Category: Field Trips

     Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Dixon Rd. commuter lot, Exit 3 off I-530 South. We’ll arrive at the Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff around 8:00 a.m. We’ll bird the parking lot until the Center opens at 8:30 a.m. The area has diverse habitats such as cypress and tupelo swamps, open water, and wetlands. Lingering sparrows, winter finches, wrens, egrets, and herons will be our main targets. Walking is on paved trails and board-walks. Next stop is the Boyd Point Wastewater Facility to look for ducks and gulls.  If time permits, we’ll also check Lake Saracen and Wilber West Road.

     Bring water, snacks, and lunch. The trip can last into the afternoon. Participants are welcome to leave at any time.

     Directions—From the Dixon Rd. commuter lot, take I-530 south to Pine Bluff for 35 miles until I-530 becomes Hwy. 65B (Exit 35). Go 6 miles, continuing past Lake Saracen. Turn left onto Regional Park Drive.  (Convention Center Dr.). Continue on Regional Park Drive approximately 1.2 miles. Turn right onto 1400 Black Dog Road. Follow signs to the Nature Center.

     Coordinates: 34.2394, -91.990,  www.deltarivers.com

Meet Dan Scheiman at 7:30 a.m. at the Prothro Junction commuter lot located on the southeast side of I-40 East at Exit 157.  Turn right at the intersection then immediately turn left into the commuter lot.  We should arrive at the airport around 8:30 a.m. for anyone who would like to meet us there.  Lapland and Smith’s Longspurs, Short-eared Owls, Pipits, and sparrows will be our target birds.  Dress in layers; bring gloves, be prepared for wind and cold temperatures.  Knee-high boots are essential for walking through the Aristida grass.  On the drive back to Little Rock, we’ll scan the open fields for flocks of geese and ducks.

Reminder:  February 17-20 is the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).  Participate as a citizen scientist by joining the field trip, or counting anywhere you find birds.  Submit your sightings to the GBBC website at http://www.birdcount.org