Date: 4/29/25 7:54 am From: Taylor Long <00000455b6b08e87-dmarc-request...> Subject: NWAAS field trips in May
Greetings Birders,
What a fabulous time we had at the AAS convention in Fayetteville last weekend! The timing of this year's convention couldn't have been better, and our final tally 166 species proves it. <https://ebird.org/tripreport/355984>
HUGE thanks to all the knowledgable birders who led field trips: Jeremy Cohen, Lauren Eno, Tyler Ficker, Mollie Ficker, Joe Neal, Samantha Heller, Josh Matlock, Matt Matlock, Jen Mortensen, Kelly Mulhollan, Mitchell Pruitt, Joan Reynolds, Adam Schaffer, Ragan Sutterfield, Kenny Younger, and J.D. Willson. It's pretty remarkable we have so many birders in our region who are willing and able to lead trips. And we're always looking for more!
Right on the heels of the AAS convention, we'll be offering two more NWAAS field trips in May:
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 - Birders Weekend at Devil's Den
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society and Devil's Den State Park will host a field trip on Saturday, May 3, 2024, starting at 9:00 AM. This walk is part of Devil's Den's Annual Birder Weekend that takes place May 3-4, and will be led by NWA bird expert Joe Neal. This is peak migration, so we'll be on the lookout for all the dazzling warblers, tanagers, vireos, and other migrant birds that can be seen at this time of year. Expect to walk ~1 mile on paved surfaces. 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 generally lasts a couple of hours. More details... <https://nwaas.notion.site/Birders-Weekend-at-Devil-s- Den-17411f0e048b805580a1d081586a1795?pvs=4> Saturday, May 17th, 2025 - Cerulean Warblers at Rob & Melanie Walton Preserve
At 410 acres, the Rob and Melani Walton Nature Preserve is part of a large area of undeveloped, protected woodlands along the north side of Beaver Lake. University of Arkansas Ornithology professor Jen Mortensen will lead an expedition through this preserve on Saturday, May 17th beginning at 8:00 AM. Cerulean Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler have been reliable breeders along the north-facing slopes of this preserve, as well as other typical Ozark upland breeders like Yellow-throated Vireo and Scarlet Tanager. This trip will involve 2-3 hours of hiking up to 3 miles on uneven and moderately steep terrain. Good hiking shoes, water, snacks, and insect repellent are a must. There are no restrooms at the trailhead; we recommend stopping at the nearby Short Stop General Store in Garfield for restrooms and provisions before and after the hike. The exact location of the preserve parking lot is GPS 36.442745, -93.950241. More details... <https://nwaas.notion.site/Cerulean-Warblers-at-the- Walton-Preserve-75dd1654920f4a79b8ba689c27fb2ad8?pvs=4>Neither trip is space-limited, but please RSVP to <trips...> <mailto:<trips...> just so we know how many to expect and can easily communicate last-minute changes.
Happy PEAK Spring migration! -Taylor Long NWAAS Field Trip Coordinator
