Upcoming Field Trips & Events
All field trips are free and open to the public. You do not have
to be a member of NWAAS to attend. For questions or to RSVP, email
trips@nwarkaudubon.org
Saturday, January 18th, 2025 - Bald Eagles at SWEPCO Lake
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a field trip to view Bald Eagles at SWEPCO Lake in Gentry on Saturday January 18th, 2025. Meet at 9:00 AM in the Eagle Watch Nature Trail parking lot (21721-21779 AR-12, Gentry, AR). There is a short walk on the trail through open field habitat to a pavilion designed to provide high quality views plus an older viewing platform. The total walking distance is 1 mile round-trip on generally level mulched surface. The outing should last about an hour and a half. There are no restrooms (the closest restroom is the Gentry McDonald's). We'll have good potential to see Bald Eagles, various species of hawks and sparrows, ducks and other water birds. The approximately 1,500 acres of EWNT are part of the 500-acre SWEPCO Lake constructed to provide cooling water for the coal-fired plant generating electricity for Northwest Arkansas. During winter, temperatures in the lake average in the low 70s. This warm water is presumably the reason for high numbers of Bald Eagles and other interesting bird records. While seeing eagles is likely, it's never guaranteed.
More details...
Saturday, February 15th - GBBC at Devil's Den
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society and Devil's Den State Park will host a birding field trip on Saturday, February 15, 2025, starting at 9:00 AM. This is an easy guided bird walk that is open to everyone. We'll focus on finding and identifying winter birds that call this valley home while also contributing our sightings to the Great Backyard Bird Count, a global effort to count birds on this weekend. Meet in the parking area at the lower Devil's Den Trailhead on the south side of Lee Creek bridge on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM (GPS: 35.781349, -94.249876). The walk will cover approximately one mile on paved surfaces over two hours. The trip is free and open to the public.
More details...
Saturday, February 15th (evening) - Woodcocks at Wedington
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host an evening field trip on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Lake Wedington, west of Fayetteville, to witness the “sky dance” of the American Woodcock. We'll meet promptly at 5:30 p.m. (the time window for their evening display is narrow). Carpooling is strongly encouraged as parking is very limited at the site. This field trip will be co-led by Taylor Long and woodcock expert Dr. David Krementz, UA-Fayetteville (retired), who will tell us a lot about woodcocks at the parking site. We will walk a short distance out into the fields and wait in place for the woodcock displays to begin near and shortly after sunset (~6:00 p.m.). The terrain is relatively flat but can be uneven. We recommend good shoes, warm clothes (not too bright), and a flashlight. The displays won't last too long; expect to be heading back to the car by 6:30 p.m.
Limited to 25 attendees. RSVP at trips@nwarkaudubon.org with the trip name, your name, and the number attending.
More details...
Saturday, March 15th - Brown-headed Nuthatches at Shores Lake
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a field trip to Shores Lake in the Ozark National Forest on Saturday, March 15, 2025, starting at 9:00 AM. This area features mature shortleaf pine habitat that's the best place in Northwest Arkansas to find our target species: Brown-headed Nuthatch. We'll enjoy all the fine birds this pine forest offers though, keeping a keen eye out for Red Crossbill which has been seen in this area in the past. Bill Beall, veteran birder from Ft. Smith will co-lead this trip. Meet at 9 AM at the Shores Lake picnic area entrance (GPS: 35.640199, -93.959962) on the west side of the lake. We'll bird around the lake and surrounding area for a couple hours. You are welcome to leave whenever you need.
Limited to 25 attendees. RSVP at trips@nwarkaudubon.org with the trip name, your name, and the number attending.
More details...
AAS Spring Convention - April 25th-27th
SAVE THE DATE for the Arkansas Audubon Society's Spring convention to be held in Fayetteville at Mt Sequoyah from April 25th-27th, 2025. More details coming soon...
Field trips for April, May, and June will be posted in March.
