Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area

Even though it’s only 160 acres, 170 bird species have been recorded at Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries restored approximately 100 acres of native hardwood species on this small tract within the Red River floodplain and also constructed a 40-acre impoundment, which provides seasonal shallow water habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. The remaining acreage is open water and grassy fields.

Forest and swamp bird activity is high year-round, with nesting species including Wood Duck, Anhinga, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Dickcissel, and five species of warblers. Woodlands and swamps are augmented each winter with additional nearctic species such as House and Winter Wrens, American Goldfinch and White-throated Sparrow.

Elbow Slough is an excellent quick stop for birders traveling in central Louisiana–especially during fall/winter/spring when the impoundment is flooded for local and migratory waterbird habitat. Seventeen species of waterfowl have been recorded here. Fifteen shorebird species have been observed here during winter and spring and fall migration periods. Twelve wading bird species occupy the impoundment area year-round, with the highest concentrations and diversity in spring and summer.

Amenities are limited to gravel parking, identification signage, and a porta-potty. This is a walk-in-only site used by hunters, birders, hikers, and nature photographers.