HLS 14RS-1889 ENGROSSED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 42
BY REPRESENTATIVE GUINN
LEGISLATIVE POWERS: Designates the community of Thornwell, Louisiana, as the
Yellow Rail Capital of the World
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To designate the community of Thornwell in Jefferson Davis Parish as the Yellow Rail2
Capital of the World and to recognize the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival held in3
Thornwell, Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival will celebrate its sixth year in 2014,5
and it is a wonderful agritourism event that draws visitors to the state of Louisiana from6
various other states and countries; and7
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival is the first United States birding8
festival with agritourism at its foundation; and9
WHEREAS, the intent of the festival is to bring birdwatchers and other interested10
participants and rice farmers together during Louisiana's late rice harvest in a more11
organized format that will make Yellow Rail searching a more reliable endeavor, to give12
individuals the opportunity to witness rice harvesting operations and to further appreciate13
the cultural traditions of southwest Louisiana agriculture-based communities, to promote14
mutually beneficial agritourism that will provide recreational enjoyment and generate15
economic opportunities in southwestern Louisiana's rice growing region and adjacent areas,16
to further educate the public of the critical importance of rice cultivation and other "working17
wetlands" to bird populations, to encourage cooperation between agricultural and bird18
conservation interests in a joint effort to preserve bird friendly agricultural systems, and to19
view many great birds and meet new people; and20 HLS 14RS-1889 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 42
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rail is an elusive denizen that resides in rice fields and only1
becomes visible when flushed by rice harvesters; and2
WHEREAS, Thornwell, Louisiana, is an excellent birdwatching destination where3
some of Louisiana's most impressive bird aggregations can be found throughout different4
times of the year; and5
WHEREAS, Thornwell, Louisiana, represents the epicenter of Yellow Rail6
distribution in the southwestern rice fields; it is truly the Yellow Rail Capital of the World7
in terms of high numbers of Yellow Rail birds and in presenting a reliable opportunity for8
residents of the state of Louisiana and visitors alike to see these elusive Yellow Rail birds;9
and10
WHEREAS, the coordinators of the festival and the nonprofit Avian Events Support11
Team desire that participants enjoy the event and learn more about birds, working wetlands,12
and the importance of rice grown in the United States.13
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby14
designate the community of Thornwell in Jefferson Davis Parish as the Yellow Rail Capital15
of the World and hereby recognizes the sixth annual Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in the16
community of Thornwell.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted18
to the community of Thornwell, Louisiana, and the coordinators of the Yellow Rails and19
Rice Festival.20
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Guinn HCR No. 42
Designates the community of Thornwell, La., as the Yellow Rail Capital of the World and
recognizes the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in Thornwell, La.