Editing Grand Isle, Louisiana (section)

== Arts and culture ==
[[File:BeachSceneGrandIsle1972.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Enjoying the Grand Isle beach, 1972]]
[[File:Grand Isle State Park.jpg|thumb|right|Boardwalk on the beach at Grand Isle State Park]]
[[File:Grand Isle Houses seen from porch.jpg|thumb|right|Houses in Grand Isle]]

Fishing is an important part of Grand Isle's culture, with more than 280 species of fish in the surrounding waters. In 1928, the annual [[Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo]], [[fishing]] tournament, was established on the island and is now one of the premier salt water fishing rodeos in the United States. The Cajun rodeo draws over 15,000 people annually.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The island also has well maintained beaches. [[Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana)|Grand Isle State Park]], on the east end of the island, is the only state-owned and operated [[beach]] on the Louisiana [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]]. The beach is a popular destination for people living in South Louisiana, and is also one of the only locations in Louisiana where people [[Surfing|surf]]. A local surf club also exists, established in 2017, and rents out surf boards and gives surf lessons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Info|url=https://www.pontcha.com/info|access-date=May 21, 2021|website=Pontcha Surf Club|language=en-US}}</ref>

The island is home to the [[Coast Guard Station Grand Isle]] located on the eastern end of the island.

===Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival===

The Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival, held annually in April, was first established in 1997 by several nature organizations dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Grand Isle's [[chenier]] habitat.<ref name="Bird Festival">{{cite web|title=The Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival|url=http://grandisle.btnep.org/GrandIsleHome.aspx|publisher=Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program|access-date=November 2, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009000706/http://grandisle.btnep.org/GrandIsleHome.aspx|archive-date=October 9, 2011}}</ref> The idea for the project of preserving and establishing the chenier habitat in order for tourists and bird watchers to see the migratory birds was first established by the Grand Isle Community Development Team.  The project was then picked up a year later by the Barataria-Terrebonne Nation Estuary Program to help in the development and preservation of the habitat as well as the advertisement of the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival.

Originally, the festival was held on a single day, but due to increased popularity and funding, the festival has grown into a three-day event.<ref name="Bird Festival" /> Sponsors of the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival believe that future efforts will be more successful if more people are educated about not only the identification of the birds that migrate through the island, but also the identification and importance of the plants the birds utilize.  Each day during the festival, multiple tours are given throughout the diverse habitats of Grand Isle where experienced guides instruct beginner birders on the different techniques used to find and identify birds as well as the ecological aspects of the island.  Other tours are offered that guide visitors through the chenier forests and teach them about the native plants found on the island, including the species that are not only edible to birds but to people as well.  Other features of the festival include bird banding and mist netting demonstrations, seminars on what to look for when choosing a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, as well as games and other activities.

Described as a barrier island, Grand Isle consists of mainly marsh habitat, beaches and chenier forests which attract numerous species of migratory birds.<ref name="Neyland">{{cite journal|last=Neyland|first=R|author2=Meyer H.|title=Species Diversity of Louisiana Chenier Woody Vegetation Remnants.|journal=Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society|volume=124|issue=3|pages=254–261|jstor=2996613|doi=10.2307/2996613|year=1997}}</ref> The presence of these hardwood forests allows for the seasonal arrival and departure of major flocks of birds that migrate across the Gulf of Mexico to South America during both the fall and spring migrations.<ref name="DeptInter">{{cite journal|last=Lincoln |first=FC |author2=SR Peterson |title=Migration of Birds |journal=U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |volume=16 |pages=119–124 |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/migratio/migratio.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411204406/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/migratio/migratio.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2006 }}</ref> The Migratory Bird Festival is held annually and coincides with the arrival of the spring migrants returning from their winter habitat in the south.

===Chenier habitat===

Chenier habitats are not limited to Grand Isle, but were historically found in [[wetlands]] throughout the southeastern coasts of Louisiana called the Chenier Plain.<ref name="Neyland" /> Today, the Chenier Plain consists of uplands, wetlands, and open water that extends from [[Vermilion Bay (Louisiana)|Vermilion Bay, Louisiana]] to [[East Bay (Texas)|East Bay, Texas]].  Of the original {{convert|500,000|acre}} that had existed, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 square acres{{Clarify|date=January 2012}} remain.<ref name="WildlifeDept">{{cite journal|last=Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries|title=Conservation Habitats and Species Assessments|journal=LACWCS|year=2005|url=http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/document/32867-coastal-live-oak-hackberry-forest/coastal_live_oak-hackberry_forest.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924191945/http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/document/32867-coastal-live-oak-hackberry-forest/coastal_live_oak-hackberry_forest.pdf|archive-date=September 24, 2011}}</ref> Chenier forests consist of hardwood trees, primarily oaks and hackberries, as well as a variety of other vegetation such as mulberry, honeylocust, water oak, green ash, and American elm, all which grow along slightly elevated ridges.  These ridges are the result of the build-up of sediment from periodic shifts of the Mississippi River's delta and can range in size from {{Convert|1-3|m|feet}} high and between {{Convert|30-450|m}} wide.<ref name="Neyland" /> Because of the slightly higher elevation, chenier forests not only allow for the growth of hardwood trees that support the variety of migratory birds that pass through Grand Isle, but also act as a barrier for salt water intrusion into a marsh during storm surges.<ref name="Cheniers">{{cite journal|last=Russell|first=RJ|author2=HV Howe|title=Cheniers of Southwestern Louisiana|journal=Geographical Review|year=1935|volume=25|issue=3|pages=449–461|jstor=209313|doi=10.2307/209313}}</ref> Typically, marshes that are north of a chenier are less saline than marshes that are closer to the gulf.

The cover of a chenier forest provides for migratory birds a place to rest before or after making the flight across the Gulf of Mexico and in some species of birds, the habitat is essential for breeding.<ref name="BreedingSeason">{{cite journal|last=Wilson|first=Scott|author2=Shannon LaDeau |author3=Anders Tottrup |author4=Peter Marra |title=Range-wide effects of breeding- and nonbreeding-season climate on the abundance of a Neotropical migrant songbird|journal=Ecology|year=2011|volume=92|issue=9|pages=1789–1798|url=http://ejournals.ebsco.com.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/Direct.asp?AccessToken=7TLDTTTB3OIFX0IONXNL0MVIIXLFB3L9N9&Show=Object&ErrorURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinksource.ebsco.com%2Ferror.aspx|doi=10.1890/10-1757.1|pmid=21939075}}</ref> However, some studies suggest that it is not just the cover that habitats like chenier forests provide that attract migratory birds, but it is the food availability that is the principal factor in migratory bird stopover. Stopover is a term used for when flocks of migratory birds pause in a certain area to rest and/or feed.<ref name="Stopover">{{cite journal|last=Buler|first=Jeffrey|author2=Frank R. Moore |author3=Stefan Woltmann |title=A Multi-Scale Examination of Stopover Habitat Use By Birds|journal=Ecology|year=2007|volume=88|issue=7|pages=1789–1802|jstor=27651296|doi=10.1890/06-1871.1|pmid=17645025|url=https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9674&context=fac_pubs}}</ref>  Studies have shown that significant stopover occurs more frequently as flocks of migratory birds near the coast.<ref name="VegStructutre">{{cite journal|last=Deppe|first=Jill L.|author2=John T. Rotenberry|title=Scale-Dependent Habitat Use by Fall Migratory Birds: Vegetation Structure, Floristics, and Geography|journal=Ecological Monographs|year=2008|volume=78|issue=3|pages=461–487|jstor=27646145|doi=10.1890/07-0163.1|doi-access=free}}</ref> There is a correlation between large densities of birds occurring in continuous hardwood forests, such as old-growth cheniers.  Studies done on forest cover indicate that as the amount of cover increased, arthropod abundance and the presence of fleshy, fruit bearing vegetation increased as well, and that migratory birds use forest cover as an indicator of greater habitat quality, thus a better food source per impending journey across the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="BreedingSeason" />

===Grand Isle Birding Trail===

The birding trails along Grand Isle consists of nearly sixty acres of marsh and chenier habitat and are divided up into six tracts that are managed by the Louisiana Nature Conservancy and the Grand Isle Community Development Team.<ref name="Sue">{{cite web|last=Galliano|first=Sue|title=President of the Grand Isle Development Team}}</ref> The trails mainly consist of tracts procured by the Grand Isle Nature Conservancy or donated by local landowners. However, because some of the boundaries of the tracts are partially fragmented, the chenier habitat can sometimes expand into private property.  But due to the increased popularity of the Migratory Bird Festival, private landowners will generally allow bird watchers and ornithologists permission onto their land.  Some residents will go as far as to post signs that say "Bird Friendly" as a way to invite bird watchers onto their property.<ref name="Sue" />
          
The Grilleta Tract was established by a donation of ten acres by the Xavier Grilleta of B&G Services in 1998.<ref name="Bird Festival" /> In 2001, an additional three acres were acquired that were adjacent to the original property. Although slightly smaller than the Port Commission Marsh, the Grilleta Tract is mostly chenier habitat and is considered the center of the Grand Isle Birding Trail. This stand of forest is one of only two undisturbed chenier forests that still exist on the island. In addition to live oaks, in which a few are over 125 years old, the area supports a variety of trees and shrubs, including red mulberry, black willow, and red bay.

The Grand Isle Port Commission Tract is roughly 22 acres and is located on the western part of the island at the corner of Ludwig Lane.<ref name="Bird Festival" /> Two hundred eighty feet of boardwalk allow access to the salt marsh tidal ponds that dominate the area. In this tract, birders can spot a variety of passerines, raptors, colonial birds roosting in the sparse chenier habitat, and wading birds.<ref name="Audubon">{{cite web|title=Grand Isle|url=http://www.jjaudubon.net/grandisleguide|publisher=Orleans Audubon Society|access-date=November 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426012051/http://www.jjaudubon.net/grandisleguide|archive-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref> The second largest stretch of forest is a combination of the Maples tract and the Landry-Leblanc tract. It is locally called the Sureway Woods, as it is near the Sureway Supermarket. Together, the Maples tract and the Landry-LeBlanc tract comprise twenty acres of chenier forest.

The remaining two tracts on the island consist of the Cemetery Woods, which is property of Louisiana State University, and the Govan Tract.<ref name="Bird Festival" /> The Cemetery Woods is roughly four and a half acres and, like the Grilleta Tract, it contains old growth trees that are over 125 years old. In addition to the hardwood forest, the property contains salt flats and marshland, which promote the habitation of ducks, moorhens, grebes, and other wading birds. The Govan Tract was donated to the Nature Conservancy in 2003 by the Govan family, who had owned it since the late 1800s. The tract only consists of half an acre, but within it, the mass availability of lives oaks, hackberries, dewberry, and poison oak attracts birds such as painted buntings, red-winged blackbirds, warblers, and other passerines that can be seen during the migratory season.

In addition to the Grand Isle Birding Trail, bird watchers can also see marine birds such as gulls, terns, pelicans, and other shorebirds from the Grand Isle State Park at the northeast end of the island.<ref name=BreedingSeason />