Paul J. Rainey Sanctuary

The Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary in southwest Louisiana is 26,000 acres of marsh, shallow ponds, waterways, natural ridges and levees, and bay and coastal shoreline. It was established in 1924 by a donation from the Rainey family and is Audubon’s oldest and largest sanctuary.  The sanctuary is home to more than 220 bird species, including King, Yellow and Black rails; terns, plovers, Osprey, Crested Caracara, wading birds, ducks and geese, and occasionally Whooping Cranes.  It is a critical wintering ground for waterfowl, raptors, kingfishers, shorebirds, and fuels numerous species on migration.

We use our sanctuary as a living laboratory to explore local problems and seek solutions. As a Louisiana landowner, we give ourselves permission to try techniques that have merit and share our findings with other landowners. Over the years, our conservation and science efforts have included shoreline breakwaters, shallow water terraces and bird islands, artificial oyster reefs, water management structures and techniques, marsh restoration by small dredge, biological studies, and prescribed marsh burns. 

A healthy, contiguous marsh system, such as Rainey’s, benefits the coastal communities, businesses, and infrastructure of Vermilion and Iberia parishes. The sanctuary provides storm-surge protection and decreases flood risks for low-lying communities and agriculture to the north that are unprotected by levees. The sanctuary is primarily comprised of intermediate marsh, a globally threatened habitat disappearing quickly due to sea-level rise and critical to specific populations of wildlife (such as Least Bitterns, Seaside Sparrows, and Marsh Wrens). This marsh provides nursery habitat for numerous commercially and recreationally important fishery species (such as crabs, shrimp, menhaden, and redfish). Restoration at Rainey supports and advances implementation of the 2023 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan.     

In our neighborhood, we are part of the Rainey Conservation Alliance (established in 2010), which includes five of our neighboring private landowners. We pool our resources to manage 185,000 acres of wetland collectively— regardless of boundaries—by combining best practices in restoration to create, restore, and improve wetland health across 11 percent of Louisiana's coastline. The alliance forms a united front when approaching problems and solutions, petitioning for state or federal funds, and working with community leaders.    

The future of Rainey depends on proper management for ecosystem health through a variety of current and planned practices and projects. Rainey plans to continue its legacy and influence in the communities of Vermilion and Iberia parishes and plans to continue developing creative strategies and implement long-lasting, resilient restoration projects that benefit the people in this region. Together, through partnerships, community relationships, and ecosystem management, we can ensure the longevity of this landscape in the face of multiple ongoing challenges for centuries to come.   

Learn more about the history, birds, and restoration of Rainey in this StoryMap.