Louisiana
4 young, endangered whooping cranes are ready for the Louisiana wild. See their journey.
A rare bird species that once vanished from Louisiana is making a steady comeback as four more whooping cranes were released into the wild last month.
The release of the young birds, which were raised at a facility on the Westbank, is part of a years-long effort to bring the endangered species back to Louisiana.
The whooping crane is one of the rarest bird species in the world, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. They are large-bodied birds that can grow up to five feet tall with wingspans of up to eight feet, and can live up to 30 years in the wild.
Over the past seven years, the Audubon Nature Institute and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has released over 50 cranes into the White Lake Westland Conservation Area in Vermillion Parish. Many of the birds, including the four released last month, were hatched and raised at Audubon’s facility.
“We’re making great strides,” said Richard Dunn, the facility’s assistant curator, “and we’re starting to see the results of what we’re doing.”
Every year, staffers name the baby cranes according to a theme, Dunn added. This year’s theme was pasta shapes, so the four released cranes were named Gigli, Vermicelli, Fiori and Gemelli.
Lafayette-based professional photographer Kelly Morvant spotted a family of whooping cranes in a field in rural Acadia Parish — note the juvenile crane visible in the grass.
Whooping cranes, which are white with distinctive red heads and black facial markings, once roamed the state as both non-migratory and migratory species. But their numbers began to dwindle as humans converted their habitat into farmland and hunted the birds, whose feathers became popular clothing accessories.
By 1950, the last living whooping crane in Louisiana was transported to a wildlife refuge on the Texas coast.
But in 2011, the state started an effort to reintroduce the birds into the wild. That first year, ten young cranes entered the conservation area in Vermillion Parish.
Since 2017, when Audubon joined the effort, the environmental organization has released 55 cranes, 31 of which were hatched at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. With the addition of the four new birds, there are now 77 whooping cranes across the state and over 700 nationwide, Dunn said.
Skylar McMillan with the Audubon Nature Institute boards a boat with the four juvenile Whooping Cranes after they were tagged Tuesday, Nov. 7, at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. The birds were taken to a holding pen pending their release into the wild.
“The addition of these young cranes is another important step in restoring a once-thriving species to the Louisiana landscape,” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan said in a statement.
Staff from the Audubon Institute and the state wildlife department raised the baby birds at the Westbank facility. This year, most of the young cranes, called “colts,” were hatched from eggs that came from a migratory flock in Wisconsin, but one chick came from an egg laid by Louisiana cranes. Two unreleased birds were kept at the facility for future breeding.
The goal of the program is to create a self-sustaining population of non-migratory whooping cranes in the state, part of a national push to move the birds from endangered to threatened. In Louisiana, a self-sustaining population of whooping cranes would require about 120 birds with 30 reproducing pairs to survive in the wild for a decade.
“This is the point of what we do,” Dunn said, “see the birds increase in the wild.”
PERTH, Australia, December 04, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Woodside has signed a revised lump sum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel for the development of the three train 16.5 million tonnes per annum foundation development of Louisiana LNG.
Bechtel has worked on site since the acquisition and will continue work under a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) executed under the revised EPC contract. The LNTP provides for continued site construction and commitment to certain key materials and services required for the foundation project.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said the signing of the EPC contract and continuation of engineering and construction activities contemplated by the LNTP represented an important step in the development of Louisiana LNG.
“Louisiana LNG is positioned to provide LNG into the growing global market and generate value for shareholders in accordance with our capital allocation framework.
“We continue to move at pace. In a short period of time, we have completed the acquisition, secured competitive revised EPC pricing that covers all three trains, and opened the data room with strong interest from potential project partners.
“Louisiana LNG is an advantaged project that is fully permitted and has Bechtel as the EPC contractor. The competitive pricing and schedule certainty we have now secured compounds this advantage in the current uncertain market environment for competing projects.”
Woodside continues to target final investment decision (FID) readiness from the first quarter of 2025.
Total Louisiana LNG expenditure from December to end of the first quarter of 2025 is forecast to be up to $1.3 billion, which is included in the overall estimated cost for the foundation development.
The estimated forward cost for the foundation development is $900-960/tonne, unchanged from the range at the time of acquisition.1
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Includes EPC, contractor completion incentive payments, owner’s costs, and contingency; excludes pipeline cost. |
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About Louisiana LNG
Louisiana LNG is an under-construction, pre-FID, LNG production facility and export terminal in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. It is a high-quality, scalable development opportunity, with a total permitted capacity of 27.6 million tonnes per annum.
Louisiana LNG is a major growth opportunity that would expand Woodside’s US LNG position, enabling the company to better serve global customers and capture marketing optimisation opportunities across the Atlantic and Pacific Basins.
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This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee. |
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Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to Woodside’s business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition, including, for example, but not limited to, statements regarding the timing of completion of other transactions, the timing of completion of Woodside’s projects and expectations regarding future expenditures and future results of projects. All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts, are forward-looking statements and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as ‘guidance’, ‘foresee’, ‘likely’, ‘potential’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘aim’, ‘aspire’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘outlook’, ‘project’, ‘schedule’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘seek’ and other similar words or expressions. Similarly, statements that describe the objectives, plans, goals or expectations of Woodside are forward-looking statements.
Alexandria High (La.) four-star running back JT Lindsey revealed a commitment to the LSU Tigers on April 13 with Brian Kelly and Co. locking down his services.
Lindsey, the No. 2 rated running back in Louisiana and a Top 10 back in America, received an offer from the Tigers and wasted no time in pledging to the program.
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It was clear the intentions of position coach Frank Wilson. LSU had already had a commitment from the No. 1 running back in America, Harlem Berry, but taking two backs was the goal the entire time.
Now, after a dominant senior campaign, Lindsey has the entire country after blossoming into a Top 10 running back in the 2025 Recruiting Class and skyrocketing to the No. 2 back in Louisiana.
Lindsey bypassed Texas commit James Simon after becoming the No. 2 ranked running back in the Bayou State.
Now, LSU is loaded for the future at the position with both Berry and Lindsey on board.
After the news of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood backing off of his LSU commitment last week, it left the program in a “vulnerable” spot with programs pursuing LSU’s other pledges.
That included Lindsey who quickly received phone calls from other top schools.
Lindsey confirmed last week to LSU Tigers On SI that he will not be taking any visits elsewhere and will be signing with LSU on Dec. 4 during the Early Signing Period.
Now, it’s official. He’s put pen to paper with the LSU Tigers on Wednesday.
#LSU has officially signed the No. 1 + No. 2 running backs in Louisiana.
Harlem Berry: No. 1 The one-two punch of the future has put pen to paper and will make their way to Baton Rouge.
Frank Wilson locks down the Bayou State stars on Signing Day. pic.twitter.com/9iy6bb0hc6 — Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 4, 2024
JT Lindsey: No. 2
It’s a massive get for the program with Lindsey barely scratching the surface. A player many believe plays above his ranking, he’s dominated the prep scene in Louisiana.
Lindsey has accumulated 1,950 yards this season with 27 total touchdowns. Now, he’s cruising through the Louisiana playoffs with a state championship on his mind.
Lindsey joins Harlem Berry as the pair of coveted running backs to sign with the Tigers on Wednesday.
The paperwork is in. LSU has officially signed the No. 1 running back in America with Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal five-star putting pen to paper on Wednesday morning.
Berry, the No. 1 player in Louisiana, will make his way to Baton Rouge as the highest ranked running back since Leonard Fournette 10 years ago.
It’s a monumental day for Brian Kelly and Co. with the program winning out for the Bayou State star.
The paperwork is in. #LSU has officially signed the No. 1 RB in America: Harlem Berry.
The Louisiana native has put pen to paper with the Tigers during the Early Signing Period.
Frank Wilson gets his guy with Berry set to make his way to Baton Rouge.
A monumental signing. pic.twitter.com/Lq2vo57w6L — Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 4, 2024
The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder took Louisiana by storm during his prep career and will now look to carry the momentum over to Baton Rouge.
“We’re real excited,” Berry’s father told On3 Sports. “We can’t wait to make this thing official. The LSU staff has made this whole experience unforgettable for our family. Harlem is ready to show up and show out.”
Berry verbally committed to position coach Frank Wilson and Co. on Jan. 3 with the Louisiana native remaining locked in with the Tigers ever since.
He’s stayed loyal to his pledge, visited Baton Rouge routinely and how now made things official after putting pen to paper.
On3 Sports’ Take: “Harlem Berry is the most electric running back in the 2025 cycle, with the ability to be a game-changer in the passing game. He possesses elite burst and effortless movement skills. He transfers his outstanding top end speed onto the field in a functional way and is a threat to take it to the house on any touch. For a young back, he displays outstanding vision, reads blocks and bursts through the line to the second level. The game moves slow for him at the prep level. He has the ability to run through contact and shows balance that belies his size. During the summer prior to his senior season, he showcased advanced pass catching skills and could legitimately line up at receiver. — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout
Paul Finebaum: LSU, Brian Kelly in a “Really Bad Spot” Moving Forward
LSU Dishes Out Offer to No. 1 Quarterback in America
Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a “Sleeper” Ahead of 2024 Season
Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana partnered with Atmos Energy on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for GivingTuesday.
People from Northeast Louisiana volunteered to pack food boxes at the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana to help those in need.
In honor of GivingTuesday, Atmos Energy matched donations up to $10,000.
The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana Director of Development Sarah Hoffman says in 2023, the food bank exceeded their donation goal and fed up to 80,000 people in Northeast Louisiana. She says this year they hope to meet the same goal.
Hoffman said, “In Northeast Louisiana one in five people face food insecurity and actually one in three children live in a house that’s food insecure. So we want to make sure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious food and we need the community’s support to do that.”
For more information on how you can help the food bank, visit their website.
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