Lake Pontchartrain

Ecosystem Overview

The Lake Pontchartrain ecosystem supports 68 documented wildlife species across 60 taxonomic genera. Located in Louisiana, this area provides critical habitat for regional wildlife. The location hosts 14 frequently observed species and 13 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Louisiana nearby has 32% more documented species, Lake Pontchartrain offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #56 for species diversity among 257 Louisiana natural areas, placing it in the 78th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#56

Regional Rank

Out of 257 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common14 species

Common21 species

Occasional20 species

Rare13 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#56 of 257 locations

78th percentile for diversity

vs. Louisiana

-32% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 68 total documented species.

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing Gull

Very Common14 obs.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican (Southern)

Very Common14 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Very Common12 obs.

Actitis macularius

spotted sandpiper

Very Common9 obs.

Gavia immer

great northern loon

Very Common8 obs.

Thalasseus maximus

Royal Tern

Common7 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common6 obs.

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Common5 obs.

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Common5 obs.

Podiceps auritus

horned grebe

Common5 obs.

Pandion haliaetus

osprey

Common5 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Occasional4 obs.

Tachycineta bicolor

Tree/Violet-Green Swallow

Occasional4 obs.

Sterna forsteri

forster’s tern

Occasional4 obs.

Megaceryle alcyon

Belted Kingfisher

Occasional4 obs.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

Occasional3 obs.

Mergus serrator

Red-breasted Merganser

Occasional3 obs.

Aythya affinis

Lesser Scaup

Rare3 obs.

Larus glaucoides

iceland gull

Rare2 obs.

Egretta thula

Snowy Egret

Rare2 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Lake Pontchartrain. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Lake Pontchartrain. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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$6.99

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-23%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Louisiana

Nearby Natural Areas

Louisiana

Importance: 0.72

100 species

-32% vs. current

New Orleans

Importance: 0.63

100 species

-32% vs. current

Baton Rouge

Importance: 0.56

100 species

-32% vs. current

Shreveport

Importance: 0.55

100 species

-32% vs. current

Lafayette

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-32% vs. current

Lake Charles

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-32% vs. current

Alexandria

Importance: 0.47

9 species

+656% vs. current

Monroe

Importance: 0.46

93 species

-27% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Louisiana.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-23%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Louisiana

Nearby Natural Areas

Louisiana

Importance: 0.72

100 species

-32% vs. current

New Orleans

Importance: 0.63

100 species

-32% vs. current

Baton Rouge

Importance: 0.56

100 species

-32% vs. current

Shreveport

Importance: 0.55

100 species

-32% vs. current

Lafayette

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-32% vs. current

Lake Charles

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-32% vs. current

Alexandria

Importance: 0.47

9 species

+656% vs. current

Monroe

Importance: 0.46

93 species

-27% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#56

Regional Rank

Out of 257 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common14 species

Common21 species

Occasional20 species

Rare13 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#56 of 257 locations

78th percentile for diversity

vs. Louisiana

-32% species diversity

Snowy Egret

Rare2 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 68 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.