Rail and Waterbird Research   

My graduate students and I along with several colleagues are conducting a wide range of studies on breeding, wintering, and migrating waterbirds.  We have several studies that are focused on rails, particularly King Rails.   Marie Perkins recently completed her thesis which focused on the proportion of resident to migrant King Rails in Louisiana using stable isotope analysis.  She also worked with Virginia Rails, Yellow Rails, Clapper Rails, and Sora Rails.

Sergio Pierluissi recently completed an M.S. thesis focused on the effects of local and landscape habitat factors on breeding waterbirds in southwestern Louisiana.  Sergio found and monitored over 600 waterbird nests!  Louisiana's rice fields are incredible waterbird habitat!

There is interest in evaluating the feasibility of restoring Whooping Cranes to White Lake Refuge and/or Marsh Island Refuge in Louisiana. To support this work, we are putting satellite transmitters on sandhill cranes wintering in Louisiana to determine their migration routes and whether or not they would potentially intermix with the wild population of Whooping Cranes.  We are also seeking funds to evaluate habitat suitability of White Lake (for a resident population) and Marsh Island (for a wintering population).

We use a lot of volunteers and student technicians on our projects.  Catching rails in the marsh or ricefields at night is quite an experience!