The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

Reintroduction
Whooping
Crane
By Eva Szyszkoski
SWLA
A major milestone was reached this spring,
in the reintroduction of the whooping crane in
Louisiana, when the first hatching of a chick in the
state in more than 75 years occurred in Jefferson
Davis Parish.
The hatching, the first seen in Louisiana’s wild
since 1939, represents another step forward in the
program established in February of 2011 when
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
reintroduced whooping cranes back into the state
at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in
Vermilion Parish. Once abundant in Louisiana in
the 1800s, the species dwindled to two in 1945
and had disappeared by 1950 in the state.
“This is something we’ve been looking forward
to and anticipating since the reintroduction began
in 2011,’’ said LDWF biologist Sara Zimorski, who
leads the Louisiana whooping crane project. “It’s
an exciting time for us and all of our partners who
have worked so hard alongside us.”
“This couldn’t have been done without the assistance of
private landowners. The support and cooperation of the many
landowners and farmers on whose property the birds spend time
is critical to the success of the project.’’
The new parents paired earlier this winter and nested and
produced eggs for the first time in mid-March. The female is 4
years old and the male is just 3 years old. Two days after the first
egg hatched, their second egg also hatched and the family of four
began moving around the area a couple days later.
Anyone encountering a whooping crane is advised to
observe the bird from a distance and to report their sighting to
LDWF (http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/webform/whooping-cranereporting-form).
By Ana Lisa
I love flavor packed foods, especially
flavor infused olive oils and balsamic
vinegars. These flavors transport you to a
memory of home, or a desire for faraway
places, and they are trending throughout
SWLA in gatherings called "Tasting Socials."
Liz Fuselier, "Sassy Oil & Vinegar Guru" is
present to help you liven up your menus
and dishes at home or in the office.
I recently attended our regular
writer’s meeting and met Liz Fuselier,
Sole Proprietor of Sassy Oil & Vinegar
LLC, a mobile boutique that specializes
in olive oils and balsamic vinegars with
online shopping. She provided lunch for
us and I could not stop saying, “WOW!”
I was immediately hooked on all the
many flavors to choose from. I was very
impressed with the many ways to use them
in various menus. She explained to us how
her products are made to order, and the
flavors are rotated regularly so that they
are always fresh.
Who Knew? The first mobile boutique
specializing in Olive oils and Balsamic
Vinegars! Her motto: “Try it before you buy”.
Which brings me to their specialties.
Back to Tasting Socials! Now this is not
your regular Tupperware social. They are
interactive meals with discussions on ways
to use Olive oils & Balsamic vinegars in the
comfort of your home; card groups, supper
clubs, library clubs or your office or church
gatherings. I am not kidding about being
“creative and unique” in how to use these
oils and vinegars. How many of you would
consider using a balsamic vinegar as your
ice cream topping? DELICIOUS! Blackberry
and Ginger Balsamic Vinegar on Blue Bell
(home-made vanilla ice cream). This is now
my official favorite treat. Stop calling me
crazy and try it for yourself.
Plan for your Tasting Social for some
summertime fun. Liz supplies the bread for
dipping these oils and balsamic vinegars.
You provide the meal, consisting of a meat
(chicken, fish, pork, beef, etc.) and ice
cream for dessert. No one is pushy for sales.
Trust me! The product sells itself.
I booked a Tasting Social for our
church’s Fellowship Hall Committee.
We had marinated beef briskets: Bacon
Olive Oil, Portobello & Garlic Olive Oil
and Roasted Garlic Olive Oil, and all three
included the White Garlic Habanero
Balsamic. I dare you to try something
MAY 2016 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 3 • Number 10 Volume 3 • Number 10 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM MAY 2016