2020 TOUR DESCRIPTIONS

Kayaking Tour

Experience Grand Isle from a different perspective. Watch herons, egrets, and terns fish as you paddle along the bay gliding past oyster beds and marsh grasses – maybe even catch a glimpse of a Clapper Rail. While afloat, it’s a great opportunity to learn about the world-class fishing that Grand Isle offers from one of Grand Isle’s fishing experts! Take in the sights and sounds of being on the water!

Activity Level: moderate (including getting in and out of a low kayak; paddling for 2 hours)
Fee: $25.00
– Registration required
– Weather dependent: this tour subject to cancelation due to heavy rain/lightning and high winds; See Weather Contingency Plan
*Don’t forget to bring: water shoes or shoes you don’t mind getting wet, insect repellent, hat, sunglasses, bottle of water, sunscreen, binoculars, and tour ticket
*Don’t forget to provide a contact phone number

Queen Bess Boat Tour

This tour gives visitors the opportunity to view thousands of Brown Pelicans nesting on Queen Bess Island. Queen Bess Island is located in Barataria Bay just northeast of Grand Isle and is one of three rookery sites where Brown Pelicans were reintroduced to Louisiana in 1968 after becoming extirpated. This is a great opportunity to learn from our experienced guide about the importance of small, predator-free islands on which our breeding seabird species depend. Herons, egrets, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, American Oystercatchers, sandpipers, gulls, terns, and skimmers can also be seen during your voyage.

Activity Level: easy (climbing in and out of a boat, sitting/standing for 2 hours)
Fee: FREE
– Registration required
– Weather dependent: this tour is subject to cancellation due to heavy rain/lightning and high winds; see Weather Contingency Plan.
* Don’t forget to bring: hat, sunglasses, water, sunscreen, binoculars, and tour ticket
*Don’t forget to provide a contact phone number

State Park & Cox Oil Grass Fields (Meet at G.I. School @ 7:45 am) carpool to sites. David Muth Guide  Limit 25 birders – $ 10.00
Grand Isle State Park Birding Tour & Cox Oil Grass Fields (Meet at G.I. School at 2:45 to carpool) Guide David Muth.  Limit 25 birders

Join the Grand Isle State Park tour to view coastal bird species along its beachfront habitat. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about beach-nesting birds such as Least Tern and Wilson’s Plover from expert guides. The state park also provides birders a chance to look for songbird migrants within the two-½ mile nature trail loops. The trail habitat offers food and shelter to flycatchers, vireos, warblers, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, buntings, and more! Visitors can also get a birds-eye-view of the coastline and the ruins of historic Fort Livingston (located on Grand Terre Island east across Barataria Pass) from the state park’s observation tower.

Activity Level: moderate (includes a 1 ½ hour walking /standing tour)
– Registration required – Weather dependent: this tour is subject to cancellation due to heavy rain/lightning; see Weather Contingency Plan.
*Don’t forget to bring: hiking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, and tour ticket.
*Don’t forget to provide a contact phone number

Grand Isle Birding Tour

A birding trip to Grand Isle’s unique Maritime Forest! These woodland chenieres are located on ancient beach ridges. The remnants of these forests are small woodlands comprised of mossy live oaks and hackberries that rise above the otherwise flat, wetland landscape. The cheniere woods provide vital habitat for migrating landbirds as they arrive from their nonstop journey across the gulf, offering a safe haven to refuel and rest to continue their journey northward. Expert tour guides will lead you through the Lafitte Woods and Landry-LeBlanc tracts (owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy) as well as other birding hotspots along this walking tour. If fall-out conditions occur, then migrants can be especially plentiful and the woods come alive with color. Expect to see species such as flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, buntings and more during this tour! Best-case fallout scenario: potentially check-off as many as 30 different species of wood warblers, possibly including Blackburnian, Swainson’s, Bay-breasted, and Cerulean!

Activity Level: moderate (a 2 hour walking tour on paved roads and dirt trails)
Fee: $10.00
– Registration required
– Weather dependent: this tour is subject to cancellation due to heavy rain/lightning; see Weather Contingency Plan.
*Don’t forget to bring: rain boots (some areas may have standing water/mud) rain jacket or poncho, a bottle of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, and tour ticket
*Don’t forget to provide a contact phone number

Photography Workshop with George Ritchie

An in the field workshop with renowned photographer George Ritchie.  Learn tips on wildlife photography while visiting the Grand Isle West End Wading and Shorebird Rookery.  George has photographed wildlife all over the world for National Geographics and the Discovery Channel.

Fee: $25.00
– Registration required

Island History Tour

The Island History Tour offers visitors a chance to view some of the historical homes still standing on the island and learn about the rich history of Grand Isle including plantations that were established on the island in the 19th century, the world-class fishing industry, the pirates that frequented the island, and the development of the island into a vacation resort for wealthy families following the Civil War. In addition, learn about the many hurricanes the island and its community have endured throughout its history.

Activity Level: easy (riding 2 hours in a wagon throughout town).
Fee: $10.00
– Registration required
– Weather dependent: this tour is subject to cancellation due to heavy rain/lightning
*Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water, sunscreen, and tour ticket
*Don’t forget to provide a contact phone number

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Research Lab Tour

As guests of LDWF, tour the 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art Fisheries Research Lab to learn about the various monitoring and research programs biologists are conducting on a variety of marine species such as sharks, finfish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, and their associated habitats and ecosystems, all of which are crucial to the economy of Louisiana. The lab also serves as a hatchery area for both shellfish and finfish.

Activity Level: easy (walking/standing, includes some stair climbing)
Fee: FREE
– Registration required
*Don’t forget to bring your tour ticket

****If a tour is canceled due to inclement weather, then a full refund can be obtained at the registration booth when you present your tour ticket or by contacting the Grand Isle Port Commission (985) 787-2229.****

State Park & Cox Oil Grass Fields (Meet at G.I. School @ 7:45 am) carpool to sites. David Muth Guide  Limit 25 birders – $ 10.00
Grand Isle State Park Birding Tour & Cox Oil Grass Fields (Meet at G.I. School at 2:45 to carpool) Guide David Muth.  Limit 25 birders