Enjoying the Bayou
by Kathy White
Title
Enjoying the Bayou
Artist
Kathy White
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Numerous waterfowl were out on this day playing in and enjoying the bayou areas around Shreveport, Louisiana. It was a beautiful fall day with a brisk, cool wind blowing. The leaves were already turning gorgeous shades of orange, yellow, and gold. We were out for an afternoon drive and shooting photos. I loved the reflection at this small bayou area. The fall foliage made for some beautiful scenery. The American coots were swimming around so peacefully, playing in the water. Various ducks were enjoying the water that day too. In the distance, you see a white egret also looking for food.
Being from Texas myself, everything to me is always a "river" or a "creek", but my husband is from Louisiana so his is "bayou" or "swamp". That still, after years, takes some getting used to. I looked up "bayou" just for this description. "A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river (often with a poorly defined shoreline), or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks whose water level changes due to tides and which hold brackish water which is highly conducive to fish life and plankton. Bayous are commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States, notably the Mississippi River region, with the state of Louisiana being famous for them. A bayou is frequently an anabranch or minor braid of a braided channel that is moving much more slowly than the mainstem, often becoming boggy and stagnant. Though vegetation varies by region, many bayous are home to crawfish, certain species of shrimp, other shellfish, catfish, frogs, toads, American alligators, American crocodiles, and a myriad of other species.
The word "bayou" was first used by the English in Louisiana and is thought to originate from the Choctaw word "bayuk", which means "small stream"." So, in essence, does that mean my husband and I are pretty much talking about the same thing? Ha. I know, not always. But it stills confuses me. :)
Uploaded
January 4th, 2013
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