Between Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, in the town of St. Martinville, is a swamp paradise for birds and wildlife. Formed from two large land donations from Texaco, Cypress Island Preserve is one of The Nature Conservancy’s largest properties at 9,500 acres. It is also TNC’s most-visited property in Louisiana due in-part to its access to Lake Martin.
Lake Martin is a naturally occurring open body of water within a cypress-tupelo swamp. Formed from a five-mile levee erected to keep the lake from draining each spring, the lake is a notable recreation spot, and not just for fishing or water sports. Lake Martin is home to a nationally significant waterbird rookery, once undoubtedly the largest in North America.
Each spring, a variety of white ibis, anhinga, cormorants, heron, egrets and roseate spoonbills migrate to the preserve to roost. Watchers have recorded 234 different species of birds on Cypress Island Preserve. A cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forest habitat, visitors may also encounter a variety of songbirds, or a little something bigger. Keep your eyes peeled for amphibians and reptiles like the American alligator.
Interested in seeing some of the wildlife Cypress Island Preserve helps to protect? Take a stroll through the preserve’s 2.5 mile walking trail during the fall through the spring. It’s even suitable for kids! Or take a drive down Rookery Road, which is open year-round. Cypress Island Preserve is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends year-round and Wednesday through Sunday during the busy spring season. Call the visitor center at (337) 342-2475 before visiting.