the Louisiana Barrier Islands

This collection of photographs focuses on the Louisiana barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. I was on assignment for Cornell’s Living Bird Magazine documenting the work of Juita Martinez, a PhD student at the University of Lafayette, which focuses on the seabird breeding colonies of these islands. Photographs accompany a print and online article for the Fall 2020 issue, written by Scott Weindensaul, which explores the area ten years after the BP Oil Spill of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

The barrier islands of Louisiana are vital for the protection of Louisiana’s coastal communities and its natural resources. They are the first line of defense from summer’s hurricanes and winter’s storms; they mitigate ocean swells and other storm events for the water systems on the mainland side of the barrier island, as well as protecting the coastline. However, barrier islands are no longer building naturally.

Brown Pelicans on the restored Queen Bess Island, Louisiana

Multiple wetland systems on the mainland such as lagoons, estuaries, and/or marshes can result from the above mentioned conditions depending on the surroundings. These areas are typically rich habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. Without barrier islands, these wetlands could not exist; they would be destroyed by daily ocean waves and tides as well as ocean storm events. One of the most prominent examples is the Louisiana Barrier Islands.

Also, without barrier islands, important nesting bird colonies would fail. Another primary goal of the restoration of Louisiana’s barrier islands is to protect critical nesting habitat of the Brown Pelican, especially on Raccoon and Queen Bess Islands, which hold very large colonies.

Sandwich and Royal Terns are ground nesting seabirds. Note the three sandy-colored baby Royal Terns (in the picture on the left) and the single Sandwich Tern chick (in the picture on the right) hiding under the wings of their parents. They are hard … — Sandwich and Royal Terns are ground nesting seabirds. Note the three sandy-colored baby Royal Terns (in the picture on the left) and the single Sandwich Tern chick (in the picture on the right) hiding under the wings of their parents. They are hard to spot due to their amazing camouflage.

In the past 150 years, rapid erosion of the protecting barrier islands has exposed Louisiana's valuable wetlands and estuaries to increased storm waves and currents. (Modified from Penland and others, 1989.) Photo credit: USGS.gov — In the past 150 years, rapid erosion of the protecting barrier islands has exposed Louisiana's valuable wetlands and estuaries to increased storm waves and currents. (Modified from Penland and others, 1989.) Photo credit: **USGS.gov**

This area and its wildlife were hit hard during the Deep Water Horizon BP Oil Spill 10 years ago, which injured and killed some 100,000 birds of 102 species; about 6,165 sea turtles; as many as 25,900 marine mammals, and countless fish and other smaller marine animals of the gulf.

This group of islands, known as Isles Dernieres barrier island chain, is also experiencing some of the highest erosion rates of any coastal region in the world. Raccoon Island is experiencing shoreline retreat both gulfward and bayward, threatening the seabird nesting colonies.

The islands were not always a chain but rather one long barrier island. In the 19th century it had inhabitants and was a popular resort destination. The island was destroyed by the Last Island Hurricane of August 10, 1856, and “split” in half. Over 200 people perished in the storm, and the island was left void of vegetation. The highest points were under 5 ft of water.

As a result of the hurricane and subsequent tropical storms, Isle Dernière was fragmented into five small barrier islands we know today: Raccoon, Whiskey, Trinity, Wine and East Islands.

Note: Public access by any means to the exposed land areas, wetlands and interior waterways of these islands is prohibited without a permit.

RACCOON ISLAND and QUEEN BESS - RESTORED

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Raccoon Island supports huge nesting colonies of royal and sandwich terns (foreground) and brown pelicans (backgroud).

Raccoon and Queen Bess are two of the islands that hold huge nesting colonies for seabirds, like the brown pelican, and both were greatly affected by the BP Oil Spill in 2010, in addition to the continued degradation brought on by constant wave action and rising sea levels. Raccoon Island alone has experienced a historic shoreline erosion rate of 27.9 ft a year between 1855 and 2005 and the area was decreased by approximately 300 acres from 1978 to 2005.

Raccoon Island, Louisiana's westernmost nesting site for colonial seabirds and wading birds is the state’s top nesting colony for the brown pelican, with Queen Bess being equally as important for brown pelican nesting colonies on Louisiana’s eastern coast.

Both Raccoon and Queen Bess are considered restored barrier islands and undergo continued restoration as need be to help rectify these effects and hinder future degradation. Constructing rock walls, called breakwaters, are one of the ongoing approaches used in restoration efforts.

This portion of the breakwater built as part of the restoration of Raccoon Island, is now failing over time, as can be seen by the remnants of rock which are now covered by the rising sea level. This is a good example of why continued restoration ef… — This portion of the breakwater built as part of the restoration of Raccoon Island, is now failing over time, as can be seen by the remnants of rock which are now covered by the rising sea level. This is a good example of why continued restoration efforts are in place.

Brown pelicans swim between the breakwater (rock walls) and shoreline. The breakwaters were created in the island restoration efforts; they help to dissipate and reduce the energy of the waves and currents striking the barrier island.

In 2019, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a resolution that converted Queen Bess Island to a Louisiana state wildlife refuge to enhance protection of the island, a vital waterbird colony that annually produces more than 4,400 nests. It is the fourth largest brown pelican rookery in Louisiana, producing 15 to 20% of the state’s nesting activity. It also provides nesting habitat for about 10 species of nesting colonial waterbirds, such as tri-colored herons, great egrets, and royal terns.

In February 2020 a project was completed to restore Queen Bess Island’s available nesting habitat from 5 to 37 acres.

A pair of attentive adult Sandwich Terns appear to keep watch over a group of older tern chicks.

Nestling brown pelicans patiently wait for their parents return at their nesting colony on Raccoon Island, Louisiana.

Philo-Brice and Felicity - Unrestored

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A panoramic image of the graveyard of mangroves where the seabirds nested only last year at Felicity Island, an unrestored barrier island of Louisiana. The area has been overtaken by the rising sea level and could be completely gone within a couple of years.

Philo-Brice and Felicity are unrestored Louisiana barrier islands that also act as important nesting grounds for seabirds. Because they are unrestored they lack the breakwaters on the perimeter to protect them from the wave action and rising sea levels.

Subsidence is reducing both to their bare bones, which can be seen in the dark peat substrate underfoot. As the sea level continues to rise more and more of these islands will wash away, and eventually disappear.

Flip through the slideshow below to see more unrestored island photos and hover for captions

Reasearchers arrive at the very small Felicity Island. This island is unrestored and is disappearing quickly. The erosion of the shoreline can be seen here. The presence of peat, which is the bare bones of a barrier island, can be seen in the foreground.

The birds meet challenges on both restored and unrestored islands. Hurricanes are one of these challenges they face each summer.

The birds nesting on the disappearing unrestored islands face more challenges due to the erosion of the shorelines. The presence of dark peat, which is the bare bones of a barrier island, can be seen here, under the remains of a nestling. The mangroves where the pelicans normally nest are quickly becoming covered over by the rising sea level, leaving some nests more vulnerable.

This older pelican nestling lies on the line of the dark peat, which is the bare bones of a barrier island, as it meets the sandy top substrate, not yet washed away.

Human created trash and debris washes up on the shores of all the islands, a constant reminder of the effects of our actions.

A pair of great egret nestlings look out from their mangrove nest on Felicity.

Pelicans on Felicity

Research on the restored and unrestored barrier islands of Louisiana

Scroll through the slideshow below to see some of the views of a day in the life of biologist Juita Martinez as she works with her colleagues to collect data through leg banding and bird monitoring for her study researching the nesting colonies on restored and unrestored Louisiana barrier islands.

Hover over images below for captions

Juita Martinez and her two field assistants Eric Tobin and Mason Harris head out early morning on the Gulf of Mexico to check her study cameras and to band and weigh some of the brown pelicans on the barrier islands of Louisiana. She is studying the differences and similarities of the nesting colonies of brown pelicans on the restored and unrestored islands.

First thing upon arriving on Raccoon Island, Juita must relocate the trail cameras, change out cards and batteries, and then move them to new nesting sites, while trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. The birds are not accustomed to humans on the island so it can be quite chaotic as one tries to traverse quickly and quietly through the nesting grounds. The sound of the birds is deafening as they fly overhead swooping down to warn their uninvited guests to stay away. It’s not uncommon to come away with almost everything on you a victim of bird droppings.

Juita sets up a new trail camera to monitor the colony on Raccoon Island.

Juita makes notes as she monitors her trail cameras on Raccoon Island.

Single laughing gull egg

Juita searches for a nest to place the last of her cameras on Raccoon Island.

Juita looks on as her assistants approach with young pelicans to band. The bands are placed on their legs and display a unique number, which helps in identifying the individuals and monitoring their movments.

Eric Tobin, one of Juita Martinez’s field assistants, captures young Brown Pelicans to be banded then released back to their nesting area on Raccoon Island. Tobin sports a 10 yr old T-shirt with oiled pelican graphic from efforts to help the seabirds affected by the BP Oil Spill a decade ago.

Organizing the bird bands for the pelicans

Carefully banding the pelicans.

Juita Martinez and Paige Byerly make their way through a mass of seabirds as they look for banded pelicans on restored Queen Bess Island. In February 2020 a project was completed to restore Queen Bess Island’s available nesting habitat from 5 to 37 acres.

Paige Byerly and Juita Martinez look out on a sea of pelicans to find banded individuals on Queen Bess Island.

J. Mason Harris of University of Lafayette flies a thermal camera drone over Felicity Island. Drone footage could one day act as the tool to help count the birds non-invasively on fragile barrier islands. Read more about this effort HERE.

Juita and the pelicans

Louisiana’s brown pelicans