Island Reborn: Birds Flock Back to Restored Nesting Haven

Queen Bess Island, a critical nesting site in Louisiana's Barataria Basin, has undergone a remarkable transformation following extensive environmental damage. Erosion, subsidence, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill had degraded its nesting grounds to fewer than five usable acres. Significant restoration efforts, costing $18.7 million and funded through the Deepwater Horizon settlement, dramatically reshaped the island.

Between November 2019 and February 2020, construction expanded Queen Bess Island's available nesting habitat to 37 acres. This ambitious project, a collaboration between state agencies and supported by federal oversight, aimed to restore its historical importance as a major brown pelican rookery. The island was crucial for the recovery of the brown pelican in Louisiana, which had disappeared due to DDT contamination.

The success of the restoration is evident in the return of wildlife. During the first nesting season after the project's completion, biologists documented 18 species nesting on the island. These included various herons, egrets, and reddish egrets, alongside the iconic brown pelicans. As of 2023, the island hosts approximately 30,000 birds, with about 6,000 brown pelican nests, underscoring its sustained importance as a vital habitat.