The Underrated Sanctuary In Louisiana Where You Can Watch Thousands Of Egrets
By Jackie Ann|Published November 28, 2023
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Avery Island is most well-known for being the birthplace of Tabasco. You can even visit the Tabasco factory and take a tour to learn how this iconic little bottle gets made. What you may not know is that there are plenty of fun things to do on Avery Island, especially for wildlife lovers. Within Jungle Gardens lies Bird City, a fascinating bird sanctuary in Louisiana that Theodore Roosevelt once called the “most noteworthy reserve in the country.”
Bird City was founded by Edward Avery McIlhenny, the son of Tabasco founder Edmund McIlhenny.
Edward was born on the island and had been fascinated with ornithology from a young age. He even joined two separate Arctic expeditions (1894 and 1897) as an ornithologist. His passion for birds continued long after his expeditions, but perhaps his most important conservation efforts wouldn’t be until he took over the family business (Tabasco) around 1900.
It was after he returned from his first arctic expedition that he noticed a significant decrease in the number of egrets on Avery Island.
In the late 1800s, snowy egrets were on the brink of extinction due to plume hunters. Back then, the egret’s feathers were used for fashion, primarily women’s hats.
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He established the Bird City wildfowl refuge around 1895, and it ultimately saved these beautiful birds from extinction.
He trapped several egrets, brought them back to the island and let them loose in an aviary he had built.
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He released the birds the following fall so that they could migrate south for the winter, and just as he had hoped, many of them returned the following spring.
Spoonbills, herons, and ducks are just a few feathered friends that thrive on the island. You could easily spend an afternoon wandering around Jungle Gardens. It's absolutely enchanting and just overflowing with wildlife. From egrets to gators, and even the occasional bear sighting, this place is a nature lover's paradise.
Learn more on the Jungle Gardens website and start planning your adventure today!
