Black-Bellied Whistling Duck in Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Cajun Country

I returned to Cajun Country in Louisiana for further adventures in the Atchafalaya Basin with Doug Gardner. The Atchafalaya Basin or Swamp is the largest wetlands in North America.

This time I visited in late May instead of August when the temperatures are much lower and the birds are still nesting. The Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks had finished nesting but were still around in large numbers.

Cajuns and Acadiana

I again stayed at the famous Mason Madeleine B&B run by Maddie Cenac and her husband Walt Adams. The owner Madeleine (Maddie) Cenac is of French descent. Her relatives came to Louisiana directly from France.

Cajuns came to Louisiana as French Acadia exiles from Nova Scotia, Canada. The area that they settled in Louisiana is referred to as Acadiana. Today the true Cajuns are those that reside south of Interstate 10 in Louisiana.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck in Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks

Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks nest in large numbers in cavities of old trees in the Atchafalaya Basin. They spend most of their time in trees and instead of quacking like most ducks they have a high pitched whistle.

A Pair of Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks above a Possible Nesting Cavity

Young Birds in the Atchafalaya Basin

We were a little late to witness some of the smaller birds in the nest, but we did see birds feeding their young outside the nest. I believe we saw a female Red-Winged Blackbird and a Prothonotary Warbler feeding their young.

Possible Female Red-Winged Blackbird Feeding Her Chick

Young Prothonotary Warbler Waiting for a Meal

Nesting Birds in the Atchafalaya

One morning we ventured to a large rookery that contained nesting Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and Anhingas.

We noticed an immature Great Egret hanging upside down below its nest with a large alligator swimming below.

Great Egret Chick Hangs Below Nest Above Alligator in Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

After a few minutes the young bird lost its grip and fell. Fortunately for the bird it fell onto another limb a few feet above the water. The alligator missed its meal this time.

Baby Alligators

Louisiana has the largest population of alligators in America and a lot of them are in the Atchafalaya Basin. The basin covers more than a million acres and provides everything that the alligators need to thrive. There is abundant prey, slow moving water and warm weather in the basin.

Doug found us a few alligator babies sunning themselves on a log.

Baby American Alligator in Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Atchafalaya Basin Glowing in Late Afternoon Light

Sunset on the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Good Time in the Bayou

Thanks to Doug Gardner for a great Wild Photo Adventure in Louisiana. You can see more of his Wild Photo Adventures TV Series and other work on his Natural History YouTube Channel.

You can find out more about Doug on his website Totally Outdoors Imaging. You can see more images in my 2025 Louisiana Image Gallery.

Stay tuned for my next adventure to the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, the home of the Spirit Bear.