Over 50,000 egrets, ibises and herons nest in the Floodway. The largest nesting concentration of bald eagles in the south central United States is found in the Atchafalaya Basin. The American alligator along with 65 other species of reptiles and amphibians can also be found. Over 90 species of fish, crawfish, crabs and shrimp support an extremely active seafood industry. With each new season, the Atchafalaya Swamp changes its face.
Winter blows in isolation and despair as the frigid morning fog rolls across the basin swamp.
Spring signals a rebirth as lush greens and vibrant purples reach forward to embrace its new season. Sunrise in the basin awakens its creatures as snakes slither, and alligators and turtles bask in the sunlight. As the sun descends on another day, an eerie silence hangs on until the haunting cry of the egret penetrates the morning.