St. Charles, AR
Join the Blitz! March is Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz. Help us survey this declining population. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Prothro Junction commuter lot off I-40 East, at Exit 157 in North Little Rock, on the southeast side of the interstate. We will arrive at the White River Refuge Visitor Center around 9:00 a.m. for those who want to meet us there. At the Visitor Center, there is a mix of paved and unpaved trails, all fairly level. Bring boots, the Bottomland Hardwood Trail can be muddy. Also bring water, snacks, and lunch. This will be an all-day trip. Time permitting, we may stop at the Stuttgart Airport on the return to Little Rock. The airport is a 45 minute drive from the refuge.
The Refuge was established in 1935 for the protection of migratory birds. It is designated a Wetland of International Importance. It is one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi River Valley. Its forests and lakes are interlaced with streams, sloughs, and bayous, providing a haven for native wildlife and migratory birds.
For directions and more information, go to www.fws.gov/refuge/White_River. Address is 57 South CC Camp Road, St. Charles GPS: 34.418239, -91.120605. The Visitor Center is approximately 15 miles east of DeWitt off Hwy. 1 in St. Charles. Follow the signs. Refuge number is 870-282-8200.