All NWAAS field trips are free and open to the public. Membership in NWAAS is not a requirement. We try to make our field trips accessible to everyone, all ages & all abilities. Additional details (meeting place, time, leaders, etc) & other updates about trips are sent via ARBIRD-L and a separate list of emails a few weeks before the announced date. We will be glad to add you to the email list (contact field trip chair Joe Neal: joeneal@uark.edu ).
Upcoming Lake Fayetteville field trip: Call Joe at 479-521-1858
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY
2012 FIELD TRIPS & BIRDING CALENDAR
All NWAAS field trips are free and open to the public. Membership in NWAAS is not a requirement. We try to make our field trips accessible to everyone, all ages & all abilities. Beginning birders are always very welcome. We try to have field trips on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate different schedules. We try to arrange carpools where possible.
For maps and more information about these places, check the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society web site http://www.nwarkaudubon.org/index.html and the section “Places to bird in northwest Arkansas.”
If you are interested in being added to the NWAAS field trip email list, please send a message to: joeneal@uark.edu. Some of the information on the trips below can change, so additional details & updates about trips are sent via email a few weeks before the announced date.
JANUARY
Saturday January 21, 2012. Rocky Branch on Beaver Lake. Meet at 9 AM at the Rocky Branch marina parking area. We will be looking for species typical of the lake in winter (possibilities include Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed Gull, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Common Loon). Depending on the weather, we can also bird the cedar glade and upland shortleaf pine areas for woodland birds (like Pine Warbler). A program at Hobbes State Park-Conservation Area visitor’s center at 2 PM will be presented by Joe Neal on winter birds. Both events are free and open to the public. More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1535379.pdf
FEBRUARY
Saturday February 4, 2012. Eagle Watch Nature Trail on SWEPCO Lake just west of Gentry. Meet in the parking lot at 9 AM. Co-leader for the trip is Terry Stanfill. There is a short walk on the trail through open field habitat to a viewing platform with good potential to see Bald Eagles, several species of ducks, and other water birds. More information at:
http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1514017.pdf
Saturday February 18, 2012. American Woodcock field trip to Wedington Wildlife Management Area (Ozark National Forest west of Fayetteville). Woodcock expert Dr. David Krementz is the leader. Meet at 5:30 PM at Wedington WMA. More information at:
http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/977213.pdf
Friday February 17-Sunday February 19, 2012. Great Backyard Bird Count. We have been invited to join this count at Devil’s Den State Park.
MARCH
Saturday March 24, 2012. Trip to mature shortleaf pine habitat in the Shores Lake-Fern area of Ozark National Forest. Leader is Bill Beall, veteran birder from Ft Smith (and now the NWAAS Treasurer). We will be seeking Brown-headed Nuthatches and other birds typical of pine forests. Meet at 9 AM at the Shores Lake picnic area entrance on the west side of the lake. You can show up earlier if you wish! http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1439038.pdf
APRIL
Sunday April 29, 2012. Ninestone Land Trust in Carroll County. Meet at Ninestone by 9 AM. More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1287399.pdf
MAY
Friday May 4-Sunday May 6, 2012. Birder’s Weekend at Devil’s Den State Park. The joint NWAAS and Devil’s Den SP field trip will be on Saturday May 5; meet at Lee Creek bridge parking area at 9 AM. More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/950081.pdf
Saturday and Sunday May XX, 2012. International Migratory Bird Day in Benton and Washington counties, with additional counts in at least Carroll County. Coordinated by Mike Mlodinow for Washington and Benton counties. Dates to be formally set, but probably May 11 and 12.
JUNE
Sunday June 3, 2012. Cave Mountain and the upper Buffalo River in Newton County. Meet at the Boxley Bridge at 8 AM. More information at: http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/950078.pdf
JULY
Saturday July 7, 2012. Chesney Prairie Natural Area near Siloam Springs. Meet at Chesney at 9 AM. We will be birding with Dr Dan Scheiman, staff ornithologist for Audubon Arkansas, an affiliate of the National Audubon Society. In the evening Dr Scheiman will present a program at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville starting at 7 PM. Information about Chesney at: http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/957092.pdf
AUGUST
Saturday August 11, 2012. Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area near Alma. The trip is around an hour from Fayetteville, so we will carpool as much as possible. For the carpool, meet in the parking lot at XX (place to be set) in Fayetteville by 7 AM. If you choose to drive independently, we will meet you at the Frog Arkansas River boat ramp around 8:15-8:30. We will bird Frog and visit adjacent Arkansas River valley habitats. More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1274831.pdf
SEPTEMBER
Sunday September 16, 2012. Lake Atalanta in Rogers. Meet at 9 AM in the parking area near the bathrooms. More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/950077.pdf
OCTOBER
Sunday October 7, 2012. Ninestone Land Trust in Carroll County. Meet at Ninestone by 9 AM.
More information at http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/1287399.pdf
NOVEMBER
Sunday November 18, 2012. Lake Fayetteville. Meet at 9 AM in parking lot on the north end of the dam (near ball fields and entrance to the boat dock). http://media.tripod.lycos.com/2020453/957091.pdf
DECEMBER
Sunday December XX, 2012. Annual Fayetteville Christmas Bird Count. Date to be set.