LSU Museum of NatSci

Official Twitter of the LSU Museum of Natural Science! #LSUMNS

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Well, we've decided to call our Big Day complete. Our last species of the day were Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl. We're heading back to Baton Rouge now for some much-needed rest.
You can still donate to support our work until May 7th https://t.co/PAv0sYPEuK

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Well, we've decided to call our Big Day complete. Our last species of the day were Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) and Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). We're heading back to Baton Rouge now for some much-needed rest.
You can still donate to support our work until May 7th

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Despite the bad luck, we've still managed to surpass 100 species! Now we're off to the coast for the rest of the day.
Remember, you can donate to support our Ornithological research at https://t.co/PAv0sYPEuK

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Big Day team check in: we had bad luck in Rice Country, where we spent far too long looking for shorebird fields. The perfect shorebird field is a rare thing, the water level has to be just right to support a variety of different foraging depths. Today all were too deep or dry.

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

After a long morning in upland regions of northern Louisiana, we are off to rice country for shore birds! Wish us luck!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Dawn found us in Kisatchie National Forest, where we saw pine specialists like Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch alongside breeding warblers and others. Added 23 species at this spot.

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Meet our 2026 Big Day team! We have Brett Kincade and Quinn McCallum from the Mason Lab, and Phoebe Gordon and Gustavo Martins from the Thom lab

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

The LSUMNS Big Day is a fundraiser to support the research of our Ornithology graduate students. They put a lot of work into making this even happen every year, so please consider donating at https://t.co/PAv0sYPEuK

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Today is the Big Day! Four LSUMNS Ornithology students are traveling across the state of Louisiana today to see how many species they can see in a single day. They're taking over our social media, so expect updates throughout the day! https://t.co/PAv0sYPEuK

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
Should we call it a day or should we keep rolling?

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
We just had a King Rail and a Sora right next to each other!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
The team has been very productive and we passed 100 species just as expected!!

The current list: 127!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
The team leaving Kisatchie National Forest with 72+2* species at 08:53 AM!

* not seen by the whole team.

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
It's finally bright enough for some digibin photos!
Prairie Warbler

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
Birds started singing right on the first light. We got a Bachman’s Sparrow and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
Before first light, the team arrived at Kisatchie National Forest and heard some nocturnal flight calls!
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Swainsom’s Thrush

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

We saw an armadillo while owling:)

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

Checked! Go go go! Heading to rice country now.

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
We just had 7 species on campus with an unexpected Common Yellowthroat as our first one!
Now are crossing the Mississippi River! See you soon, Eastern Screech-Owl!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

#lsumnsbigday2025
We just had 7 species on campus with an unexpected Common Yellowthroat as our first one!
Now are crossing the Mississippi River! See you soon, Eastern Screech-Owl!

[LSU Museum of NatSci @LSU_MNS]

LSUMNS ANNUAL BIRDING BIG DAY will start in 10 minutes.
The team this year: Brett, David, Gustavo, and Jerry (left to right).