Location: Benton County,
near Siloam Springs, AR. How to get there: From Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, take highway 412 W to near Siloam Springs
city limits. At the intersection of 412 & 59, turn N onto 59. You pass the Siloam Springs airport. Approximately 1 mile
past the airport, note an intersection: the road W is “Chesney;” road E is “Bill Young.” Take Bill
Young Road E approximately 0.8 miles. At this point there is a gravel farm road going N. Go approximately 0.5 miles N on this
road to the dead end at chicken houses and the entrance sign to CPNA.
CPNA is part of a much larger former Tallgrass Prairie, the historic Lindsley Prairie once comprised
20-25 square miles in the Siloam Springs area. Its grassland flora included Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and
Switch Grass. Remnants remain; CPNA is the largest at 60 acres. All of these grasses, plus numerous other native grasses and
other plants, thrive at CPNA.
The 82 acres is roughly divided in half. There is an ephemeral
stream down through the middle (woodland birds). CPNA is unique because only part of it was ever plowed. Numerous prairie
mounds remain on the site. Pocket Gopher diggings are apparent. Prairie Mole Crickets vocalize here in the spring.
Because of CPNA’s relatively small size, birding is somewhat sparse in our avian breeding season.
However, most of the justifiably famous Tallgrass Prairie flora can be seen at CPNA. There is a fine display of Indian Paintbrush
in May, several Liatris species in mid-July. Ashy Sunflowers in mid-July are covered by hordes of American Goldfinches,
harvesting the seeds. Fall is the time to see the mature tall grasses.
Over the last few years, we have found that the most productive birding here involves migration and
winter. Be sure and check the farm road driving in – frequently you can find Savannah Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows along
this road in the proper seasons. There were two Loggerhead Shrike family groups along this road during late May 2004. We have
also occasionally seen Great-tailed Grackles, Brewer’s Blackbirds, and others in a feedlot.
You can walk the perimeter in about 4 hours, especially when there are fire lines or if the area has
been burned. If you do this, you can widen your search with views of the big fields around CPNA—good to see all manner
of hawks. Red-tailed Hawks are always present. In late summer, keep your ear cocked for Upland Sandpipers overhead. In winter
we find various red-tail subspecies, including Harlan’s, Krider’s, and the dark morph of the western red-tail
(calurus). There is also one Prairie Falcon record. Bald Eagles are common in winter.
You can cut across through the area as well to investigate the mounds or grassy-shrubby habitat. The
SW end is often marshy – we have one winter record for a Short-eared Owl there. We have more frequently found a roosting
Great Horned Owl in the woodland habitat. Dense vegetation is good in migration for both Marsh and Sedge Wrens. Sedge Wrens
may breed here in late summer. Dense grasses in the upland areas have frequently yielded Le Conte’s Sparrow in migration
and to a lesser extent, in winter. Loggerhead Shrikes are permanent residents in the area. If you don’t see them on
CPNA proper, they are bound to be along the road in or one of the farm roads close to CPNA. In migration and winter, White-crowned,
Swamp, and Song Sparrows are common, and Harris’s Sparrow is frequently in the same areas.
Joe Woolbright of Siloam Springs manages the property for Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Joe
has taken the lead in efforts to restore more of the native flora and to reduce non-native plants there. He and some local
volunteers burn part of the prairie every year. He is also a good botanist and birder. He can be reached at 479-427-4277 (cell)
or at joewoolbright@cox-internet.com.
