Audubon Park, New Orleans

This is will the final post from my New Orleans trip.  I presented my research on Wednesday (July 31) afternoon and we left New Orleans the following morning, so Tuesday was my last opportunity to explore New Orleans.

Based on the recommendation from one of my supervisors, I woke up extra early on Tuesday morning and took the streetcar through the famous Garden District and arrived at Audubon Park to do some wildlife-watching.

The first thing I saw at the park was this beautiful garden and fountain.  There were some Monarch butterflies visiting the flowers and I was planning on taking some photos, but there was a strange individual talking to himself so I gave up on that idea.

Even though it was quite early (i.e., before 8 AM), there were already many joggers and people exercising.  I like that in a city.  Plus, the park is very big and beautiful.

Beautiful fountain

Nice bridge and reflection

View from the bridge

There were some bird species, but the lighting in the early morning was not great and so I only took a few photos (by my standard).

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)


Sleeping Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)

My second time seeing a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) (my first time was at Shaw Nature Reserve in Missouri) but I still wasn't able to get a good photo of it.


There is a nice (but green) lagoon in the centre of the park.


Fancy park shelter

There were a few Anhingas (Anhinga anhinga) around the lagoon, but this one was the closest (although it was back-lit).  Nonetheless, its silhouette was quite interesting.

While I was chasing after some dragonflies, I spooked this lizard in the undergrowth.  I think it was a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) because it never showed me its face and it left shortly after.


An egret hiding in the parking lot.

It was a Great Egret (Ardea alba).

Getting closer and closer to it.


At the southwest end of the park is Audubon Zoo, which I didn't go to.

More great live oak trees.

Behind the zoo was a little park called "The Fly" and it faces the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River

I have seen a lot of Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) in New Orleans.

Another pose.


One species I was not expecting to see was this Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus).  Another lifer!

More photos of dragonflies.




John James Audubon, the famous naturalist whom this park is named after.


Entrance to Audubon Zoo, still locked.


Thought this was kind of cute.

More live oak trees


People in New Orleans are lucky to have a jogging path through such beautiful surroundings.

Surrounding the park are Tulane and Loyola Universities, both of which probably have their own interesting sights to see.  Unfortunately, I needed to go back to the conference to see some presentations and network.

Near the fountain at the entrance, I saw this Long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) but this was the best photo I got.


On the way back, inside the streetcar.


Passing through the lovely buildings at the Garden District.

Beautiful church

Lee Circle

So that was pretty much my New Orleans trip.  It was an awesome experience attending an international conference at such an interesting city.  As you can tell, there are still many places that I did not have the chance to see and I hope I can come back in the future to explore some more.  Here are some left-over photos to wrap up this trip.

Botany Conference 2013

Driving out of the city

Good-bye, New Orleans!


Crossing Lake Pontchartrain again.


We drove for about 16 hours on the first day.  Here we were passing through some city in Ohio.

Arrived at the border before noon on the second day, but we got stuck in the infamous GTA (Friday) traffic for several hours.  We finally arrived back in Peterborough just in time for dinner.