🐦‍⬛ Bird brain

TGIF! It's World Tourism Day.

• DYK: The hospitality and leisure industry is the state's 4th biggest employer. Go deeper.

Today's weather: Sunny and less humid with a high in the mid-80s.

• Hurricane Helene won't reach the city, but be careful of strong winds if you're on the water.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios New Orleans member Charles Brewin!

🎧 Sounds like: "Little Jazz Bird" by Robin Barnes, the Songbird of New Orleans. She's at DBA tomorrow. More things to do this weekend.

Today's newsletter is 732 words — a 3-minute read.

Louisiana has a new bird-watching trail where you can see more than 470 species of feathered friends.

Why it matters: Migration intensity is currently high in metro New Orleans with more than 30,000 birds expected to be on the move nightly, according to BirdCast, a collaboration with the EPA and several research groups.

The big picture: Louisiana is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of the primary migration routes for North American birds.

• The most migration traffic is usually 2 to 4 hours after sunset. See tonight's migration forecast.

Zoom in: The state used federal pandemic money to create the birding trail and launch a website, BirdingLouisiana.com.

• The strategy is to help rural and underserved communities in Louisiana, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said in a press release.

How it works: A team of birding experts assessed public nominations and chose 256 spots across the state to include.

State of play: Here are five spots on the trail within driving distance of New Orleans.

• Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish: More than 170 species live here, including wild turkeys, ruby-throated hummingbirds and anhingas.
• Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve in Abita Springs: More than 100 bird species live here, including the elusive Bachman's sparrow and Henslow's sparrow.
• Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco: More than 260 species have been observed here, including bald eagles, Baltimore orioles and barn owls.
• Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe: More than 20 species of geese, ducks and scoter (seaducks) live here, along with shorebirds and wading birds.
• Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge: About 180 species live here, including red-tailed hawks, barred owls and the tufted titmouse. It's popular with warbler species during migration.

Full story for how you can help migrating birds

Hoda Kotb is leaving NBC's "Today" show next year, the longtime host announced yesterday.

Why it matters: Kotb is a former WWL-TV anchor and frequently talks on air about her love for New Orleans and the Saints.

The big picture: Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager have co-anchored for five years. Kotb told viewers she turned 60 this year and it was a "monumental moment."

• She's spent 26 years at NBC and her two young daughters deserve more of her time, she said while holding back tears.
• "This is the right time for me to move on," she said, adding that she's at "the top of the wave" and "it can't get better."
• Watch the full announcement.

The timing: She said she'll leave the show after January but "stay in the NBC family."

• She didn't give a specific date or say what her new role will be, but she said it is time to try something new.

Go deeper for Kotb's life advice about parenting

🚕 Uber and Lyft won't pick up or drop off on Frenchmen Street on certain nights. They will have designated zones on Elysian Fields Avenue as part of a pilot program with the city to reduce traffic on the street. (Press release)

🌀 Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida overnight and is heading for Atlanta. The Cat 4 monster could rewrite storm history in the South. (Axios)

• See live updates from our colleagues in Tampa Bay.
• We're also watching another disturbance in the Caribbean.

💒 Lana Del Ray and a Louisiana swamp tour guide filed for a marriage license in Lafourche Parish. But, they're not dating, the singer says. (TMZ)

🧛🏻 Ian Somerhalder is in town for Vampire Fan Weekend at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. "The Vampire Diaries" star grew up in Covington. (WGNO)

✈️ Southwest will start doing assigned seats in 2026, delaying the change a year later than expected. Southwest is MSY's most popular airline by passenger count. (CNN)

Instagram is launching Teen Accounts in September, with built-in protections limiting who can contact teens and the content they can see. Plus, only parents can approve safety setting changes for teens under 16.

The impact: More protections for teens, and peace of mind for parents.

Learn more.

Happy Falcons Hate Week to all who celebrate.

The big picture: The Saints play the Dirty Birds in Atlanta on Sunday. Kickoff is at noon on Fox.

In all seriousness, we hope our friends in Atlanta do OK through Hurricane Helene — and there's power for the game.

Other matchups:

• South Alabama Jaguars at LSU tomorrow at 6:45pm.
• South Florida Bulls at Tulane tomorrow at 11am.

Pollen counts are up again this week in New Orleans. Our top allergens right now are ragweed and grasses, per Pollen.com.

Pro tips: Newer antihistamines like Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec offer relief without the drowsiness associated with older antihistamines like Benadryl.

• They can be combined with nasal steroid sprays like Flonase.

Starting in September, Instagram Teen Accounts have automatic protections for who can contact teens and the content they can see. Plus, only parents can approve safety setting changes for teens under 16.

What this means: Built-in protections for teens, and peace of mind for parents.

Learn more.

🙏 Carlie is grateful her husband is finally on the mend after a bad case of pneumonia.

🍺 Chelsea is thinking about how to bring back a suitcase full of Spotted Cow.

Tell someone with allergies to subscribe.

Thanks to our editor Jen Ashley, who is thinking about her friends and colleagues in Helene's path.