Several millions of birds migrate through the Gulf corridors of Louisiana during the Fall and Spring season. Many of them show up in parks nearby. Two such parks are the BREC Farr Park and Equestrian Center and the Riverbend Park in Baton Rouge, both of which are near to my residence. The vegetation and the water of the mighty Mississippi River nearby teem with several species of migrant birds. It is a treat to watch them and photograph them here.

Birds photographed in this album:

• White-throated Sparrow - These beautiful sparrows are abundant throughout the US. They migrate south during winter and spend summer in Canada. They are commonly seen in Louisiana.
• Lesser Yellowlegs - Their numbers have been fairly constant throughout the US. However, their status is likely to be influenced by climate change as their habitats will be threatened and they are characterized as "highly" vulnerable.
• Scaly-Breasted Munia - These tiny birds are not common to the Americas, but native to Asia. Introduced into the US via release from captivity in two regions of the US (Houston and Philadelphia), they have rapidly increased in numbers and also started to merge with each other. They usually show up as a family at backyard feeders.
• Red-headed Woodpecker - These are near-threatened species. Their decline in numbers is attributed to loss of overall habitat, and loss of standing dead wood required for nest sites. Competition for nest-sites with other cavity nesters such as European starlings is a major concern since starlings have increased in numbers.
• Summer Tanager (male) - These beautiful birds have maintained their numbers in the US. However, their habitats have been under assault and hence there is apprehension about its status as a non-threatened species. A large number of them get killed during migration through encounters with glass in high rise buildings.
• Carolina Wren - A year-round resident of the southern US, these are wonderful songbirds. They do not fear human interactions and, often build nests in household objects such as flower pots etc. For such a small bird, it is loud, but and pleasing to listen to. Their numbers have been increasing in many parts of the southern US.
• Northern Cardinals - are the most common backyard bird in North America. The male is bright red colored, whereas the female has only tinges of red. These visit most backyard feeders and provide wonderful songs to appreciate. They often tend to fall prey to hawks that visit the backyards.