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Coastal Restoration: Beating a Dead Horse?
In the spring of 2010, my email box was inundated with writers looking for the softer side of the story of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and following oil spill disaster. These seekers of a different angle flocked to my bayou to interview my shrimping neighbors. As a wetland advocate, I wondered how I could use this man-made disaster as a platform to further the cause of education and awareness.
It became clear to me early on that most of the journalists who arrived at my door really had no clue about our culture and way of life. So, if they wanted a story about how the oil spill had impacted us, then they must humor me and allow me to educate them about this vanishing ecosystem and its people.
What these well-meaning journalists needed first was a foundational perspective from the standpoint of a population of coastal communities who were suffering yet one more blow to their way of life. As a woman who lives, works, and fishes here, I could give them that perspective, which was simply this:
This oil spill was not an isolated disaster for the people of coastal Louisiana. It was like being kicked when we were already down. And here’s why.
BW needs your help with her homework!
As promised last week, I have another poll for you. I am doing my homework for this Saturday’s radio show discussion about Louisiana reality TV shows. Once again, I need your help and input. Hey, it’s summer. It’s hot. And if you’re just sitting inside keeping cool at your desktop or I-pad, do me a BIG favor and check out a little reality TV, Louisiana style. If you have a Facebook page, please share this poll with your friends, as I would appreciate as much input as possible–especially from folks outside of Louisiana.

Cicada, anyone?
PHOTO CREDITS: Termite!

I've been tagged . . . or "How weird are you, anyway?"
My LilSis is playing tag with me, and I’m it. OK, here’s what I’m understanding about this. Someone tagged her, and she listed 7 weird things about herself on her blog, and then she tagged some other weirdos or nerds (depending on how you look at it) to do the same. She tagged our BigSis,…
Well, it's later tonight . . .
and real life has taken precedence. Ok, the refrigerator went out today. Sears can’t come until Tuesday. And in a mad dash to town, 20 miles away, to get some last minute things for my trip to appear at Cabela’s, I got a phone call reminding me that I had a TV interview at 6:15….

Swamp Thangs! Part 1
Boating into the Mandalay Wildlife Refuge and cypress areas around Lake Palourde never, ever gets old to me. I’m like a child with a shiny new bicycle on my birthday each time I ride into these magical, mystical waters. Always amazed, enthralled, intrigued, and mystified by what I see. Since I’m also “working” the PROW…
Congratulations on the “twins”. Question…(no time to Google right now) How long will they remain in the nest with mom?
I think from egg laying to flight only takes about two months, so they might be flying off any time now!
Woo-hoo! For little who-dats, they look pretty big!
They ARE big. She sat on top of them for the longest time . . . and yesterday she was sitting off on a branch just watching over them. Not on TOP of them.
That’s because she was like, “OMG, you two little chirren are getting too biiiig and makin’ me uncomfortable! Somebody should’a made a bigger nest! Oh. Dat would be me.” (FYI, I imagine her with the voice of Janessa.) 😉
I’m just seeing this some 25 hour slater . . . and you made me spit my coffee, little girl! I love “chirren”!!! In the beginning, I thought that nest looked kind of small for such a big bird and was hoping she didn’t hatch more than one or two babies!
cool hatched- twins no less
How sweet! Owls are such wonderful birds. We have great barred owls that frequent our neighborhood in the evenings.
I’m not loving all the “refuse” they leave on the ground . . . lots of feathers . . . from little birds the parents have fed them, I reckon!
We have some barred owls down here, too, and up until now that is the only kind I’ve seen in the swamp.
Cool! It’s great that you’re getting to watch them grow up.
It is pretty cool, Kim!
Well, looks like I missed about three weeks of growth by not being able to see them until now! I wonder if she teaches them how to fly at night???
They are already so big. This is so very exciting.
She sat on them until they got this big! I kept waiting to see them, and I had no clue they would be this huge before she stopped sitting on top of them. I was utterly amazed when I realized I wasn’t looking at the mom anymore, but TWO young owls instead!
I couldn’t believe how big there were when I realized I wasn’t look at two adults on the nest!
Little Who’s… that’s pretty cute!
They are cute, but I need to do some homework to see if they are learning to fly at night because I never see them leave the nest in the day time.
They are cute!
Thought about them today looking a collection of stuffed animals at the lake. They have 4 great horned mounts. I been seeing a couple in flight at dusk too.
Their wings made a loud shwooshing sound!
Neat photos! Looks like they are people watching too.
They were! Looking right down at me!!!
Oh, they’re just wonderful! One of these days I’ll see one in real life, instead of just hearing them.
I do have some bluejays that are coming to eat pecans, and the way they load up and fly off, I’m just sure they have babies somewhere. And I saw my first ducklings yesterday in a marina. Spring’s here! (Even though it’s coldish tonight – but we got 2″ of rain today. Everyone is giddy!)
Linda, I wish you were here because you can even see the mother sitting on a nearby branch in broad daylight! It’s pretty amazing! Bluejays are here, too. Happy about that rain for ya!
I don’t know how much rain we have had this week but, it has been a lot. Got a flooded drive, part of the yard and under the house. But, I am not complaining at all. We can still use it and I heard that this summer may very well be a repeat of last summer.
Did you find out how much longer the “The Whos” will be around?
Rain is a very, very good thing!