespread and gradually morphing into new patterns that
> we’ve begun detecting thanks to the efforts of banders and our. winter
> census work. Ebbird has also been helpful re: not only U.S. winter records
> but also those post-breeding (?) Mexican species that are wandering here in
> summer.
>
> Hummer gardeners can assist by continuing to trial nectar plants to see
> which may become useful as time rolls on.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> 500 Saint Catherine St.
> Lafayette, LA 70506
>
> > On Jun 7, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Paul Dicksonaa <Paul...>
> wrote:
> >
> > This sounds like a humnet revival. I sure hope so.
> > I have the stoloniferous, actually tuberiferous, species as well. I also
> have planted all of the recent well marketed hybrids with a variety of
> trade names borrowing from the Roman Empire to Elvis. The new hybrids are
> beautiful and strong plants that are easy to grow. The flowers hold for
> days. Hummingbirds are not so impressed as garden consumers are. They
> produce standard salvia nectar which is 26% unless sun evaporated to
> higher values. I suspect that the reason I see the hummers using the
> species and older hybrids more is because of length of time the new hybrids
> hold their blooms, perhaps longer than they produce nectar. I am a
> Demcheck nectar student too and still add to my 20 year old spreadsheet
> which has been through a lot versions of excel by now. Sometimes when I
> stick a glass pipette into the new hybrids, I get nothing. I always get 10
> microliters or more from the species so long as I’m not behind a
> hummingbird. (Yes, it is possible to get ahead of a hummingbird.) So what
> Bill is offering out is the good stuff, as usual.
> > Paul Dickson
> >
> >
> > From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Nancy L Newfield
> via groups.io
> > Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:07 AM
> > To: <williamrodneyfontenot...>
> > Cc: Labird <labird...>
> > Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > I've grown this plant since the early 1980s and when you offered, I was
> > tempted because I thought that I had lost my original stock. HOWEVER, I
> > just noticed one blooming in one of my less tended garden areas. My
> > original plant came from the late Rich Dufresne.
> >
> > Dennis's nectar study fascinated me, so I 'borrowed' the concept and have
> > compiled about 10 single-spaced pages of data.
> >
> > NLN
> >
> >> On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:21 AM Bill Fontenot via groups.io<
> http://groups.io> > >> <williamrodneyfontenot...><mailto:williamrodneyfontenot > =<gmail.com...>> wrote:
> >>
> >> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for
> >> anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know
> when
> >> you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species)
> >> blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This
> one
> >> runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
> >>
> >> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer
> >> plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants —
> most
> >> of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms
> nicely
> >> in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
> >>
> >> Bill Fontenot
> >> 500 Saint Catherine St.
> >> Lafayette, LA 70506
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > --
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Nancy L Newfield
> > Casa Colibrí
> > Metairie, Louisiana USA
> > <nancy...><mailto:<nancy...> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
<nancy...>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 6/8/26 5:30 am From: Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
Paul, Nancy, et al —
Had no idea y’all were carrying on this important work!
As climate continues to change, it’s hummingbird movements across the U.S. and Mexico have widespread and gradually morphing into new patterns that we’ve begun detecting thanks to the efforts of banders and our. winter census work. Ebbird has also been helpful re: not only U.S. winter records but also those post-breeding (?) Mexican species that are wandering here in summer.
Hummer gardeners can assist by continuing to trial nectar plants to see which may become useful as time rolls on.
Bill Fontenot
500 Saint Catherine St.
Lafayette, LA 70506
> On Jun 7, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Paul Dicksonaa <Paul...> wrote:
>
> This sounds like a humnet revival. I sure hope so.
> I have the stoloniferous, actually tuberiferous, species as well. I also have planted all of the recent well marketed hybrids with a variety of trade names borrowing from the Roman Empire to Elvis. The new hybrids are beautiful and strong plants that are easy to grow. The flowers hold for days. Hummingbirds are not so impressed as garden consumers are. They produce standard salvia nectar which is 26% unless sun evaporated to higher values. I suspect that the reason I see the hummers using the species and older hybrids more is because of length of time the new hybrids hold their blooms, perhaps longer than they produce nectar. I am a Demcheck nectar student too and still add to my 20 year old spreadsheet which has been through a lot versions of excel by now. Sometimes when I stick a glass pipette into the new hybrids, I get nothing. I always get 10 microliters or more from the species so long as I’m not behind a hummingbird. (Yes, it is possible to get ahead of a hummingbird.) So what Bill is offering out is the good stuff, as usual.
> Paul Dickson
>
>
> From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Nancy L Newfield via groups.io
> Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:07 AM
> To: <williamrodneyfontenot...>
> Cc: Labird <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
>
> Bill,
>
> I've grown this plant since the early 1980s and when you offered, I was
> tempted because I thought that I had lost my original stock. HOWEVER, I
> just noticed one blooming in one of my less tended garden areas. My
> original plant came from the late Rich Dufresne.
>
> Dennis's nectar study fascinated me, so I 'borrowed' the concept and have
> compiled about 10 single-spaced pages of data.
>
> NLN
>
>> On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:21 AM Bill Fontenot via groups.io<http://groups.io> >> <williamrodneyfontenot...><mailto:<williamrodneyfontenot...>> wrote:
>>
>> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for
>> anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know when
>> you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species)
>> blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This one
>> runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
>>
>> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer
>> plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants — most
>> of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms nicely
>> in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
>>
>> Bill Fontenot
>> 500 Saint Catherine St.
>> Lafayette, LA 70506
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Nancy L Newfield
> Casa Colibrí
> Metairie, Louisiana USA
> <nancy...><mailto:<nancy...> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 6/8/26 4:17 am From: Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io <jenniferocoulson...> Subject: Re: [labird] White herons
Sorry, I forgot to add that Great White Heron has also been treated as a
subspecies of Great Blue Heron.
On Mon, Jun 8, 2026 at 6:15 AM Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io
<jenniferocoulson...> wrote:
> Hi Pat,
>
> I honestly do not know what Merlin is identifying as a "White Heron" by
> sound, but the scientific name that Merlin provided (in your screenshot) is
> currently referred to most commonly as the Great Egret. The Great Egret is
> common throughout Louisiana, including in the Husser area.
>
> The Great White Heron is currently treated as a species, *Ardea
> occidentalis*, restricted to peninsular Florida, although it has been known
> to stray. It was previously lumped with Great Blue Heron when it was
> considered to be a white morph.
>
> No doubt Van or others have more information. Here's some reading on the
> subject:
>
> https://www.heronconservation.org/jhbc/vol07/art01/ >
>
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-identify-white-herons-excerpt-from-better-birding-book/ >
> Jennifer Coulson
> Pearl River, Louisiana
>
>
> On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 7:32 AM Patricia Lanier via groups.io
> <patricia.lanier...> wrote:
>
> > Are white herons now considered common in Louisiana?
> > This bird is appearing often in the Merlin sessions I do on my morning
> > walks. However, I never see them. So I generally ignore it when I do the
> > eBird reports.
> >
> >
> > Pat Lanier
> > Husser, Louisiana
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 6/8/26 4:15 am From: Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io <jenniferocoulson...> Subject: Re: [labird] White herons
Hi Pat,
I honestly do not know what Merlin is identifying as a "White Heron" by
sound, but the scientific name that Merlin provided (in your screenshot) is
currently referred to most commonly as the Great Egret. The Great Egret is
common throughout Louisiana, including in the Husser area.
The Great White Heron is currently treated as a species, *Ardea
occidentalis*, restricted to peninsular Florida, although it has been known
to stray. It was previously lumped with Great Blue Heron when it was
considered to be a white morph.
No doubt Van or others have more information. Here's some reading on the
subject:
On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 7:32 AM Patricia Lanier via groups.io
<patricia.lanier...> wrote:
> Are white herons now considered common in Louisiana?
> This bird is appearing often in the Merlin sessions I do on my morning
> walks. However, I never see them. So I generally ignore it when I do the
> eBird reports.
>
>
> Pat Lanier
> Husser, Louisiana
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 6/7/26 12:33 pm From: Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
This sounds like a humnet revival. I sure hope so.
I have the stoloniferous, actually tuberiferous, species as well. I also have planted all of the recent well marketed hybrids with a variety of trade names borrowing from the Roman Empire to Elvis. The new hybrids are beautiful and strong plants that are easy to grow. The flowers hold for days. Hummingbirds are not so impressed as garden consumers are. They produce standard salvia nectar which is 26% unless sun evaporated to higher values. I suspect that the reason I see the hummers using the species and older hybrids more is because of length of time the new hybrids hold their blooms, perhaps longer than they produce nectar. I am a Demcheck nectar student too and still add to my 20 year old spreadsheet which has been through a lot versions of excel by now. Sometimes when I stick a glass pipette into the new hybrids, I get nothing. I always get 10 microliters or more from the species so long as I’m not behind a hummingbird. (Yes, it is possible to get ahead of a hummingbird.) So what Bill is offering out is the good stuff, as usual.
Paul Dickson
From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Nancy L Newfield via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:07 AM
To: <williamrodneyfontenot...>
Cc: Labird <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
Bill,
I've grown this plant since the early 1980s and when you offered, I was
tempted because I thought that I had lost my original stock. HOWEVER, I
just noticed one blooming in one of my less tended garden areas. My
original plant came from the late Rich Dufresne.
Dennis's nectar study fascinated me, so I 'borrowed' the concept and have
compiled about 10 single-spaced pages of data.
> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for
> anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know when
> you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species)
> blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This one
> runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
>
> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer
> plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants — most
> of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms nicely
> in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> 500 Saint Catherine St.
> Lafayette, LA 70506
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
<nancy...><mailto:<nancy...> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 6/7/26 8:07 am From: Nancy L Newfield via groups.io <nancy...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
Bill,
I've grown this plant since the early 1980s and when you offered, I was
tempted because I thought that I had lost my original stock. HOWEVER, I
just noticed one blooming in one of my less tended garden areas. My
original plant came from the late Rich Dufresne.
Dennis's nectar study fascinated me, so I 'borrowed' the concept and have
compiled about 10 single-spaced pages of data.
NLN
On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:21 AM Bill Fontenot via groups.io
<williamrodneyfontenot...> wrote:
> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for
> anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know when
> you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species)
> blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This one
> runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
>
> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer
> plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants — most
> of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms nicely
> in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> 500 Saint Catherine St.
> Lafayette, LA 70506
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
<nancy...>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 6/7/26 5:32 am From: Patricia Lanier via groups.io <patricia.lanier...> Subject: [labird] White herons
Are white herons now considered common in Louisiana?
This bird is appearing often in the Merlin sessions I do on my morning walks. However, I never see them. So I generally ignore it when I do the eBird reports.
Date: 6/3/26 10:35 am From: Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> Subject: [labird] Black Birders Week bird walk June 20, 2026
Hello BR Audubon members and LABirders!
Baton Rouge Audubon will be sponsoring a bird walk to honor Black Birders Week on June 20, 2026 at Tickfaw State Park. Registration is not required but is helpful and you may register by sending an email to <education...> let us know you're coming.
Black Birders Week events have occurred since 2020 and are usually held the last week of May. Unfortunately, that timeframe was not available for us, so ours will be held on June 20. Since this means summer heat, this will be an early event! We will meet at Tickfaw State Park at 8:00 am in the Nature Center parking lot. The walk will last about 2 hours. I will have binoculars to loan out and give a short lesson on using them. We'll walk on the boardwalks. It's fairly shady but not as much as it used to be since hurricane Ida. Be prepared for sun, bugs, and be sure to bring water. If you are 62 and older, entry to the park is free. If you're under 62, we will cover your admission. Families are welcome, but it's best of kids are 9 and older to handle binoculars and also have a longer attention span.
Please share with friends who might be interested in learning more about the birds around us!
Date: 5/26/26 4:18 pm From: Van Remsen via groups.io <vnremsen...> Subject: [labird] Venice pelagic Saturday
LABIRD: A cancellation opened up 1 spot on Saturday’s Venice pelagic trip.
Let me know ASAP if interested. Price is $213 (up from usual 190-200) to
cover increased fuel prices. Van Remsen
Date: 5/22/26 1:35 pm From: Debra Babin via groups.io <Debra.b...> Subject: Re: [labird] notes on Swallow-tailed Kite migration 2026
Thanks! It’s interesting information and it makes us happy, knowing of a specific example where our eBird checklist data was used! 😁
—Debra Canatella
On May 22, 2026, at 2:04 PM, Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey...> wrote:
LA Birders:
I am cross-posting this with the MS and AL chatgroups.
PY
For those interested, I (and a couple students) have compiled the dates of apparent passage migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in the coastal zone from the New Orleans area east to Mobile Bay, this spring. I distinguished migrants as including any birds south of Lake Pontchartrain (where they don't breed) and in MS-AL any reports of 3 or more between the coast and the vicinity of I-10. The latter is of course, an imperfect measure for distinguishing migrants, and presumably included some breeders.
The first migrant was reported in eBird on 2/26, and I ended the analysis on 4/23 (despite kites continuing to trickle through- I saw one in New Orleans as late as mid May).
The total was 310 kites fitting the criteria described above.
The migration this year was strongly bimodal, with two surges: one from 3/3-11 (63 birds), and the second (larger) from 3/30-4/9 (188 birds). The 18 day gap between these held just 22 birds. I have not done this for other years, so do not have any sense whether bimodality is normal for this species in this area.
I plotted cold front passages on these data, and there was no obvious relationship (I was expecting a negative relationship in the form of cold fronts shutting down trans-Gulf migration and having few migrants in their wake). There was a front in the middle of the major (second) surge, and the surge was a little less strong after it but did continue for c. 3 days.
I also plotted time of day of sightings. They spanned the period 8am-5pm fairly evenly. This was interesting because it lacked a mid-day lull. Migrant raptors are often reported to show a mid-day lull when birds are so high in the air that sightings decline.
Although both date and time of day could potentially be influenced by amount of observers afield, there was no peak on weekends evident and I suspect such influences were limited bc a high number of the eBird reports of the species were incidental rather than associated with birding outings (longer eBird excursions). This may have caused them to be less focused on classic birding times of day (e.g., weekend mornings).
My quest to find concentration points for eastward moving kites accummulated few data points beyond those shared earlier in this chat; hope springs eternal for further elucidation next spring!
Cheers
PY
NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
Date: 5/22/26 1:04 pm From: Patricia Lanier via groups.io <patricia.lanier...> Subject: Re: [labird] notes on Swallow-tailed Kite migration 2026
Thank you!
> On May 22, 2026, at 2:04 PM, Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey...> wrote:
>
>
> LA Birders:
>
> I am cross-posting this with the MS and AL chatgroups.
>
> PY
>
>
>
> For those interested, I (and a couple students) have compiled the dates of apparent passage migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in the coastal zone from the New Orleans area east to Mobile Bay, this spring. I distinguished migrants as including any birds south of Lake Pontchartrain (where they don't breed) and in MS-AL any reports of 3 or more between the coast and the vicinity of I-10. The latter is of course, an imperfect measure for distinguishing migrants, and presumably included some breeders.
>
> The first migrant was reported in eBird on 2/26, and I ended the analysis on 4/23 (despite kites continuing to trickle through- I saw one in New Orleans as late as mid May).
>
> The total was 310 kites fitting the criteria described above.
>
> The migration this year was strongly bimodal, with two surges: one from 3/3-11 (63 birds), and the second (larger) from 3/30-4/9 (188 birds). The 18 day gap between these held just 22 birds. I have not done this for other years, so do not have any sense whether bimodality is normal for this species in this area.
>
> I plotted cold front passages on these data, and there was no obvious relationship (I was expecting a negative relationship in the form of cold fronts shutting down trans-Gulf migration and having few migrants in their wake). There was a front in the middle of the major (second) surge, and the surge was a little less strong after it but did continue for c. 3 days.
>
> I also plotted time of day of sightings. They spanned the period 8am-5pm fairly evenly. This was interesting because it lacked a mid-day lull. Migrant raptors are often reported to show a mid-day lull when birds are so high in the air that sightings decline.
>
> Although both date and time of day could potentially be influenced by amount of observers afield, there was no peak on weekends evident and I suspect such influences were limited bc a high number of the eBird reports of the species were incidental rather than associated with birding outings (longer eBird excursions). This may have caused them to be less focused on classic birding times of day (e.g., weekend mornings).
>
> My quest to find concentration points for eastward moving kites accummulated few data points beyond those shared earlier in this chat; hope springs eternal for further elucidation next spring!
>
> Cheers
>
> PY
>
>
> NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 5/22/26 12:04 pm From: Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: [labird] notes on Swallow-tailed Kite migration 2026
LA Birders:
I am cross-posting this with the MS and AL chatgroups.
PY
For those interested, I (and a couple students) have compiled the dates of apparent passage migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in the coastal zone from the New Orleans area east to Mobile Bay, this spring. I distinguished migrants as including any birds south of Lake Pontchartrain (where they don't breed) and in MS-AL any reports of 3 or more between the coast and the vicinity of I-10. The latter is of course, an imperfect measure for distinguishing migrants, and presumably included some breeders.
The first migrant was reported in eBird on 2/26, and I ended the analysis on 4/23 (despite kites continuing to trickle through- I saw one in New Orleans as late as mid May).
The total was 310 kites fitting the criteria described above.
The migration this year was strongly bimodal, with two surges: one from 3/3-11 (63 birds), and the second (larger) from 3/30-4/9 (188 birds). The 18 day gap between these held just 22 birds. I have not done this for other years, so do not have any sense whether bimodality is normal for this species in this area.
I plotted cold front passages on these data, and there was no obvious relationship (I was expecting a negative relationship in the form of cold fronts shutting down trans-Gulf migration and having few migrants in their wake). There was a front in the middle of the major (second) surge, and the surge was a little less strong after it but did continue for c. 3 days.
I also plotted time of day of sightings. They spanned the period 8am-5pm fairly evenly. This was interesting because it lacked a mid-day lull. Migrant raptors are often reported to show a mid-day lull when birds are so high in the air that sightings decline.
Although both date and time of day could potentially be influenced by amount of observers afield, there was no peak on weekends evident and I suspect such influences were limited bc a high number of the eBird reports of the species were incidental rather than associated with birding outings (longer eBird excursions). This may have caused them to be less focused on classic birding times of day (e.g., weekend mornings).
My quest to find concentration points for eastward moving kites accummulated few data points beyond those shared earlier in this chat; hope springs eternal for further elucidation next spring!
Cheers
PY
NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
Date: 5/20/26 12:22 pm From: Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> Subject: Re: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
Rob/Ken —
Please email me privately and I’ll give you my number.
Bill Fontenot
500 Saint Catherine St.
Lafayette, LA 70506
> On May 20, 2026, at 11:21 AM, Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> wrote:
>
> I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know when you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species) blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This one runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
>
> Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants — most of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms nicely in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> 500 Saint Catherine St.
> Lafayette, LA 70506
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 5/20/26 9:21 am From: Bill Fontenot via groups.io <williamrodneyfontenot...> Subject: [labird] For Hummer Gardeners
I’ve got the old-school cultivar of anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for anyone who would like some. Just contact me via email and let me know when you’ll be around. This cultivar (might actually be the straight species) blooms all spring and summer into the fall. It grows 30-36” tall. This one runs via stolons to form sizable colonies (up to 10-12’ if allowed).
Years ago Dennis Demchek did a sugar content study of all LA hummer plants. At 30% sugar content, anise sage blew away all other plants — most of which ranged between 12-20%.!Drought and flood tolerant, blooms nicely in sun or shade, and completely winter-hardy up through zone 6.
Bill Fontenot
500 Saint Catherine St.
Lafayette, LA 70506
