Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve

26262 Louisiana Hwy 435 Abita Springs, LA 70420

Directions

From the roundabout in downtown Abita Springs go east on Level Street for 0.5 miles. Take a slight left onto Talisheek Road (Hwy 435) for 2.6 miles and then continue onto Hwy 435 for 1.9 miles to the entrance on the left.

Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve is a beautiful site marked by diverse habitats of longleaf pine savannah, bayhead swamp, slash pine-pond cypress swamp and mixed pine-hardwoods. The preserve is a wetland mitigation site managed by the Nature Conservancy.

Abita Creek Flatwoods is best known as the place where southeastern Louisiana birders might view two of the state's more elusive sparrows. Bachman's Sparrow, a year-round bird at the preserve, is best observed in early spring when males mount the tops of shrub thickets to sing their territorial courtship songs. Henslow's Sparrow is a winter-only species at the preserve and flushes from dense grasses with great reluctance and only for short times and distances. Observing either of these birds requires stealth, patience, and timing. Inquire with local Louisiana birders (via social media) regarding scheduled field trips and/or guides which would greatly enhance chances for spotting success. Including these sparrows, many types of wrens and warblers are among the 139 bird species recorded here.

The Pitcher Plant Trail, with its elevated boardwalk outfitted with ecological interpretive signage, winds through about one mile of the preserve. Additional unimproved trails traverse all of the site's varied habitats. This site is visited mostly by birders, butterfly/dragonfly/insect enthusiasts, wildflower enthusiasts, and nature photographers.

Boardwalks

Photography