ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 42
BY REPRESENTATIVE GUINN
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To designate the community of Thornwell in Jefferson Davis Parish as the Yellow Rail
Capital of the World and to recognize the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival held in
Thornwell, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival will celebrate its sixth year in 2014,
and it is a wonderful agritourism event that draws visitors to the state of Louisiana from
various other states and countries; and
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival is the first United States birding
festival with agritourism at its foundation; and
WHEREAS, the intent of the festival is to bring birdwatchers and other interested
participants and rice farmers together during Louisiana's late rice harvest in a more
organized format that will make Yellow Rail searching a more reliable endeavor, to give
individuals the opportunity to witness rice harvesting operations and to further appreciate
the cultural traditions of southwest Louisiana agriculture-based communities, to promote
mutually beneficial agritourism that will provide recreational enjoyment and generate
economic opportunities in southwestern Louisiana's rice growing region and adjacent areas,
to further educate the public of the critical importance of rice cultivation and other "working
wetlands" to bird populations, to encourage cooperation between agricultural and bird
conservation interests in a joint effort to preserve bird friendly agricultural systems, and to
view many great birds and meet new people; and
WHEREAS, the Yellow Rail is an elusive denizen that resides in rice fields and only
becomes visible when flushed by rice harvesters; and
WHEREAS, Thornwell, Louisiana, is an excellent birdwatching destination where
some of Louisiana's most impressive bird aggregations can be found throughout different
times of the year; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 42
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, Thornwell, Louisiana, represents the epicenter of Yellow Rail
distribution in the southwestern rice fields; it is truly the Yellow Rail Capital of the World
in terms of high numbers of Yellow Rail birds and in presenting a reliable opportunity for
residents of the state of Louisiana and visitors alike to see these elusive Yellow Rail birds;
and
WHEREAS, the coordinators of the festival and the nonprofit Avian Events Support
Team desire that participants enjoy the event and learn more about birds, working wetlands,
and the importance of rice grown in the United States.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
designate the community of Thornwell in Jefferson Davis Parish as the Yellow Rail Capital
of the World and hereby recognizes the sixth annual Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in the
community of Thornwell.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the community of Thornwell, Louisiana, and the coordinators of the Yellow Rails and
Rice Festival.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE