gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:55625 eng UTF8 dataset GIS Files Office of Response and Restoration resourceProvider ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:18 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) geometryOnly complex 3259 point 173 EPSG::4269 Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River 2014 ESI BIRD Polygons, Points 2013-12 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 55625 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/55625 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/resources/esi-guidelines WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESI Guidelines Guidelines for developing ESI data content and overview of ESI data structure. Useful for data collectors and users requiring more in depth information on the ESI process. download https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESI Overview Overview of ESI data content and uses. download mapDigital Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, Seattle, Washington. This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, pelagic seabirds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns in coastal Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi River. Vector polygons represent locations of wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, pelagic birds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns that may be particularly vulnerable because of nesting, migratory staging, and wintering activities. Vector points represent locations of nesting and roosting sites for shorebirds, wading birds, diving birds, seabirds, gulls, and terns. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Louisiana. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. The ESI data are intended to provide baseline environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources. The ESI data may be appropriate for many other coastal management efforts, though the original intent should be kept in mind. This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), Emergency Response Division (ERD), Seattle, Washington, and The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard Office of Incident Management and Preparedness, Washington, D.C. completed ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov pointOfContact ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov custodian asNeeded Data content is considered static once published. However, if issues with the Geodatabase linkages or table contents are identified, the Geodatabase and/or the associated Map Document may be updated. Assure most current data is being used by downloading from https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download and/or comparing modification dates provided at this site. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/ESI-Browse-Graphic.pdf Depicts the relationships between the spatial data layers and the attribute data tables for the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI data. PDF EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > BIRDS EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS > OIL SPILLS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > LOUISIANA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 20.8 Coastal Resources Coastal Zone Management ESI Environmental Monitoring Environmental Sensitivity Index Oil spill planning Sensitivity Maps theme Gulf of Mexico Mississippi River place DOC/NOAA/NOS/ORR > Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River, 2014 project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Office of Response and Restoration, [Date of Access]: Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River 2014 ESI BIRD Polygons, Points [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/55625. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Management boundaries are not to be considered legal boundaries. Edges may have been altered for cartographic processes. Besides the above warnings, there are no use constraints on these data. Note that the ESI database should not be used to the exclusion of other pertinent data or information held by state or federal agencies or other organizations. Likewise, information contained in the database cannot be used in place of consultations with environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource agencies, or in place of field surveys. Recognize that the information contained in the ESI database represents known concentration areas or occurrences of natural, cultural, and human-use resources, but does not necessarily represent the full distribution or range of each species or resource. This is particularly important to recognize when considering potential impacts to protected resources, such as endangered species, wetlands, etc. Acknowledgment of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed would be appreciated in products derived from these data. otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: Although these data have been processed and used successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format. If problems are encountered in downloading the ESI data or with file corruption, contact NOAA (see Distributor). These data represent a snapshot in time and temporal changes may have occurred. The data are not intended to include all biological or human-use resources present in an area; they focus on species and resources particularly sensitive to oiling. In the event of a spill, they should be used for a first assessment only. The data providers are the experts with regard to individual resources. They should be contacted to confirm if more current data exist or if in-depth information is needed about a particular resource. unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 55625 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nos/orr/dmp/pdf/55625.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference vector textTable eng; US biota environment The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(R) (version 10.2) and SQL SERVER(R) (version 2005). The hardware configuration is PC's with Windows Operating System 7. -94 -88.0002 25.6169 31.1273 This geographic extent includes the entire coastal Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI study area. The spatial extent of individual layers or feature classes may vary. The coastal Louisiana data were compiled 2012-2013, The Lower Mississippi River data were compiled in 2014. The atlas was published in 2014. | Currentness: Publication Date 2012 2014 false eng false BIRDS 2019-04-04 publication BIRDPT 2019-04-04 publication BIOFILE 2019-04-04 publication BREED_DT 2019-04-04 publication SOURCES 2019-04-04 publication ESRI File Geodatabase Zip Office of Response and Restoration 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910 https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ORR Home Page Website listed for Office of Response and Restoration information distributor https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Louisiana_ESI_2014_GDB This feature class is part of the downloadable Esri Arc Geodatabase. download dataset Accuracy A multi-stage error checking process is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. The process includes a standardized data entry methodology, hardcopy data review by in-house and external resource experts, a final Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process, and multiple automated logical consistency checks. Quantitative data (such as densities, counts, abundances, or concentrations) provided by resource experts for inclusion in the data set may vary widely in attribute accuracy, depending upon the methodology used to collect and compile such data. For a more detailed evaluation of source data attribute accuracy, contact the sources listed in the Lineage section. Horizontal Positional Accuracy Spatial components for the biological data layers can come from expert interviews, hardcopy, or digital sources. Some of the spatial components of the biological data layers may have been developed using regional experts who estimate concentration areas. It is difficult to estimate the positional accuracy of such data, except to state that they are compiled on hardcopy base maps with a scale of 1:24,000. Some of the spatial components of the biological data sets are developed from pre-existing digital or hardcopy sources and reflect the positional accuracy of these original data. Note that biological resource data by their very nature are considered "fuzzy", and this should be understood when considering the positional accuracy of vector digital objects representing these resources. See the Lineage and Process_Description sections for more information on the original source data and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set. Completeness Report These data represent a synthesis of expert knowledge, published and unpublished reports, published literature, survey data, maps, and digital data on bird nesting, roosting, migratory staging, wintering, and general distribution. These data do not necessarily represent all bird occurrences in coastal Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi River. The following species are mapped as polygons (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 1, Common loon, Gavia immer; 8, Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; 14, Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons; 15, Snow goose, Chen caerulescens; 16, Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; 17, Northern pintail, Anas acuta; 18, Green-winged teal, Anas crecca; 20, Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata; 21, Canvasback, Aythya valisineria; 23, Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis; 26, Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola; 34, American coot, Fulica americana; 35, Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus; 38, Herring gull, Larus argentatus; 40, Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis; 42, Bonaparte's gull, Larus philadelphia; 45, Common tern, Sterna hirundo; 52, Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor; 53, Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus; 55, Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus; 56, Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia; 58, Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca; 59, Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes; 60, Red knot, Calidris canutus; 61, Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos; 62, Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla; 63, Dunlin, Calidris alpina; 64, Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus; 65, Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus; 66, Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri; 67, Sanderling, Calidris alba; 69, Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus; 70, Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus; 71, Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola; 73, Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres; 76, Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus; 82, Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus; 86, Least tern, Sternula antillarum; 87, Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea; 88, Great egret, Ardea alba; 96, Leach's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa; 98, Laughing gull, Larus atricilla; 115, White ibis, Eudocimus albus; 118, Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis; 119, Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens; 121, Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga; 124, Redhead, Aythya americana; 126, Brown noddy, Anous stolidus; 127, Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus; 128, Masked booby, Sula dactylatra; 133, Black skimmer, Rynchops niger; 134, Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica; 135, Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis; 136, Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia; 137, Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus; 138, Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri; 139, Snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus; 141, American avocet, Recurvirostra americana; 142, Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus; 149, White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi; 152, American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus; 153, Piping plover, Charadrius melodus; 154, Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia; 155, Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus; 156, Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla; 160, Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicaria; 162, Gadwall, Anas strepera; 163, Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens; 164, American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica; 167, Northern gannet, Morus bassanus; 169, American wigeon, Anas americana; 173, American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos; 180, Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris; 181, Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus; 189, Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis; 190, Blue-winged teal, Anas discors; 193, Black tern, Chlidonias niger; 198, Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus; 199, Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus; 209, Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus; 210, Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa; 211, Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula; 213, Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus; 214, Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria; 223, Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda; 237, Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii; 238, White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis; 241, Franklin's gull, Larus pipixcan; 253, Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus; 261, Brown booby, Sula leucogaster; 283, Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus; 284, Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis; 286, Dowitchers, Limnodromus spp.; 287, Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri; 299, Scaup, Aythya spp.; 301, Mergansers, n/a; 339, Band-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro; 342, Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus; 343, Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus; 393, Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus; 445, Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus; 529, Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea; 596, Purple martin, Progne subis; 603, Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata; 849, Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata; 865, Great shearwater, Puffinus gravis; 1001, Gulls, n/a; 1003, Waterfowl, n/a; 1004, Wading birds, n/a; 1005, Raptors, n/a; 1006, Diving birds, n/a; 1008, Terns, n/a; 1013, Dabbling ducks, n/a; 1014, Diving ducks, n/a; 1019, Sea ducks, n/a; 1035, Pelicans, Pelecanus spp.; 1037, Cormorants, Phalacrocorax spp. The following species were mapped as points (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 8, Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; 38, Herring gull, Larus argentatus; 54, Great blue heron, Ardea herodias; 86, Least tern, Sternula antillarum; 87, Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea; 88, Great egret, Ardea alba; 89, Snowy egret, Egretta thula; 90, Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax; 93, Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis; 94, Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor; 98, Laughing gull, Larus atricilla; 115, White ibis, Eudocimus albus; 116, Roseate spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja; 118, Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis; 120, Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea; 121, Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga; 133, Black skimmer, Rynchops niger; 134, Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica; 135, Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis; 136, Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia; 137, Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus; 138, Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri; 139, Snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus; 149, White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi; 152, American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus; 154, Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia; 325, Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus; 617, White-faced or Glossy ibis, Plegadis spp. Conceptual Consistency A multi-stage error checking process, described in the above Attribute Accuracy Report, is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. This process includes multiple automated logical consistency checks that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies, and SQL SERVER(R) to ArcGIS(R) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, before the final Geodatabase and metadata are created. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to several consistency checks, and processed into the final delivery format. Process Steps 1 - 7 apply primarily to the birds mapped as polygons along coastal Louisiana. Process Step 8 applies to birds mapped as polygons in the lower Mississippi River. Process Step 9 applies to birds mapped as points in coastal Louisiana. Process Step 10 applies to birds mapped as points in the lower Mississippi River. Process steps 1-7 apply primarily to the birds mapped as polygons along coastal Louisiana. The mapping extent was dependent upon information availability and location of mapped coastal habitats and shorelines. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted at workshops and via phone and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), LDWF-Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP), Louisiana Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and University of Louisiana - Lafayette (ULL); 2) numerous published and unpublished reports, published literature, and books; 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by: BTNEP, LDWF, LDWF-LNHP, Louisiana Audubon, eBird, USFWS, NMFS. Survey data on locations of breeding, wintering, and resident birds were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, or reports for the following species and species groups: snowy plover, Wilson's plover, piping plover, least tern, waterfowl, seabirds, bald eagle, redhead, scaup, colonial nesting waterbirds, white pelican, and beach-nesting birds. Polygon data were mostly displayed as received from the data providers. Survey data in point format that were located along the coast were often diplayed as buffers 50 m on and off the shoreline for cartographic purposes. Processing methods for data sets that required additional processing are described in this Atlas' Introduction. Data sets were supplemented with information provided in hardcopy documents and by local resource experts. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns: Survey data on locations of breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, and expert local knowledge for the following species and species groups: snowy, Wilson's, and piping plovers; least tern; American oystercatcher; American white pelican; and migratory shorebirds. For areas where dense point data fell along the coast, or where polygonal coastal bird data was inconsistent with the boundaries of the current ESI shoreline, 50 meter on/off shoreline buffers or larger drawn-on polygons were created to simplify the digital and cartographic products. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Nesting seabird and waterbird colonies: Two distinct data sets were used to map colonial nesting seabirds and waterbirds. BTNEP provided two products: 1) a published document (Fontenot et al. 2012. A catalog of Louisiana's nesting seabird colonies. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Thibodaux, LA. Report Number 34, hereafter referred to as 'the seabird compendium'); and 2) an accompanying spreadsheet of seabird/wading bird nest site locations from the 2006 nesting survey ONLY (the compendium presents additional years of data). The GPS locations from the seabird compendium were mapped as point locations throughout the atlas. The accompanying tabular data includes species present at each colony and a single count (pairs) per species. The majority of count data for the colonial nesting points were from the 2006 survey data, as provided via the compendium and spreadsheet (same data). There are a few records from 2008 that replaced 2006 counts ONLY when the 2008 counts were higher than the 2006 counts AND were published in seabird compendium. LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony data set based on 2011 count data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any 2011 nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (anhinga, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. In many instances, the BTNEP 2006 point data overlaps the LNHP 2011 polygon data. The display of these two data sets does not imply that either or both sets of polygons or points (especially if counts are aggregated across the two data sets) reflect current nest locations or counts, but rather are to be used as a guide to what species could be present and what counts have been observed at colonies over two recent years. Resource experts should be contacted in the event of a spill. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Wetland-associated waterfowl: Waterfowl data was provided by LDWF with analytical assistance from the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. LDWF conducts aerial waterfowl surveys of coastal Louisiana using 27 systematically placed N-S transect lines in September, November, December, and January. This survey has been conducted since 1969, and ducks are counted by habitat type (agricultural/swamp, fresh marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh, and saline marsh) along transects, then extrapolated to estimates in SW and SE Louisiana for reporting purposes. The Gulf Coast Joint Venture overlaid the transect data with the following data set: Sasser et al. 2008, Vegetation Types in Coastal Louisiana in 2007: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1224, 1 sheet, scale 1:550,000, and calculated duck density estimates by habitat type (e.g., salt marsh, brackish marsh, intermediate marsh, and fresh marsh) for SE and SW LA. An additional waterfowl data set, also provided by LDWF, 'Coastal WMA Aerial Waterfowl Survey Data' was used to supplement the statewide data set in Wildlife Management Areas where more intensive surveys are conducted. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Redhead and scaup: Redhead were mapped along the Chandeleur Islands. Concentration estimates were based on data collected during 1981-2010 redhead midwinter gulf coast surveys. Scaup (greater and lesser) were mapped in nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters and in all of the major bay and lake systems throughout coastal LA. The spatial and tabular information for scaup displayed in the ESI was based on data collected for a 2004 LSU thesis. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Bald eagles: LNHP provided a generalized polygon that represents bald eagle nesting habitat in coastal LA. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Gulf of Mexico seabirds: Information on the distribution of nearshore and offshore pelagic birds, gulls, terns, diving birds, etc. in the Gulf of Mexico was acquired through discussions with resource experts and published literature. The LDWF-LNHP provided information for some of the federally and state listed species and species of conservation concern for display in the ESI atlas and accompanying digital data in 2013. The available LNHP data sets are to be used for oil spill response and spill response planning only. These data represent existing information known to the LNHP at the time of the request and should never be substituted for consultation with the LNHP. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor The following applies to the birds mapped as polygons in the lower Mississippi river. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted via teleconference, phone, and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), LDWF-Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP), Louisiana Audubon, University of Louisiana - Lafayette, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); 2) reports, published literature, and books and; 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by: BTNEP, LDWF, LDWF-LNHP, Louisiana Audubon, eBird, and USFWS. Interior least tern: LNHP provided a polygon representing the distribution of interior least tern during the nesting season. Nesting waterbird colonies: LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony dataset based on 2004-2011 nesting survey data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (cormorants, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. Wetland-associated waterfowl: Waterfowl density data in coastal marshes were provided by LDWF with analytical assistance from the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV). LDWF conducts aerial waterfowl surveys of coastal Louisiana using 27 systematically placed N-S transect lines in September, November, December, and January. Ducks are counted by habitat type (agricultural/swamp, fresh marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh) along transects. LDWF and GCJV derived waterfowl densities by habitat types as defined by the habitat map of coastal LA (Sasser et al. 2008) The maximum density of each species in each habitat in each region, observed from 1997-2010, was mapped in the ESI using the habitat boundaries from Sasser et al. (2008). Of the habitats mapped, only fresh marsh occurs in the Lower Mississippi River ESI area of interest. Bald Eagles: LNHP provided a generalized polygon that represents bald eagle nesting habitat for the area of interest. Habitat-based polygons: Information from eBird and expert opinion from Louisiana Audubon was used to delineate the following areas and derive corresponding species lists and concentrations: Bonnet Carre and Morganza spillways, riverine sandbars, and river bend wetlands. Polygons were also delineated for the Mississippi river and outlying wetlands representing the upper reaches of the Maurepas swamp, Barataria-Terrebonne basin, and Atchafalaya basin. Species lists were derived from eBird survey data and adjusted based on expert knowledge provided by Louisiana Audubon. The LDWF-LNHP provided information for some of the federally and state listed species and species of conservation concern for display in the ESI atlas and accompanying digital data in 2014. The available LNHP data sets are to be used for oil spill response and spill response planning only. These data represent existing information known to the LNHP at the time of the request and should never be substituted for consultation with the LNHP. ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor The following applies to birds mapped as points in the coastal Louisiana. The mapping extent was dependent upon information availability and location of mapped coastal habitats and shorelines. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted at workshops and via phone and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), Louisiana Audubon, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF); 2) published and unpublished reports and books; and 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by BTNEP and Louisiana Audubon. Survey data on locations of breeding and roosting birds were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, or reports for the following species and species groups: American oystercatcher, colonial nesting wading birds, seabirds, diving birds, gulls, and terns, snowy plover, and Wilson's plover. Point data were mostly displayed as received from the data providers. Processing methods for data sets that required additional processing are described in this Atlas' Introduction. Data sets were supplemented with information provided in hardcopy documents and by local resource experts. Breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns: Survey data on locations of breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, and expert local knowledge for the following species and species groups: snowy, Wilson's, and piping plovers; least tern; American oystercatcher; American white pelican, and migratory shorebirds. For areas where dense point data fell along the coast, or where polygonal coastal bird data was inconsistent with the boundaries of the current ESI shoreline, 50 meter on/off buffers or larger drawn on polygons were created to simplify the digital and cartographic products. Nesting seabird and waterbird colonies: Two distinct data sets were used to map colonial nesting seabirds and waterbirds. BTNEP provided two products: 1) a published document (Fontenot et al. 2012. A catalog of Louisiana's nesting seabird colonies. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Thibodaux, LA. Report Number 34, hereafter referred to as 'the seabird compendium'); and 2) an accompanying spreadsheet of seabird/wading bird nest site locations from the 2006 nesting survey ONLY (the compendium presents additional years of data). The GPS locations from the seabird compendium were mapped as point locations throughout the atlas. The accompanying tabular data includes species present at each colony and a single count (pairs) per species. The majority of count data for the colonial nesting points were from the 2006 survey data, as provided via the compendium and spreadsheet (same data). There are a few records from 2008 that replaced 2006 counts ONLY when the 2008 counts were higher than the 2006 counts AND were published in seabird compendium. LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony data set based on 2011 count data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any 2011 nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (anhinga, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. In many instances, the BTNEP 2006 point data overlaps the LNHP 2011 polygon data. The display of these two data sets does not imply that either or both sets of polygons or points (especially if counts are aggregated across the two data sets) reflect current nest locations or counts, but rather are to be used as a guide to what species could be present and what counts have been observed at colonies over two recent years. Resource experts should be contacted in the event of a spill. ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor The following step applies to the birds mapped as points in the lower Mississippi river. Two main sources of data were used to depict nest distribution and seasonality for this data layer. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided a point location of a historical nest site for Interior least tern. \x96In addition, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) provided 2006 nesting survey data with geographic locations of nesting waterbird colonies. The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the NESTS data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the NESTS data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BIRDS and BIRDPT data layers. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the BIRDS and BIRDPT data layers are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER PAIRS 2005-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA LEAST TERN CENSUS 2005-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005 Source Contribution: NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA SNOWY PLOVER PAIRS 2005-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY publisher 2005 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA WILSON'S PLOVER PAIRS 2005-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005 Source Contribution: NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2006 BTNEP SEABIRD AND WADING BIRD NESTING SURVEY 2006-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY originator 2006 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2011 LOUISIANA WATERBIRD NESTING COLONY POLYGONS 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2011 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online A CATALOG OF LOUISIANA'S NESTING SEABIRD COLONIES 2012-01-01 publication FONTENOT, W.R., S.W. CARDIFF, R.A. DEMAY, D.L. DITTMANN, S. HARTLEY, C.W. JESKE, N. LORENZ, T.C. MICHOT, R.D. PURRINGTON, M. SEYMOUR, AND W.G. VERMILLION 2012 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN LOCATIONS 2013-01-01 publication MICHOT, TOMMY (UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA - LAFAYETTE) 1997 1998 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL ATLAS AND CENSUS OF WADING BIRD AND SEABIRD NESTING COLONIES IN LOUISIANA, 1990 1990-01-01 publication MARTIN, R.P. AND G.D. LESTER 1990 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL AUDUBON COASTAL BIRD SURVEY 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON 2011 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL BALD EAGLE DISTRIBUTION IN LOUISIANA 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL BEACH-NESTING BIRD CENSUS AND REPORT FOR COASTAL MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, AND TEXAS 2005-01-01 publication AUDUBON COASTAL BIRD CONSERVATION PROGRAM 2005 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BIRDS IN THE MISSSISSIPPI RIVER ALLUVIAL VALLEY 2014-01-01 publication LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON AND MELANIE DRISCOLL originator 2014 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BIRDS OF LOUISIANA 2013-01-01 publication DEMAY, RICHARD 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BIRDS OF LOUISIANA 2013-01-01 publication JOHNSON, ERIK - LOUISIANA AUDUBON 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: WEBSITE | Type of Source Media: online BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 2013-01-01 publication U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) http://www.fws.gov/breton/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Source Citation URL Source Citation URL information 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: HARDCOPY TEXT | Type of Source Media: paper CETACEANS OF OCEANIC NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO: DISTRIBUTIONS, GROUP SIZES, AND INTERSPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS 2006-01-01 publication MAZE-FOLEY, K. AND K.D. MULLIN 2006 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL COASTAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA) AERIAL WATERFOWL SURVEY DATA 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - L. REYNOLDS (WATERFOWL SURVEY LEADER) 1990 2007 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL COLONIAL WATERBIRD NESTING AREAS IN LOUISIANA 2014-01-01 publication LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) publisher 2014 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN LOUISIANA IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA AUDUBON - MELANIE DRISCOLL 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN LOUISIANA 2013-01-01 publication MICHOT, TOMMY (UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA - LAFAYETTE) 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF GULF OF MEXICO SEABIRDS 2013-01-01 publication HANEY, J. CHRISTOPHER (DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE) 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: HARDCOPY TEXT | Type of Source Media: online DISTRIBUTION OF SEABIRDS IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO IN RELATION TO MESOSCALE FEATURES: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS 1997-01-01 publication RIBIC, C.A., R. DAVIS, N. HESS, AND D. PEAKE 1997 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online EBIRD: AN ONLINE DATABASE OF BIRD DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE WEB APPLICATION 2012-01-01 publication EBIRD http://www.ebird.org WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Source Citation URL Source Citation URL information 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online ESTIMATING THE POPULATION OF GREATER AND LESSER SCAUP DURING WINTER IN OFF-SHORE LOUISIANA (MASTERS THESIS) 2004-01-01 publication KINNEY, SEAN D. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07032004-112854/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Source Citation URL Source Citation URL information 2000 2002 Source Contribution: NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL INTERIOR LEAST TERN NESTING COLONY 2014-01-01 publication U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) publisher 2014 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION LEAST TERN COLONIES, 2010-2012 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON 2010 2012 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: EMAIL LOUISIANA NESTING BIRD SEASONALITIES 2013-01-01 publication LORENZ, N. (LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM) 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION LOUISIANA WATERFOWL 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - L. REYNOLDS (WATERFOWL SURVEY LEADER) 2013 Source Contribution: NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESOURCES - LEAST TERN AND PALLID STURGEON 2014-01-01 publication U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) - PAUL HARTFIELD originator 2014 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: tabular digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL MIDWINTER WATERFOWL SURVEY 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - LARRY REYNOLDS 1997 2007 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL PIPING PLOVER DISTRIBUTION BASED ON CRITICAL HABITAT AND LNHP OBSERVATIONS 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2013 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL REDHEAD MIDWINTER GULF COAST SURVEY, 1981-2010 2010-01-01 publication U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) - FRED ROETKER 2002 2010 Source Contribution: BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA 2008-01-01 publication BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2008 Source Contribution: NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL TEXAS COLONIAL WATERBIRD SURVEY 2012-01-01 publication TEXAS COLONIAL WATERBIRD SOCIETY (TCWS) AND UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) publisher 2002 2011