Jungle Gardens on Avery Island in southern Louisiana is a 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary developed by Edward Avery McIlhenny within the island’s subtropical landscape. Its most notable legacy is Bird City, where McIlhenny released eight captive-raised snowy egrets in 1895; their return with other birds helped establish a generations-long seasonal rookery that now draws thousands from early spring to late summer. The gardens blend formal plantings with Gulf Coast scenery, including live oaks, azaleas, camellias, irises, palms, and abundant wildlife. An especially distinctive feature is a glass-enclosed Buddha temple in a Chinese-style garden, housing a Chinese Buddha dating to about 1100 AD.