ASCA Field Trip
June 9, 2018
Camp Robinson SUA
Saturday morning, the Lucky 13 flock of birders explored the Camp Robinson Special Use Area located in Faulkner County, which is managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Our target birds were Prothonotary and Prairie Warblers, Bell’s Vireo, Painted Bunting, Bachman’s Sparrow, and the breeding group of Hooded Mergansers who nest each summer at the Nursery Pond. We found all our targets, except the Bachman’s. No Bachman’s Sparrows were heard. It is a little late in the season for them to be doing much singing. The Prothonotary and Prairie Warblers, plus the Bell’s Vireo were life birds for some birders. We were excited to see a very large group of female Hooded Mergansers and their youngsters. We counted at least 17!
Bonus birds were Yellow-breasted Chats, Yellow-throated Vireos, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Common Yellowthroats, Dickcissels, Great-crested Flycatchers, Belted Kingfisher, and Tree Swallows. Indigo Buntings and introduced Northern Bobwhites were everywhere.
All the birds were on territory and nesting. A hanging woven nest ball of an Orchid Oriole pair was found. We watched as the female brought food to the babies. There were several in the nest because they started a loud, demanding chattering every time mom showed up. The handsome male supervised the operation from high in the tree. In another area, Blue Grosbeaks were also guarding their nest and kept a careful eye on us until we moved on.
By 11:30 a.m. it had gotten quite warm and humid so we called it a day, very pleased with our total of 53 species.
Karen Holliday
ASCA Field Trip Coordinator
Little Rock