Original story published by The Advocate. 

Does it seem like a lot of species of birds pass through Louisiana during the annual migration cycle?

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology confirms those suspicions with a mesmerizing, newly released animated map.

Scientists at the lab documented migratory movements of bird populations spanning the entire year for 118 species throughout the Western Hemisphere, according to the lab’s website. A version of the map with identifying numbers for each species is here.

Louisiana’s bird enthusiasts already know the state is blessed with a bountiful and diverse bird population.

Each year, during annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, birders join forces to compile a running list of what birds can be seen in the area. In December, birders spotted more than 90 species by the early afternoon at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Gueydan on the first day of the three-week-long count, said Erik Johnson, director of bird conservation for Audubon Louisiana.