Rabbit Island Restoration and Vegetative Planting

Rabbit Island is the only Brown Pelican colony in Southwest Louisiana. Located in the southwest portion of Calcasieu Lake, the Rabbit Island restoration project was important to the area as it increased nesting activity. To meet the project’s need for vegetative cover, 65,671 plants were custom-grown at RES’ Pointe Aux Chenes Nursery.

The foundation materials for the propagation of Spartina alterniflora ‘Vermilion’ were provided by the Golden Meadow Plant Material Center (PMC). The Matrimony Vine was sourced from Queen Bess Island. Groundsel Bush was collected from RES’ Nursery in Montegut, Louisiana. Marsh Elder was custom-grown from cuttings acquired on Elmers Island. Spartina alterniflora ‘Vermilion’ plugs were grown in nursery ponds and irrigated as needed. The plants, crew members, equipment, and other materials required for installation were mobilized from the dock to each planting area using a deck-over 18’ airboat and a 12-foot by 40-foot deck barge.

For bird abatement, we installed predator decoys every 10 acres. In addition, a motion-sensing deterrent was installed every 10 acres to manage nocturnal activity. These abatement methods were allocated as needed to focus on the highest probability areas. Temporary flagging was staked throughout the planting area to delineate the corners of each planting block. The flags provided motion and functioned as a deterrent for birds within the planting cells. This plan was approved and monitored by LDWF daily.

During the project, we identified the number of birds estimated to be on the island, the number of nests, buffers implemented, and abatement actions regarding the detection of nesting birds. An As-Built report containing an As-Built map, legend, and Standard Storage Format (SSF) data file was generated using a sub-meter Tremble GPS unit.