Monday, March 22, 2010

Back to NOLA (yes, already)

OK, maybe I have a problem... Just a few days after our recent one-night trip to New Orleans, I found a reason to go back - a conference for work! So, we went back last Wed.-Sat. Unfortunately, I was in the seminar from 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:15 to 5:05 each day, but I still got plenty of good eats in (highest recommendation for this trip would be a small eclectic restaurant in East Carrollton called Boucherie).
Before we left Saturday, we took a nice long stroll in Audubon Park. This is a park with a huge jogging and biking track, a golf course in the middle, and the most amazing live oaks you've ever seen:



A few are swathed in Spanish moss.

There is also a large, long lake, with lots of birds, ducks and turtles.






Great Egrets nest here en masse, and it is a sight to behold. Last year when we went down for Jazz Fest in late April, the babies had hatched and were learning to fly. This time, mating and nest-making was in full swing. Notice the plume-y feathers and green area around the eyes - these features appear in mating season.

Watching these birds (like the one below) fly with branches in their beaks for their nests was awesome.



This one is also carrying a stick.

Only a few were already actively nesting.


There were hundreds of these birds. It was mesmerizing. If you're looking for a trip to take in late April or early May, go to New Orleans and check out the babies (and take pictures)! Unfortunately, I'm probably not going to make it back down there until the Louisiana Bar Exam (UGH) in late July.
Have a great week!

8 comments:

Christine B. said...

Those live oaks are amazing. We don't have trees that sweep so wide and down to the ground. Looks like a beautiful place to visit.

Christine in Alaska

Darla said...

At least you had a nice stroll and some good eats. I love the bird just getting ready to take flight, so graceful and serious she looks.

Susie said...

I love seeing all of those birds. These are beautiful pics.

Glad you got to eat some good food even tho you were busy.

Have a great week!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

New Orleans is on my list of places I hope to visit one day. Those oaks are amazing!
The egret pictures are great! I love the one in mid flight.

Meredith said...

I love live oaks and Spanish moss. It doesn't get much more elegant and classic as far as I'm concerned -- unless, of course, the trees are filled with Great Egrets who've put on the green eye shadow for mating season. Gorgeous! I'm so envious you got to see that -- but so glad you took these great pics and shared. :)

Tootsie said...

those are some majestic trees!!! I so wish we had might oaks with moss on them here!

Together We Save said...

Those oak trees are beautiful and so are those Egrets. Wow.

Emily said...

amazing! i love the photo of the egret in flight.